FastTrak Articles

Installion issues with FastTrak TX4660 and the MSI P7N motherboard

2012-02-28T16:23:05.0000000

On the MSI P7N motherboard, the onboard raid must be disabled to gain enough resources to load the TX4660 BIOS in memory.

The FastTrak TX-4660 BIOS won't run properly unless the on-board 8 port USB controllers are disabled.

The installation of a third party 4 ports USB 2.0 controller in a PCI slot seems not to affect the FastTrak TX4660 functionality.

What is PerfectRAID technology for error handling and recovery?

2008-04-12T06:26:00.0000000

http://kb.promise.com/file/download/d5938448-2bbb-48ba-94bd-a5b6009cefab

PerfectRAID™ is Promise’s patented RAID data protection technology; a suite of data protection and redundancy features built into every Promise RAID product.

Predictive Data Migration (PDM): Replace un-healthy disk member in array and keep array on normal status during the data transition between healthy HD and replaced HD.
Bad Sector Mapping and Media Patrol: These features scan the system’s drive media to ensure that even bad physical drives do not impact data availability
Array Error Recovery: Data recovery from bad sector or failed HD for redundant RAID
RAID 5/6 inconsistent data Prevent (Write Hole Table)
Data content Error Prevent (Read/Write Check Table)
Physical Drive Error Recovery
SMART support
Hard/Soft Reset to recover HD from bad status.
HD Powercontrol to recover HD from hung status.
NVRAM event logging

How can I determine if my HBA is under warranty?

2007-10-01T22:02:00.0000000

TX4310 does not allow post with some motherboards using bios v2.8.1.0004.

2007-08-21T12:12:00.0000000

In some newer boards there have been issues with tx4310 and bios v2.8.1.0004 not allowing the system to post or boot. The fix for this is to downgrade the bios to v2.5.1.3119. You do not need to upgrade the drivers and PAM utility.

TX4310 bios v2.8.1.0004 does not post with some motherboards

2007-06-19T10:53:00.0000000

When using the latest bios 2.8.1.0004 on the TX4310 some motherboards do not post upon bootup. It could be that the addressing of the extend bios area interferes with some motherboards.

The work around for this is to flash the controller to the older bios ver. 2.5.1.3119. This may allow the motherboard to boot.

*remember prior to flashing the card. Make sure to check every possibility of compatibility. Such as: removing all perepherials, moving the card to different slots, disabling onboard raid etc...

How to create a Mirror Using TX4310, With your existing data Drive or your boot drive

2006-11-16T16:13:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak TX4310

Product Description: HBA

Platform: Any

Firmware/Bios Version: v2.5.1.3119 or later

Solution:

Steps:

Note* If its your boot drive first place card in system with nothing attached load drivers in Operating System then shut system down move OS Hard drive over to card then follow steps below!

1.) Then Control-F get into promise bios once it there check to see if the data drives was made a JBOD if so Make sure your on the latest Bios Version v2.5.1.3119 or later.

2.) Then if so go to option 3 Delete LD and delete JBOD logical disk.

3.) The with both drives attached go to option 2 Define LD press Enter change Raid Mode to RAID 1 arrow over and turn Fast Init: OFF then place a Y next both disks then hit Control – Y and hit Enter.

4.) You should have a Functional Array.

5.) Now shut system off pull the drive without Data on it and boot back up it should say that the array is Critical let it boot all the way into windows.

6.) Then shut down place the other drive back on controller the array should still be Critical boot into windows open Web Pam (Promise Array Manager) at then you should see that the array is in a Rebuild state. Let it rebuild and your Done!

If customer needs review of the product. You can refer the site to the customer.

2006-10-04T10:27:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak S150 TX2plus

Platform: Any

Firmware/Bios Version: Any

Solution: http://www.hardwarereview.net/Reviews/Promise%20TX2Plus/TX2Plus.htm

Procedures for creating a mirror for a drive with an existing OS.

2006-01-05T11:49:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak TX2200

Product Description: HBA

Platform: ALL

Firmware/Bios Version: ALL

Solution: Instructions for creating a mirror with an existing drive with an OS already installed.

-To better insure that you are mirroring the correct drive. Make sure drive 1 is attached to channel 1 and drive 2 is attached to drive 2.

First reboot to the controller card bios.

At the bios screen hit <ctrl> <f>. It should bring the screen to the controller menu.

Once in the menu, highlight option number 2 (drive assignments), hit <enter>. It should show a display showing the number of drives attached. Each drive will have an acronym of JBOD next to it. Our goal here is to make say spare.

After you highlight the first drive push <space bar>, then <ctrl> <y>, then push <ctrl> <y> again to agree. Do the same procedure for the second drive. "Do not worry about deleting the data it will not delete it"

The next step is hit <esc> and return to main menu. Then arrow down to number 3, (define array), remember which drive you want to image before starting mirroring.

Next highlight the logical disk 1. "this should be the disk with the information on." Then type <enter>, it should give you another menu for the drive that was entered.

One of the menu’s will say RAID mode, from that point you want to keep tapping the spaceabar until it says create and duplicate. Just in case you happen to come across "initialization" make sure that it is disabled.. It should make an exact duplicate.

BLUE SCREENS ON INTEL 7500CW2

2006-01-05T11:49:00.0000000

Platform: Windows OS

Additional Description: Applies only to Intel Mainboards

Solution: This problem occurs when ever there is hyperthreading. The customer who installs this card will get a BSOD whenever he boots into the windows OS. To prevent this problem go into the Intel BIOS and disable the hyperthreading option

Additional Information: This could apply to other FASTRAK PRODUCTS ON THE SAME BOARD

New driver and/or BIOS makes PAM stop seeing the array

2004-11-15T10:19:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak S150 SX4

Product Description: HBA

Platform: Windows

Firmware/Bios Version: any

Additional Description: This happens only some of the time. Other times the old utility will be able to see the array after logging in.

Solution: It is recommended that a newer version of the PAM utility be installed when update is done to the BIOS and drivers. In addition, this will give the user the latest features and compatibility that the new utility affords.

Additional Information: Check the downloads for your product on the web at: www.promise.com

Then with mouse over the support option click on: "downloads" then the next page will have collumns for product, category and OS. Select what you are using and press "Go" to get the latest and even slightly older versions of the software you need.

How to flash bios on Promise card.

2004-10-13T12:02:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak 100

Step 1 : Create a DOS bootable diskette with either Windows 98/XP/2003. If you don't have the OS available to make the boot diskette then go to WWW.BOOTDISK.COM and download the utility there to create a boot disk.

Step 2 : Download the bios zip file from Promise site and unzip it to the bootable floppy that was create. From the extraction of the file you will notice that there is a executable file (example : PTIFLASH.EXE) which is the flash utility and a binary file (example : FT100B24.BIN) which is the updated bios file.

Step 3 : Boot to the floppy and get to an "A:\" prompt and type PTIFLASH /F "name of binary file without the quote" (example : PTIFLASH /F FT100B24.BIN). This will flash the card and you will get a message update success or ok. Remove the floppy and reboot the system.

Additional Information: This procedure applies to most Promise RAID controller.

What's the latest BIOS ad driver for this card

2004-09-30T12:00:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak TX2000

Product Description: HBA

Platform: BIOS-all, Drivers-Windows

Firmware/Bios Version: 2.00.0.33

Solution: These are the latest BIOS and driver downloads

Can I create an array with hard drives from different manufacturers?

2004-07-01T09:53:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak TX4000

Product Description: HBA

Platform: all

Firmware/Bios Version: all

Solution: Yes. Keep in mind that if the drive capacities differ, the RAID controller will truncate the bigger hard drive so the drives match. The resulting difference in hard drive space is unusable, so avoid using hard drives of significantly different capacities. Also, it is not recommended to use drives with significantly different transfer rates or caches.

Can I transfer a hard drive from the FastTrak to my onboard IDE or Serial ATA controller?

2004-07-01T09:49:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak TX4000

Product Description: HBA

Platform: all

Firmware/Bios Version: all

Solution : Only Single-drive striped (RAID 0) (JBOD) and Mirrored (RAID 1) array configurations allow the drive(s) to be accessed individually on another controller. Multiple-drive striped (RAID 0 or RAID 0+1) will not work.

Can I transfer a drive that has existing data to the FastTrak?

2004-07-01T09:47:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak TX4000

Product Description: HBA

Platform: all

Firmware/Bios Version: all

Solution: Yes. Please refer to the FastTrak user manual for instructions on how to do this.

Do I need to disable the motherboardÆs IDE or Serial ATA controller for the FastTrak card to work?

2004-07-01T09:45:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak TX4000

Product Description: HBA

Platform: all

Firmware/Bios Version: all

Solution: It is not necessary to disable the motherboard’s IDE or Serial ATA controller. You may need to change the boot sequence in the motherboard BIOS, which determines which device the system boots from. Refer to your motherboard or system manual for instructions on setting the boot sequence.

Peformance is poor and Windows services not starting

2004-06-23T10:35:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak S150 SX4

Product Description: HBA

Platform: Windows

Firmware/Bios Version: 2.00.0.21/+ driver 2.00.0.25

Additional Description: This driver and BIOS should fix some troubles that customers had with slow performance of the write to the array drive.

Solution: With an existing installed OS update driver first and flash the BIOS when driver install says to reboot.

Additional Information: This also applies to the FastTrak SX4000

Can I move drives from an older FastTrak card to a newer card and see the old array?

2004-06-21T11:07:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak TX2000

Product Description: HBA

Platform: all

Firmware/Bios Version: all

Solution: Yes, a newer card should see the old array information. The array is written on the hard drives in the reserve sector. It is not written to the card.

Can I move drives from an older FastTrak card to a newer card and see the old array?

2004-06-21T11:04:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak 100 TX2

Product Description: HBA

Platform: all

Firmware/Bios Version: all

Solution: Yes, a newer card should see the old array information. The array is written on the hard drives in the reserve sector. It is not written to the card.

I don't have a 66 MHz PCI motherboard. Can I still use the FastTrak100 TX & LP series controllers in my 33 MHz motherboard?

2004-06-21T11:00:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak 100 TX2

Product Description: HBA

Platform: All

Firmware/Bios Version: All

Solution: Yes. The FastTrak100 TX & LP series controllers are compatible in both 33 MHz and 66 MHz motherboards.

USING THIRD PARTY PARTIONING SOFTWARE ON RAID CARDS

2004-06-04T11:26:00.0000000

Product: Third Party Software

Platform: All Platforms

Additional Description: Is it possible to use partition magic and other partitioning software to configure Raid array drives in a RAID volume

Solution: Yes. Although third party software is not supported by promise it is possible to use Partition softwares such as Parition Magic to Set up different size Volumes

Additional Information: Note: both drives have to be arrayed and functional for Partioning software to work

I'm trying to boot to My Fastrak S150 SX4 controller array and I'm unable to boot into the OS.

2004-06-03T11:31:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak S150 SX4

Additional Description: Unable to boot from Promise controller : Promise card are seen as a SCSI device and to boot from a Promise controller or any 3rd party controller you would need to change the boot sequence respectively the mother boards CMOS.

Solution: Change boot option in CMOS and it will vary from system to system on what options are available to either SCSI, Add in boot card, or Option ROM. If motherboard supports the BIOS Boot Specification, each individual hard drive attached to the SATA150 TX will appear in the bootable device list. If motherboard does not have any of the boot devices mention here on its list then try disabling the onboard contoller as a last option.

Additional Information: This apply to all Promise RAID or none RAID controllers.

Whenever My Fasttrak 66 is installed I get the following message on post:Fasttrak Does not detect proper Interrupt. Please check your IRQ listing and See if your computer supports PCI Bus Mastering

2004-06-03T10:09:00.0000000

Product: FastTrak 66

Platform: Windows 95,98 ME NT4.0 Windows 2000

Firmware/Bios Version: 1.30

Additional Description: This message occurs when several factors are involved

Card is conflicting with another PCI device

Hard drives are not jumpered correctly

Use of Third party cables or removable Swap bays

Out of date firmware for Fasttrak or Mainboard

Solution: Remove all other PCI devices on the mainboard and/or try different PCI devices

and/or disable any non essential devices on the system board

Check Hard drives on Fasttrak card to see if they are set to master and array is established

Make sure that IDE cables and/or Swap bays are up to spec(Note: Use of Long data cables

of 30 inches or longer can cause this error message

Update Fasttrak bios to the latest

Additional Information: This error message can also apply to Fasttrak 100TX2, TX2000 as well