Installation (Smart Setup) Guide, Windows Server 2008 SP2, v6.5

Ensure Brand Similarity Among Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) in Multipath

I/O (MPIO) Environments

If the target server will run in an MPIO environment, with redundant physical I/O paths (adapters,

cables, switches, and so on) between the server and its storage devices, you must ensure that all

Fibre Channel HBAs in the system are manufactured by the same vendor before installing the

operating system. HBAs from different vendors rarely support the same maximum I/O packet

size. This can create I/O conflicts that cause the system to lock up with a blue screen, a stopcode

of 0X000000D1, and a reference to the file elxstor.sys.

The solution to this problem is to make sure that all HBAs in the system are manufactured by

the same vendor (and therefore have the same maximum I/O packet size). Current HBA vendors

include Emulex and Qlogic. The following lists summarize HBA sourcing, so you can ensure

brand similarity in your system.

HBAs from Emulex (with HP part number) include:

• HP StorageWorks Single Port 8 Gb PCI-e Fibre Channel (AH402A)

• HP StorageWorks Dual Port 8 Gb PCI-e Fibre Channel (AH403A)

• HP StorageWorks 2 Gb Fibre Channel (AB232A)

• HP StorageWorks 2 Gb, 64-Bit/133 MHz PCI-X-to-Fibre Dual Channel (AB466A)

• HP StorageWorks 2 Gb, 64-Bit/133 MHz PCI-X-to-Fibre Single Channel (AB467A)

• HP StorageWorks 4 Gb Single Port 64-bit 266 MHz Fibre Channel (AD167A)

• HP StorageWorks 4 Gb Dual Port 64-bit 266 MHz Fibre Channel (AD168A)

• HP StorageWorks FC2142 PCIe Single Port 4 Gb Fibre Channel (A8002A)

• HP StorageWorks FC2242 PCIe Dual Port 4 Gb Fibre Channel (A8003A)

HBAs from Qlogic (with HP part number) include:

• HP StorageWorks Single Port 8 Gb PCI-e Fibre Channel (AH400A)

• HP StorageWorks Dual Port 8 Gb PCI-e Fibre Channel (AH401A)

• HP StorageWorks 4 Gb Single Port 64-bit 266 MHz Fibre Channel (AB429A)

• HP StorageWorks 4 Gb Dual Port 64-bit 266 MHz Fibre Channel (AB379A)

• HP StorageWorks 4 Gb Dual Port 64-bit 266 MHz Fibre Channel (AB379B)

• HP StorageWorks FC1142 PCIe Single Port 4 Gb Fibre Channel (AE311A)

• HP StorageWorks AD300A PCIe Dual Port 4 Gb Fibre Channel (AD300A)

For more information about MPIO, see the Microsoft Storage web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/technologies/storage/mpio/default.mspx

Task 3: Back Up Existing Data

To restore critical data on the server hard disk after installing or migrating to Windows, you

must first back up the data and verify that you can restore it by following these steps:

1. Back up your server using your existing backup utilities

2. Verify the integrity of the backup by restoring samples of data to another server

3. Store the backup in a safe place

Task 4: Choose an Installation Environment

Your installation environment consists of the server model number, the installation method (GUI

or Headless console, Integrated Remote Console, or PXE/WDS), and the installation media used

to perform the installation. Table 1-1 lists the installation environments available.

14 Preparing for Installation