topic Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165 in Operating System - Linux

Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

Vincent Santa Maria — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:19:47 GMT

I've been fighting trying to get Fedora 13 to install on a HP ProLiant DL165 G6 for the better part of a week. The server is using a P212 SAS RAID card, and I've finally gotten the x86_64 install DVD to recognize the array (it wouldn't see it unless it was in Slot 2, unlike Fedora 12 which didn't care what slot it was in). I can progress in the install process up to the point where it is setting up the partitions, at which point it freezes when creating the ext4 file system on '/dev/mapper/vg_*-lv_home'. I've left the machine for up to four hours at this point, so I know it's frozen, and not just really slow (besides, the Fedora 12 installer would only spend ~3 minutes at this point).

I've tried using the release x86_64 DVD and the beta x86_64 DVD; the Live CD won't see the RAID array. I've also tried installing Fedora 12 (which works fine) and then upgrading via yum, but this causes problems abound.

Any suggestions (other than using Fedora 12)?

Thanks!

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

Huc_1 — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 07:20:39 GMT

Just a thought, maybe you can get more information on what is going on by hitting the following key during install and leaving it on one of the following screen

keys to hit

F1
F2
F3
F4

On one of the above you even get a interactive shell prompt.

I can not be more specific on which one as I do not remember...

before it "freezes" leave it on the more informative of the F1,F2,F3,F4.

any way hope this of some use to you.

Jean-Pierre Huc

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

Vincent Santa Maria — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:24:26 GMT

Ctrl+Alt+F4 shows me that it's hanging writing inode tables.

This is on a RAID 5 array with 4 146GB disks. I tried using a RAID 1 array with 2 146GB drives, and it seems to be able to progress all the way to where it actually starts installing packages, but freezes somewhere in that process (randomly), and none of the other tty show anything of interest.

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

Vincent Santa Maria — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:33:11 GMT

One other thing I just noticed after taking out the risers and plugging the RAID card directly into PCI-E slot:

With the Fedora 13 install DVD, once the install starts, a red LED lights up on the motherboard by the small aluminum heatsink by the DIMM slots next to Processor 1. I popped in the Fedora 12 install DVD and that LED does not light up (and the install completes without incident). The LED is labelled CR7, but I have been unable to find any mention of it in HP's documentation; I guess I'll have to contact them next week and ask what it's an indicator of.

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

irens — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:15:30 GMT

Hi.

I tried to install fedora 13 too with this server, but stopped, when tried run fedora 13 live-usb.

But i have offtopic question.

Is your DL 165 G6 noisy ? My is running very noisy, cause fans operates at circa 9500 to 10000 RPMs.

Ambient etmp is 25-26 C temp and temp of proc is 21 - 23 C

Is very noisy. What about yours ?

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

Vincent Santa Maria — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:21:44 GMT

When it first boots up the fans do spin like it's a 747 taking off, but they ramp down after about 15-20 seconds.

I chatted with an HP technical rep, and they suggested to update the firmware on the P212 card, which I did, but it didn't solve the issue.

I never was able to make the server work with Fedora 13. I ended up using Fedora 12, though the only kernel I could get it to run stable under was 2.6.31.5-127 (I have 2.6.31.6-141 installed, but haven't booted under it yet, will report back on that sometime next week).

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

irens — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:43:10 GMT

Thanks for you reply.

Here is similar thread about noisy HP Proliant server: http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=109447626+1279478375588+28353475&threadId=1338715

It was ended up - HP has released a new ROM BIOS for this issue. I don't know, what will be with our DL165 G6. I have care pack, so i will phone them in monday. I'm affrad - i will hear, that this is normal - but these noise is horrible, even server is in another single room.

Best regards,
I.Piasecki

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

Vincent Santa Maria — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:25:20 GMT

What is the version of the BIOS on your server?

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

irens — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:30:57 GMT

Hi.

All firmware is the latest. I use the latest Proliant Support Pack for Linux and have the latest bios, latest ILO and latest firmware for SmartArray P212.

When i would know - that is so much horrible noisy - i would look for another server from another vendor.

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

Vincent Santa Maria — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:54:22 GMT

How many processors, memory modules and fans are in your server? Also, which slot is the P212 plugged into (one closest to the edge of the server, or one closest to the processor)?

Re: Fedora 13 Installation Problems HP DL165

irens — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:14:31 GMT

Hi.

One processor, 2x2GB of ram, P212 is mounted using, i suppose some riser card - it is hot-plug variant of this server - so mounting in standard way.

6 fans, each have 2 rotors.

I have idea - i unplug P212 and maybe see some difference.