RAID migration is a feature supported by all HP Smart Array Controllers. RAID migrations allows system administrators to change (migrate) the RAID levels of logical drives on their HP Server (For example: from a RAID 1 logical drive to a RAID 5 logical drive without disturbing the existing data). You can easily migrate an existing logical drive to a new RAID level using HP Array configuration Utility (ACU). Learn more about RAID migration here.

By configuring NIC Teaming (Network Teaming), we can achieve Network Fault tolerance and Load balancing on your HP Server. NIC teaming means you are grouping two or more physical NICs and it will act as a single NIC. You may call it as a Virtual NIC. Minimum number of NICs which can be grouped (Teamed) is Two and the maximum number of NICs which you can group is Eight. Read more..

Splitting of an Existing RAID array is a feature which is available with latest models of HP Smart Array Controllers (Storage Controllers). In this article, I will talk about splitting a RAID array on your HP Proliant Server. Splitting of an array is possible only when the Server is Offline and you also need HP Smart Array Controller Cache, Battery and HP Smart Array Advanced Pack (SAAP) license. If any of these components are not installed, then you will not find the Split Array option in ACU. Continue reading.

Whenever you install a Hard drive to your server, it gets connected to a device called Hard Drive Backplane. Hard drive Backplane will have SATA, SAS or SCSI Hard drive compatible slots. Though in very rare instances, you may need to find the firmware version of Hard Drive Backplane of your HP Proliant Server and here in this article I am explaining the easiest way to find the HDD Backplane firmware version by using Integrated Lights-Out Management.

The HP Lights-Out Online Configuration Utility (HPONCFG) enables users to configure iLO, iLO 2, iLO 3 from within the operating system or from the HP SmartStart CD without requiring a server reboot. Though HPONCFG is basically used in Command Line Interface with XML based configuration scripts, it also provides a limited Graphical User Interface (GUI). Read more about HP Lights-Out Online Configuration Utility here.

HP recently updated the Service Pack for ProLiant server and the latest version available as of today is 2012.02.0 Release. This version of Service Pack will support the new HP ProLiant Gen 8 servers and uses uses HP Smart Update Manager 5.0.1. Lets have a look at what HP is offering in this new package.