Configuring Tape Drive Compaq SDT 10000 on Compaq DL 380G2 under CentOS 4

1. First you must install the server with the OS (daagh...) my choice is CentOS 4.3 yet you can install it with CentOS 3.6 (or similar version of RHEL or other RHEL source-compiled distro like WBEL/TAO)

2. Connect the Tape Drive scsi connector to server and it''s power cable.

3. Change file /etc/redhat-release became like this:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4 (Nahant)

4. Download the appropriate storage-driver for your server type from HP.com, there you can download storage driver for your server type not just DL380G2. After that select the appropriate OS (many choices - I choose RHEL 4 x86)

The Driver name''s is:

HP ProLiant Smart Array Controller (x86/AMD32) Driver for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 (x86)

And the driver filename is:

cpq_cciss-2.6.10-13.rhel4.i686.rpm

To install the driver type:

# rpm -ivh cpq_cciss-< version >.rhel4.i686.rpm

Setup is now complete. Please REBOOT your computer NOW!!

To upgrade the driver type:

# rpm -Uvh cpq_cciss-< version >.rhel4.i686.rpm

Upgrade is Now Complete. Please REBOOT your computer NOW!!

NOTE: If the installation fails or if you see any warning or error messages, STOP, do NOT reboot the computer. The driver will not be operational and you must uninstall the driver by typing the following command:

# rpm -e cpq_cciss-< version >

The removal of the RPM restores the original cciss.o module, and builds a new initrd image with the previous driver object module (if any) and adds yet another grub or lilo entry. You can then boot using this newest lilo or grub entry, (provided the building of the new initrd image goes well), or your original lilo or grub entry.

If you install/upgrade you''ll find new entry on grub/lilo, choose that.

5. check on file /proc/scsi/scsi, something like this will displayed:

Attached devices:

Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00

Vendor: COMPAQ Model: SDT-10000 Rev: 1.16

Type: Sequential-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02

6. now for tape software I used taper version 7.0pre-1 which alpha version but I have tested it''s working properly. the previous version used previos gcc library which not installed on CentOS 4.

for taper info and download follow the link here

nb: remember always to turn on the tape drive first before the server because the kernel need to check what peripheral connected to the system