Installing Debian Lenny on ML370 G3 with RAID Controller.

Whilst Debian Lenny is compatible with the Compaq/HP ML370 G3 with RAID Controller on-board, it took me a little work to get it installed and I wanted to document my efforts for myself and others!  This was a painful process to get it working, and perhaps isn’t for the weak of heart or those early in their Linux-ninja training, but hopefully this will guide you to the path of enlightenment and joy!

PreReqs:-
An ML370 G3 with sufficient hardware to boot/install e.t.c.
A copy of HP SmartStart (I used 7.20, others may work). ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/products/servers/supportsoftware/ZIP/
A copy of Windows 2003 (2000 may also work).
Debian Lenny NetInst CD
USB Stick formatted as FAT with ‘non-free’ Array Controller Driver saved to it (ql2300_fw.bin in my case).

How I did it:-

1. Connect up the machine, power on and insert the HP SmartStart CD
2. Once the SmartStart has booted, configure your array(s) as per your requirement.  In my case, I used 2x147GB drives in a RAID1 and 4x72GB drives in a RAID5.
3. Do an operating system install, choose to install Windows and let it do its own partitioning.
4. Let Windows install, don’t bother doing any major configuratoring as you’re going to wipe the server again shortly…
5. Once Windows is installed and on the desktop, insert the Debian CD and Reboot.
6. Boot to the Lenny Installer, and choose a ‘Standard Install’.
7. Configure as normal.
8. When you get to the bit about partitioning, choose the Manual Option.
9. Goto the NTFS partition that the Windows install created, change it to an Ext3 format, ensure it is set to be bootable, and set the mount point to be /.
10. Id leave other partition configuration until the point that you can boot Linux.
11. Carry on and install whatever packages/components you require as standard.
12. When you’re prompted to install the GRUB bootloader into the MBR – SAY NO
13. You’ll be asked where you want to install the bootloader.  My partition was /dev/cciss/c0d0p1.
14. Finish off the Installer, remove the CD and Reboot.
15. Fingers x’d, you’ll get GRUB boot menu.  Mine then refused to boot the OS saying that the Operating System wasn’t found.   I edited the initial boot menu because it was referring to HD (1,0).  I changed this to HD (0,0) and it booted.
16. Login to the console.
17. If the GRUB editing worked, make sure to edit /boot/grub/menu.lst and permanently change the setting to HD (0,0) for each of the menu items.
    

Cool Runnings:-
This server when running at full tilt with the fans is a noisy noisy beasty! However, you can control those fans to make them run at a dull roar rather than full hurricane force chat.  Follow the instructions from Jonas Bjork related to Ubuntu. Debian works exactly the same way, but you’ll need to install SNMPD and libstdc++2.10-glibc2.2 (the latter you’ll have to manually download the .deb from the Etch repository).  Once its all installed, run the ‘hpasm activate’ command and follow the on-screen instructions.

Profit!