I'm confused about EFS-5.770a on ML 350 G4

I have moved a client's SCO 5.0.7 system from a SuperMicro
server to a HP ML 350G4 box. The move was successful but I
have questions on regarding the procedure I followed and
if I should have done the steps differently.

And most importantly: If I have a problem waiting to happen.

Short description:

I did not run "mkdev cpqciss" on the
old system to install ciss disk support into the kernel
but performed the necessary steps manually.

My question: Should I now run mkdev cpqciss on the new machine
or just forget about it since the ML 350 is up and running and
boots without requiring modified boot strings?

Long description:

The technique I followed was to download the HP EFS-5.770a
file and unpack it in the /tmp directory on the old server
(SuperMicro with Adaptec 2150 ZRC raid running dpti RAID
drivers). I copied the btld image to floppy and performed
btldinstall and selected the ciss driver. I then ran
mkdev hd and specified to add a disk to the ciss driver,
rebuilt the kernel and rebooted.

I then used Backup Edge to rebuild the DVD RE2 boot image
and wrote it to a CD.

I tested booting the ML 350G4 with the RE2 CD and found that
I had to use the string: "defbootstr Sdsk=ciss(0,0,0,0) Srom=wd(1,0,0)
to allow Backup Edge to "see" the ciss RAID5 array and mount
the CD as "master" on the "secondary" IDE controller (the DVD
on the old machine is "master" on the "primary" controller).

Once I knew that the RE2 image would boot the ML350 and allow
access to the 641 Smart Array Controller and the CD-RON, I
waited for the nightly backup to create a bootable DVD backup
of the old system.

I installed a DVD-R+R/RW/RAM drive in the ML-350G4 and booted
the DVD backup with the RE2 image. I selected the automatic
recovery option of RE2 but that failed when it discovered that
the old system RAID5 was 71G and the ML 350 is 68G.

I used the RE2 "editor" and checked the file system layout
stored in the RE2 image and manually adjusted the divvy
partition to adjust file systems sizes to fit in the 68G
space. Once that was done, the "restore all file systems"
mounted the file systems and restored the DVD backup image
to the ML 350.

I had to boot the ML 350 with the Sdisk=ciss(0,0,0,0) boot
string and then ran "mkdev scsi" and removed the hard disks
listed in /etc/conf/cf.d/mscsi, proceeding from last to
first: I removed ciss and then dpti. I ran mkdev scsi and
added the ciss back into the configuration. I rebuilt the
kernel and installed it and upon reboot, the system booted
without requiring the Sdisk=ciss(0,0,0,0) boot string.

I ran netconfig and removed the old NIC and when I selected
"add new LAN adapter" it identified the on board NIC as:
HW HP NC7761 Gigabit Server Adapter - PCI Bus# 1,Device# 2,Function#
and I was able to configure the ML 350 with an IP address on
a test network (SCO 5.0.7 will not boot if it "sees" the
same licenses on another server in the network).

After the system was up, I installed EFS-5.770a on it and reviewed
the installation and release notes. I see that the EFS installed
the /usr/lib/mkdev/cpqciss script and my question is should
I now run "mkdev cqpciss" or just ignore it. (I checked the btld
disk and there is no reference to the cpqciss file so it was
installed by the EFS and not a part of the btldinstall.)

Sorry to be long winded. I hope that someone with experience
with the ML 350G4 and SCO 5.0.7 will take the time to read this
and post recommendations or suggestions on what to check or what
to watch out for.

--

Steve Fabac
S.M. Fabac & Associates
816/765-1670
.