Topic: First time installing - taking HOURS to format file system

[vaf]

Just want to check this is normal, and if not what I should do.

I have built a new server box - GA-H55M-S2H motherboard with Intel G6950 CPU and 2GB DDR3 RAM, 4 x 2TB WD WD20EADS SATA drives. Booting CD from USB DVD drive.

The install has progressed as per the install guide - however the Formatting / file system stage is currently 61% through after 7 HOURS!!!! There is clearly activity on all drives and it is slowly progressing - surely it should take this long!



I have gone with SME Server 7.4 with the standard SME install (no switches) so one of the 4 drives is a spare.

What is it doing that takes so long? Is it the software RAID?

Has anybody had this problem before? Like I said, this is my first SME server install, however I have done Ubuntu Server before and had both no issues and quick format of drives.

HELP!

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________________EDIT: PROBLEM SOLVED________________
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SOLUTION:

Intel Chipset H55 BIOS settings need to be AHCI, not IDE.

• Enter BIOS [del]
• Select "Integrated Peripherals
• Make sure SATA AHCI Mode is "AHCI" (defaults set this to IDE)
• Use SATA Port0-3 Natice Mode (leave as enabled)
• [esc] [F10] and Y

Boot install disc, and select CD-ROM (if applicable) and use the standard AHCI driver (ahci).

Formatting of 3 x 2TB WDEADS Green drives in RAID 5 (with 4th as spare) took about 30 mins compared to taking 12 hours under IDE took with IDE setting.

Quota files took about 30mins, but the monitor went blank after a few minutes - don't panic, just make sure the hard drives are still working away!

[cactus]

I have built a new server box - GA-H55M-S2H motherboard with Intel G6950 CPU and 2GB DDR3 RAM, 4 x 2TB WD WD20EADS SATA drives. Booting CD from USB DVD drive.

The install has progressed as per the install guide - however the Formatting / file system stage is currently 61% through after 7 HOURS!!!! There is clearly activity on all drives and it is slowly progressing - surely it should take this long!

I have gone with SME Server 7.4 with the standard SME install (no switches) so one of the 4 drives is a spare.

What is it doing that takes so long? Is it the software RAID?

Perhaps the throughput of the drives is not up to speed. Did you set the jumpers correctly? I am sure it will be done in another 5 hours or so, so enjoy something else in the mean time

[vaf]

Perhaps the throughput of the drives is not up to speed. Did you set the jumpers correctly?

What do you mean by setting the jumpers? How do I check this?

I am sure it will be done in another 5 hours or so, so enjoy something else in the mean time

But wont this impact performance of the server if the throughput is low - how do I check and improve this?

Thanks

[cactus]

What do you mean by setting the jumpers? How do I check this?

My SATA disks have jumpers to specify the drive speed. You should check your harddisk's vendor site for manuals on them, most of them can be switched between 150Gb/sec (SATA rev. I) and 300Gb/sec (SATA rev. II).

[Stefano]

vaf, I suspect your chipset is not fully supported by SME's 7.4 kernel and so you are using your hd's in the wrong way

as an example, formatting a 4 1.5 TB sw raid 5 array (about 4.5 TB) on a HP ML310 took about 2 hours

[vaf]

It is now finished and we sitting on "Creating Quota Files" for about 20 mins, then the screen just went blank (monitor is fine, but not showing anything.

It is clearly doing something, but what it is, who knows!

Should I give up on SME server? If so what should I go for as an alternative for a small business server? It will mainly be for file sharing (local and remote) and I liked the gateway functionality offered by SME server.

I forgot to mention that I couldn't get the hard drives to pickup in IDE mode, so I have to function in Legacy mode, which picks them up.

Thanks

[janet]

vaf

Creating Quota Files will probably take a long time based on other posts in these forums.

It is likely that your drives are not interfacing at their correct speed causing the severe slowness problems you are experiencing.

You need to sort out correct BIOS and jumper settings or wherever the problem lies. Do advanced searches on these forums for possible clues. See my signature box.

Ditching sme that quickly is a rather knee jerk reaction, you need to have basic functionality & connectivity sorted out before making a rash decision like that.

[vaf]

Thanks Mary

My main issue is that it is near impossible to get an estimated setup time! 

How long does it NORMALLY take, that way I know is something is really wrong, or I am just being impatient.

I need this up and running today, so if it is going to take this long all of the time then I need an alternative solution.

How do I test the drive speed? I have found something about SATA cable lengths, but I am using short cables so apparently no issue.

I have tried all sorts of searches and have been unable to get much help. I've been trying to setup this server since Friday - I'm just about ready to turn to the darkside and get Windows SBS! Hmmm do I want to sell my soul?!?!?

[vaf]

PROBLEM SOLVED.

I just checked my BIOS, and changed to AHCI. Formatting is FLYING!!!!!

To clarify I now have setup BIOS with AHCI and Native IDE.

The issue was using IDE mode

[janet]

vaf

It typically takes under an hour to install and setup a minimally configured sme server, depending on disk size & configuration.
Further time is required for advanced customisation, add on contribs, adding lots of users, existing data transfer etc.