2k Server install on IBM x235

We have an older X235 that had a couple drives fail. We are attemping to start from scratch with three new drives. The upper single OS drive was removed and the OS was put on drive 3 a long time ago. But now we want to raid5 the OS across 1, 2 and 3 with 0 as a hotspare. (Or some combination like that).

Using serveraid, we can create an array with the three drives (and a HS), synchronize those drives, boot to Win2k CD using the F6 option for the SCSI drivers, etc. But...

When we instruct setup to create then format the partition, the format process zips across the status bar, hangs for a moment then fails. Next boot we get a blocked drive error.

The BIOS and serveraid are up to date, so I assume since servraid can see and array the drives ok, the hardware is ok...

Thoughts on what to try?
Thank you

 

Did you also install RAID controller drivers at this point?

 

Drivers

Well...
Yes, the drivers installed at the F6 prompt were for the RAID (not SCSI). Would this require both?

 

It won't hurt to try both if you have two lots of drivers, so it has to be the first thing to try.

 

Drivers

This is a fill in project, sorry for the delay...

I've tried both the RAID and SCSI (Ultra320 is all I found), but still the same problem. I have even tried changing from three drive RAID5 to two drives RAID1.

Perhaps this is a hint to a problem: Wierd but sometimes after it "flies through" the format process, it actually starts to copy some files then errors.

But more often it just errors as damaged drives or SCSI issues... Neither of which are indicated using the IBM utilities. I have also tried two different WIn2k CDs, thinking perhaps a damaged CD when it stopped copying.

Although I do not find any drivers, could there be something with the F5 PC vs Other setting?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

Just to prove the hardware is OK, you could try installing onto a single disk without RAID. If that works, it probably indicated that it is the RAID that is the problem.

 

Ideas?

I just tried setting things up as RAID0 and have the exact same issue, an all too quick format then install failure while copying files. I tried this on two different drives eliminating a bad drive.

I can't believe it's anything other than a setting somewhere as this was a working server before the hard drive failed, but then again, stranger things happen.

With the BIOS and ServeRaid reporting the hardware is ok, any suggestions on what to try next?

Thanks

 

Bad install media?

 

That's still RAID. Have you tried installing on a single disk with no RAID?