IBM Netfinity system partition

[asokolov]

I have accidentally deleted IBM Netfinity system partition (8664-81Y) on ServeRaid-4L. What IBM tools are available that could help to restore the deleted partition?

Any links, info would be very appreciated. Thanks

 

[Mammoth]

Did you literally format or delete or is it no longer marked as active? I would try using a recovery CD. If the space is there and avialable you should be able to recover. What OS are you running? Have you tried running fdisk to see if the partition is still there?

 

[asokolov]

I'm running Windows 2000 Server. Raid 1(2HDD) + Raid 5ee(4HDD)

The fdisk or other restore partition utilities will not help in my case, as
the partition does no longer exist on any of the 6 HDDs.

I need to install(restore) a system IBM hidden (diagnostics) partition

 

[Nathael]

I've solved such trouble by using R-Studio software tool

he can emulate a virual raid to recover datas and he's not so expensive

 

[dcs97]

Sounds like you have to redine the arrays - you can download and burn the IBM SUPPORT CD and documentation from

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-39723.

Once you have redefined the arrays you should be able to reinstall your O/S.

 

[Mammoth]

Is this a 4L or a 4LX cause a 4L will not do 5ee. If you attempt to re-create your array make sure you do NOT initialize. With a RAID-1 all you need to know is which drive was the primary and which one was the secondary. On a RAID-5 you will need to know the Stripe size, Striping order, and Drive order. What kind of error messages are you getting? Did you lose the system or boot partition?

 

[asokolov]

I probably didn’t explain my problem earlier:

I don’t particularly care whether I lose an array or data - this is not an issue as I have HDD image backup

Here is a detailed overview of the problem:

Any HP/COMPAQ or IBM server (even DELL) has a hidden system diagnostic partition.

TO ACCESS it:

- in COMPAQ you need to press F10 on POST boot to access system partition
- in IBM you need to press ALT-F1 on POST boot to access system partition

If such system partition does not exist (in IBM) – you’ll get the following message: ”Cannot boot to system partition. Performing normal boot”


TO RESTORE:

In COMPAQ - you have to use SmartStart CD to restore system partition

In IBM …….. I do not know!


This has nothing to do with redefining RAID or using any recovery tools in order to restore the partition (since the data is long time gone)

I will take a look at ‘IBM SUPPORT CD 7.0’, but if I remember correctly this is only for updating BIOS, firmware and to create or recreate RAID.



BTW:
If you update your ServeRaid-4L controller to 7.10.18 - you can create 5EE with no problems.

Re: the difference between 5E and 5EE (like advantage and disadvange) this item is for another topic.

 

[Mammoth]

On IBM's the diagnositcs is not a partition. A system partition is the first sector on the first drive in a machine that the BIOS looks for to find boot information. Once it finds it the system partition, the machine then locates the boot partition which houses the ini files and such. IBM's diagnostics is firmware built on to the system board (EEPROM). If you are getting a message saying "Cannot boot to system partition" then that means that the intitial sector or block on your ID 0 drive either is corrupted or cannot be found. If you lost your diagnostics you might be able to recover them by flashing them with the latest firmware. The Alt-F1. If you have lost your system partition then that is another story.

 

[Mammoth]

Also, where did you find out that updating the firmware of the 4L gives it 5ee ability? I am not saying that you are wrong, I am just trying to find that info because we don't have it at the moment.

 

[backlund]

Did anyone figure out how to restore this partition? I accidentally just deleted mine on a ibm server and need to know how to restore it. Thanks.

 

[catorze]

If you are adament about recreating the partition, you can boot to the ServerGuide CD to recreate it. The only time you would "need" to is if the OS is already installed and the Boot.ini points to the wrong partition. Editing the Boot.ini also works. Currently, the Service Partition has no functional need on the server.

 

[backlund]

You're right. I didn't need to recreate the partition. The system didn't want to boot without it, but I downloaded the entire ServeRaid CD from IBM's site and recreated the Raid. There's an option on the CD to set the drives back to system default. It didn't put the partition back on, but it did allow the system to boot error free. Let me know if you need more info, since I'm typing this quick.