Topic: Compaq system partition

[Roald Opsahl]

That e-smith during installation wipes out all the data of the hard-disk is both well
documented and warned about. However, I think you should consider taking some
steps to protect a Compaq system/diagnostic partition. This partition, normally
about  10-40 MB contains the software for bios setup and hardware diagnostics
on most compaq servers and desktops. You get to this software by pressing F10
when the cursor jumps up in the top right coner, just after counting the HW boot
sequence, before loading whatever OS is installed.

These days one can pick up some real solid Compaq hardware with NIC cards for
around $100, quite ideal for a e-smith gateway server in my opinion. Just too bad
that you wipe out those partitions so that it is harder to verify that the hardware
is still in good shape.

[Kim Morrison]

Hi Roald,

Thanks for the post and the suggestion!

Kim

[Charlie Brady]

Roald Opsahl wrote:

> That e-smith during installation wipes out all the data of the
> hard-disk is both well documented and warned about. However, I
> think you should consider taking some steps to protect a
> Compaq system/diagnostic partition. This partition, normally
> about 10-40 MB contains the software for bios setup and
> hardware diagnostics on most compaq servers and desktops.

...

> These days one can pick up some real solid Compaq hardware
> with NIC cards for around $100, quite ideal for a e-smith
> gateway server in my opinion. Just too bad that you wipe out
> those partitions so that it is harder to verify that the
> hardware is still in good shape.

If you could please post the output of "fdisk -l" from one of these machines I'll have a think about what can be done to protect that information.

I doubt that it will be possible to automatically protect that information without reducing the simplicity and reliability of the standard e-smith install. It just might be possible to document a customised installation procedure that will preserve this special partition...

Charlie

[Roger Wrethman]

Just make a Compaq Install disk to complement the one already around.

Ask Compaq, there are instructions for installing RedHat from SmartStart on their Web site someware. Some of the new Compaq's come out with RedHat as standard. You could figure out how to do it using the SmartStart CD's that come with every Compaq.

[Roald Opsahl]

Charlie,

The output of fdisk for a Compaq Diagnostic Partition on one of my disks looks like
this:

/dev/hdc3   1   23   3135   12 Compaq diagnostics

(I installed an old drive with such a partition in the e-smith machine to read it with
fdisk off the e-smith, that's why it is hdc not hda)

fdisk in the listing of known partition types lists type 12 as a Compaq Diagnostics.

I believe Compaq always installs these in the third partition, but haven't checked
very carefully. I also believe that the size is variable, probably to match a full
cylinder.

Will be happy to provide further info or testing if needed.


Roald