Enable Write Disk Caching not saving (Server 2003)

Hi

I have recently built and configured a new server (HP DL360 G5
series), with two 70GB hard disks configured as the default Raid 1 in
the hardware.

I have not promoted it to a domain controller and the only role set is
that of a file server. One of the legacy applications that it is for
requires 'Write Disk Caching' enabling.

So I go into the device manager disk properties and click on the
policies tab to enable it. I get a message underneath the check box
along the lines of:

"This device does not allow its write cache setting to be modified"

So, I check the box anyway and then when I go back in the setting
hasn't saved at all. I have checked the following registry setting:

HKLM/System/CurrentControlSet/Enum/SCSI/VotreHardDisk/SerialNum/
DeviceParameters/Disk/UserWriteCacheSetting which is set to a value of
'1'.

I have checked the event log and got the following information:

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Disk
Event Category: None
Event ID: 34
Date: 30/04/2007
Time: 09:18:19
User: N/A
Computer: xxxxxxxx
Description:
The driver disabled the write cache on device \Device\Harddisk0\DR0.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 0f 00 04 00 01 00 62 00 ......b.
0008: 00 00 00 00 22 00 04 80 ...."..€
0010: 01 00 00 00 10 00 00 c0 .......À
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0028: 00 00 00 00 ....

I have been into the BIOS and cannot see any settings related to DMA/
Write caching etc. I have also tried the HP Array Configuration
Utility which only has options for acceleration whch are on default
settings. I'm really at a loss here, as far as I know these settings
should be allowed.

I know that it is DEFINITELY not switched on though registry indicates
differently because on the old NT4 server a file scan takes 25 seconds
and on the new hardware it takes upwards of 5 minutes.

Can anyone please help me?

You may try to install a UPS and if the driver knows that the power is
backed up, it may eventually enable the write cache, but I have no
experience with UPS or hardware disk arrays, so I am only making a guess
here. Good Luck!

George Valkov


<daniel.dryhurst ?@gmail?com> wrote:
Hi
I have recently built and configured a new server (HP DL360 G5
series), with two 70GB hard disks configured as the default Raid 1 in
the hardware.

I have not promoted it to a domain controller and the only role set is
that of a file server. One of the legacy applications that it is for
requires 'Write Disk Caching' enabling.

So I go into the device manager disk properties and click on the
policies tab to enable it. I get a message underneath the check box
along the lines of:

"This device does not allow its write cache setting to be modified"

So, I check the box anyway and then when I go back in the setting
hasn't saved at all. I have checked the following registry setting:

HKLM/System/CurrentControlSet/Enum/SCSI/VotreHardDisk/SerialNum/
DeviceParameters/Disk/UserWriteCacheSetting which is set to a value of
'1'.

I have checked the event log and got the following information:

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Disk
Event Category: None
Event ID: 34
Date: 30/04/2007
Time: 09:18:19
User: N/A
Computer: xxxxxxxx
Description:
The driver disabled the write cache on device \Device\Harddisk0\DR0.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 0f 00 04 00 01 00 62 00 ......b.
0008: 00 00 00 00 22 00 04 80 ...."..?
0010: 01 00 00 00 10 00 00 c0 .......À
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0028: 00 00 00 00 ....

I have been into the BIOS and cannot see any settings related to DMA/
Write caching etc. I have also tried the HP Array Configuration
Utility which only has options for acceleration whch are on default
settings. I'm really at a loss here, as far as I know these settings
should be allowed.

I know that it is DEFINITELY not switched on though registry indicates
differently because on the old NT4 server a file scan takes 25 seconds
and on the new hardware it takes upwards of 5 minutes.

Can anyone please help me?

In my experience, HP and Compaq hardware RAID cards will not allow write caching unless they have the appropriate battery backed cache module installed.

Dango

In message <Dango.2sbyfk@DoNotSpam.com> Dango
<Dango.2sbyfk@DoNotSpam.com> wrote:

>In my experience, HP and Compaq hardware RAID cards will not allow write
>caching unless they have the appropriate battery backed cache module
>installed.

What horrible design :(

--
If quitters never win, and winners never quit,
what fool came up with, "Quit while you're ahead"?

It's actually for the user's protection... The battery backed cache will keep any data in the raid controller's memory in the event of a power outage. It also stops data being lost if the server was to bluescreen.

In message <Dango.2sc9ji@DoNotSpam.com> Dango
<Dango.2sc9ji@DoNotSpam.com> wrote:

>It's actually for the user's protection... The battery backed cache will
>keep any data in the raid controller's memory in the event of a power
>outage. It also stops data being lost if the server was to bluescreen.

As I said, what horrible design. Defaulting to disabling write caching
is reasonable, preventing it outright is just plain wrong unless it can
magically detect an external UPS.

--
If quitters never win, and winners never quit,
what fool came up with, "Quit while you're ahead"?