Here is a picture that shows what is on my USB Bootable Flash Drive for an EX48x:
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EX48x_SMI_Example.JPG [ 107.72 KiB | Viewed 31300 times ]
You may have to set the computer to show Hidden Files and Folders but what your interested in here is the file
drivers.lst and the folder
driversWhat you need to do is:
(1) Acquire a copy of the specific SMI Files for the EX48x
(2) Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive
(3) Copy the SMI Files to the Flash Drive
(4) Place the drivers for your USB-LAN Adapter into the Root Director of the Flash Drive and into the drivers folder
(5) Edit the file
drivers.lst by adding your USB-LAN Adapter driver path.
In my case I am using a Sabrent USN-LAN Adapter which uses the driver Ax88187 and there are 2 files a .SYS and a .INF. In the top left corner of the picture is the Root Directory on my flash drive. In the right corner is the contents of what is written in the file drivers.lst which as you can see is open with notepad. The bottom left shows the contents of the drivers folder. Looking at it now I may have chopped off a file or two but you get the idea.
Once you have this configured you will want to test it out. Since you might be worried about your drives in the server there are two ways to test it out.
Test 1: Safe Test:(1) Turn the server off and back out the all your drives
(2) Plug the Bootable USB Flash Drive with the SMI files into the bottom rear USB Port
(3) Turn the server on and observe the health light. The Health Light will blink Aqua White and Red
(4) Logon to your router and check the DHCP Listing for a device starting with the name MININT
If you see the Device Name on the router starting with the name MININT then your server has properly booted into safe mode and has successfully loaded and is using the drivers for your USB-LAN Adapter.
Full Recovery Test:This test you will want to do with a blank drive 80GB or Larger. The importance of doing this is so you will know how the entire process works with your USB-SMI Flash Drive and to see where WHS once its installed will ask you for the drivers for the USB LAN Adapter. Its best to know how the process works so that one day when you go to actually put it to use you will know its going to work for you. In this test we are going to do a Factory Reset so only 1 drive will be in the server and it should be a bare drive with its partitions wiped or one with a single clean partition.
Make certain you have the DEBUG Cable Installed and that you have a Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor Connected. Only item that needs to be in a specific location is the Flash Drive and it must be in the bottom rear USB Port. A Keyboard and Mouse can be connected to the other USB Ports if your DEBUB Board lacks the PS/2 Connections for them.
Follow Steps 1-3 above only this time when you see the health light blinking Aqua White and Red you will insert the Test Hard Drive. DO NOT USE YOUR EXISTING SYSTEM DRIVE OR IT WILL BE FORMATTED!
(4) Run the Server Install Software on a 32 bit client. A 64 bit client will work but you may encounter a software failure when the client software is installed.
(5) Since you have a DEBUG Cable connected you can see when WHS will request the drivers for the USB-LAN Adapter and since they are on the root directory of the flash drive they will be very easy to find. Just browse for them and select them and WHS will then install them after which you can remove the Flash Drive.
Note: The point in which WHS is prompt you for the USB-LAN Adapter Driver will be when you see on the client screen that the server will reboot several times or somewhere around that time. If the client recovering the server is close to the actual server this will be very easy to see but I have my servers in another room and so when I have done this I typically know when to got into the other room to look.
For those with EX47x's:The process is the same but the difference is the SMI Files and the health light blinks Purple/Red when the server is in its recovery mode.
For all other MSS Server Users LX19x, EX49x, x310 and x510:A while back Diehard did a recovery project using an EX49x that allowed you to recover the EX49x while connected to a network much like the EX47x and EX48x.
http://mediasmartpodcast.blogspot.com/2 ... sb_09.htmlI see no reason why what I have written above can not be applied to his procedure although I have never put it to the test but since I have all the other server models here maybe one day soon I will because there is nothing worse for any HP MSS then to have a failed NIC but as I have demonstrated time and again its not the end of the wold.
If you have read this far then I recommend you get a USB-LAN Adapter and a Debug Board and install them while your server is fully functional so that should the time come when you need them they will be ready to go.
Enough said but its important and so I keep repeating it over and over because it is important. Your server your choice but here is your chance to eliminate future stress when a Lan Port Fails and you have your wife breathing down your back about those family pics and vids......