Problem with RAID/SCSI - despirately need help!

I am having some problems starting up my server. I just got it, and this is what happens upon startup:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PowerEdge 2450/667

Embedded server management firmware revision 5.24

!!***** System backplane error *****



One 667 MHz Processor, Processor Bus: 133MHz, L2 cache: 256 KB Advanced



Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller 3/Si, BIOS V2.1-3 [Build 2951]

(c) 1998-2000 Adaptec, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



<<< Press <Ctrl><A> for SCSI Select(TM) Utility! >>>





Waiting for Array Controller #0 to start….

Array Controller started

Controller monitor V2.1-3, Build 2951

Controller kernel V2.1-3, Build 2951

Controller POST operation successful



No Logical Drives Found



BIOS not installed!



Adaptec AIC-7899 SCSI BIOS v25305

(c) 1999 Adaptec, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



<<< Press <Ctrl><A> for SCSI Select(TM) Utility! >>>











No boot device available –

Strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility



Alternatively, F1 – reboot does nothing besides reboots and brings me to the same screen. F2 – setup just leads me to the BIOS. There is little to configure in here, but if I change the SCSI/RAID Controller from RAID Enabled to SCSI Enabled (I know it’s not suppose to be like this, but I did it just to see what happens) then I get this readout:



PowerEdge 2450/667

Embedded server management firmware revision 5.24

!!***** System backplane error *****



One 667 MHz Processor, Processor Bus: 133MHz, L2 cache: 256 KB Advanced



Adaptec AIC-7899 SCSI BIOS v25305

(c) 1999 Adaptec, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



<<< Press <Ctrl><A> for SCSI Select(TM) Utility! >>>







No boot device available –

Strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility



If I run the SCSI Select(TM) Utility it finds 0-zero drives






any help would be more than greatly appreciated!
Thanks
-Joe

 

maybe the backplane (ie, the drive array you see in the front) has a faulty controller?

 

how would i go about checking something like that?

what are my options as far as if it has a faulty controller?

 

No logical drives found. You probably need to enter the SCSI Select utility and setup some volumes to boot from.

Is this system supposed to have had an OS installed already?

It looks as if you are required to install an OS after setting up volumes.

 

there is no OS installed as of now
if i try to install one, for example, fedora core 3, fedora doesn't find any drives

 

This has worked for me on occasions like the trouble your having... find the CMOS Jumper on Motherboard and short pin it ... this will send it back to factory settings, best to look at Mobo manual as it will tell you exactly where it is.

 

What type of configuration are you looking for? Do you need a RAID?

I think you need to enter the SCSI utility and create drives.

 

I really don't know. I'm still stuck here. Here is a "gathering" of all of the informaiton that i have collected so far. hopefully clearing up any confusion or questions and raising some possible solutions

I have 3 <a href='http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/specs/scsi/st318404lc.html'>seagate cheeta st318404LC</a> 9.1gb hard drives installed
I have tried taking all of them out besides one, tried different orders of the drives, and still the same thing. (all SCSI Drives, no IDE). These drives are attached to a backplane board that automatically sets the drive ID and termination. (however, i am getting that "System backplane error")

I looked up the documentation for the <a href='http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pe2450/en/index.htm'>Dell Poweredege 2450 Server</a>. Everything IS connected correctly

the RAID Controller hardware key is in place, and so is the RAID controller DIMM (as they were from the beginning).

Lights on the hard drive:
1 Drive online indicator light off
2 Drive activity indicator green light on
3 Drive failure indicator light off

I never get to a point in the startup where i can configure the RAID bios

I tried doing a <a href='http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?releaseid=R81212&c=us&l=en&s=gen&cs='>Firmware Upgrade</a> and a system BIOS upgrade. but i keep getting the same type of results

There is no OS currently installed. I have tried installing Fedora Core 3, but it fails to find any drives as well.


hope this can help someone help me

 

"Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller 3/Si, BIOS V2.1-3 [Build 2951]

(c) 1998-2000 Adaptec, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



<<< Press <Ctrl><A> for SCSI Select(TM) Utility! >>>"

If you get to this point, choose Control-A. If this fails with a Backplane error, check all your connections to make sure things are secure, the backplane could be loose. Or broken.