Server froze @ "Searching for boot record from CDROM"

[Catadmin]

The server went down sometime last night. When I came in this morning, I saw an error message saying "Cannot write to directory DSC\SYS". I downed the server, but now I can't get it back up. It starts rebooting, looks for the SCSI stuff, but then times out 3 times before going on (and I know there are at least 2 SCSI devices on the server), then freezes at the "Searching for boot record from CDROM". I've tried to restart the boot process several times, but get the same error message.

I have no clue how to do a SERVER -NA or whatever the command is to bring it up without mounting the volume. I can't even get a prompt. Any and all help would be majorly appreciated.

Catadmin - New to Server Admin, but willing to learn... All help is appreciated.

 

[TheLad]

Are you sure the SCSI card has not failed? Does the server pick up the SCSI drives during power up? -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
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[Catadmin]

It was picking them up yesterday, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to be detecting them today. The server starts to boot up, does the &quot;Select <CNTRL> <A> for SCSISelect(TM) Utility&quot;. At which point, the cursor sits blinking for 30 seconds, the the message &quot;Timeout failure during SCSI inquiry. Rescanning for SCSI Devices.......&quot;

It does this Timeout failure three times before it then goes to the AMIBIOS System configuration, then reads memory then goes to the &quot;Searching for boot record&quot; message. At which point, it gets stuck.

Having never known that SCSI drives actually run off a card before now, I'm wondering if perhaps your suggestion of a bad card is correct. Or could it be a combination of things?

Thanks.
Catadmin - New to Server Admin, but willing to learn... All help is appreciated.

 

[TheLad]

What type of server have you got out of interest? From what you have described, it does sound like a SCSI card issue. Have you got any support through your hardware vendor? -----------------------------------------------------
&quot;It's true, its damn true!&quot;
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[TheLad]

Could also be cabling in the server - if you're brave (and it doesn't void any warranties or hardware cover), open it up and have a look. -----------------------------------------------------
&quot;It's true, its damn true!&quot;
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[Catadmin]

The actual server is a &quot;Homemade&quot; piece that was put together for the company several years back by a local computer firm. Lowest bidder kind of thing. I've already got the guy who was our hardware rep coming out today to look at a couple of network printers, so I'm going to have him go ahead and take a look at the server too. Hopefully it won't kill us to get this fixed. @=)

Thanks for your help, though. Now I have a better idea of why the server has been having so many problems on and off the past month or so.

Catadmin - New to Server Admin, but willing to learn... All help is appreciated.