High CPU utilization with ServeRAID v4.3 code under Microsoft Windows 2000 - Servers

Resolving The Problem

High processor (cpu) utilization is displayed in the Microsoft Windows 2000 Task Manager when using ServeRAID firmware and device drivers version 4.30 (or higher).

The system is any of the following IBM Netfinity servers:

• Netfinity 5500 M20 server, type 8662, any model
• Netfinity 5500 M10 server, type 8661, any model
• Netfinity 5500 server, type 8660, any model

The system is configured with Microsoft Windows 2000

The BIOS level affected is BIOS revision 2 (the BIOS is available as Flash BIOS Update Diskette, version 1.02).

Upgrade your BIOS level to BIOS revision 6 or later (the BIOS is available as Flash BIOS Update Diskette, version 1.06 or later) on the Netfinity 5500 M20 server. Upgrade your BIOS level to BIOS revision 13 or later (the BIOS is available as Flash BIOS Update Diskette, version 1.13 or later) on the Netfinity 5500 or the 5500 M10 server.

Ensure your ServeRAID and onboard ethernet controllers do not share the same IRQ by manually setting different IRQs. Ensure neither your ServeRAID controller nor your onboard ethernet controller are set to IRQ 5 as IRQ 5 is reserved for your systems Service Processor.

Also make sure that the parallel port is set to ENABLED, and that the parallel port mode is set to BIDIRECTIONAL.

Netfinity 5500 M20 - Upgrading your BIOS level to BIOS revision 6 or later

1. Click here to download the Netfinity 5500 M20 BIOS flash update diskette (version 1.06 or later).
2. When prompted, select a drive and directory in which to save the downloaded file.
   

5500 and 5500 M10 - Upgrading your BIOS level to BIOS revision 13 or later

1. Click here to download the Netfinity 5500, 5500 M10 - Flash BIOS Update Diskette version 1.13.
2. When prompted, select a drive and directory in which to save the downloaded file

Creating a Flash BIOS update diskette

1. Click Start, select Find, and click Files and Folders.
2. Insert a blank 1.44MB floppy diskette into the diskette drive
3. Select 3 1/2 Floppy [A:] from the Look in field.
4. Type the name of the executable file in the Named field, click Find Now. This will locate the executable file you downloaded.
5. Double-click the icon for the downloaded file.
6. Follow the onscreen prompts. The necessary files will be extracted to the diskette to create a Flash BIOS update diskette.
   

Upgrading your systems BIOS

1. Power down your system.
2. Insert the Flash BIOS update diskette into your system's diskette drive.
3. Power up your system. Follow the on-screen prompts to flash the system BIOS.
   

Note: Do not interrupt the flash utility operation.

Verifying your BIOS revision level

1. Power on your system and observe the screen.
2. Press F1 when the "Press F1 for Configuration/Setup" and "Press F2 for Diagnostics" messages appear. The Configuration/Setup Utility main menu will appear.
3. Select Product Data using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter.
4. Press Esc to return to the Configuration/Setup Utility main menu.
5. Select Exit Setup using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter.
6. Select Yes, exit the Setup Utility using the Up or Down arrow keys and press Enter.

Ensuring your ServeRAID and onboard ethernet controllers do not share the same IRQ

Changing configuration settings

• From the Configuration/Setup Utility program main menu, you can select the settings you want to change using the Up, Down, Left or Right arrow keys and by pressing Enter.
  
• Pressing F1 displays Help information for a selected menu item.
  

Setting IRQs manually

1. Power on your system and observe the screen.
2. Press F1 when the "Press F1 for Configuration/Setup" and "Press F2 for Diagnostics" messages appear. The Configuration/Setup Utility main menu will appear.
3. Select Advanced Setup using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter.
4. Select System Service Processor Settings using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter.
5. Change System Service Processor Hardware Interrupt from Autoconfigure to IRQ 5.
6. Press ESC.
7. Select PCI Bus Control using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter.
8. Select Planar Device PCI Interrupt Routing using the up or down arrow keys and press Enter.
9. Change Planar Raid IRQ from Autoconfigure to an available IRQ using the Left or Right arrow key.
   
   Notes:
   1. If IRQ 10 is available, use IRQ 10.
   2. If a PCI RAID adapter card is also installed on your system, select Slot Device PCI Interrupt Routing using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter. Change the IRQ for the slot used from Autoconfigure to an available IRQ (you can share the Planar RAID IRQ).
      
      
10. Change Planar Enet IRQ from Autoconfigure to an available IRQ, other than the IRQ set for the Planar Raid, using the Left or Right arrow key.
    
    Note: Do not share IRQ's with any PCI RAID adapter card/controller installed on your system. If a PCI ethernet network adapter card is also installed on your system, select Slot Device PCI Interrupt Routing using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter. Change the IRQ for the slot used from Autoconfigure to an available IRQ (you can share the Planar Ethernet IRQ).
    
    
11. Press Esc to return to the Configuration/Setup Utility main menu.
12. Select Save Settings using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter.
13. Press Enter.
14. Select Exit Setup and press Enter.
15. Select Yes, exit the Setup Utility using the Up or Down arrow keys and press Enter.
    

Note: For Netfinity 5500 M20 systems, IRQ 5 is preset for your systems Service Processor.

Verify the Parallel Port settings

1. Power on your system and observe the screen.
2. Press F1 when the "Press F1 for Configuration/Setup" and "Press F2 for Diagnostics" messages appear. The Configuration/Setup Utility main menu will appear.
3. Select Devices and I/O Ports using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter.
4. Select Parallel Port using the Up or Down arrow key.
5. Verify that the Parallel Port is set to Enabled. Do not set it to PNP or Auto-Configure.
6. Select Parallel Port Mode using the Down arrow key.
7. Verify that the Parallel Port Mode is set to Bidirectional.
8. Press Esc to return to the Configuration/Setup Utility main menu.
9. Select Save Settings using the Up or Down arrow key and press Enter.
10. Press Enter.
11. Select Exit Setup and press Enter.
12. Select Yes, exit the Setup Utility using the Up or Down arrow keys and press Enter.