MSA 1050 SAS connected to VMware 6.7 U1

[Asst-DGM]

Firmware is up to date in both MSA and hosts (2 x HP gen 10).

Here is what i get on my MSA with # show ports detail

# show ports detail
Ports Media Target ID Status Speed(A) Ports/Conn Health
Reason Action
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1 SAS 500c0ff43b31c000 Up 12Gb 1 OK

Topo(C) Lanes Expected Active Lanes Disabled Lanes
-----------------------------------------------------
Direct 4 4 0

A2 SAS 500c0ff43b31c100 Up 12Gb 1 OK

Topo(C) Lanes Expected Active Lanes Disabled Lanes
-----------------------------------------------------
Direct 4 4 0

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ports Media Target ID Status Speed(A) Ports/Conn Health
Reason Action
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B1 SAS 500c0ff43b31c400 Up 12Gb 1 OK

Topo(C) Lanes Expected Active Lanes Disabled Lanes
-----------------------------------------------------
Direct 4 4 0

B2 SAS 500c0ff43b31c500 Up 12Gb 1 OK

Topo(C) Lanes Expected Active Lanes Disabled Lanes
-----------------------------------------------------
Direct 4 4 0

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Success: Command completed successfully. (2019-05-22 10:02:59)

It seems to be a common problem with MSA1050 SAS and VMWare 6.7 (U1), has anyone a solution?

Thanks in advance.

[SUBHAJIT KHANBARMAN_1]

I would suggest you to check what kind of Fanout cable using for SAS connectivity?

 There are two kinds of fan-out cables: one terminates to a HD mini-SAS connector for connectivity to 12Gb/s HBA’s, whilst the other terminates to a 6G mini-SAS cable.

Request you to please refer page no 23 of quick spec and refer section "Step 4c - Choose Supported Options For SAS Infrastructure",

https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=a00005875enw

Hope this helps!
Regards
Subhajit

I am an HPE employee

If you feel this was helpful please click the KUDOS! thumb below!

***********************************************************************************

[Asst-DGM]

Hi Subhajit,

we are using 4 x HPE External 2.0m (6ft) Mini-SAS HD - Mini-SAS HD 4x Cable 716197-B21

These cables are used to connect 2 x HBA  x server to MSA 1050 SAS controllers.

Connection seems to be established as expected and speed is up to 12Gb/s.

Is this setup correct?

Thanks in advance.

Asst-DGM

[SUBHAJIT KHANBARMAN_1]

Cable seems to be fine. So all looks fine from MSA end.

Next you let us know the Server model, HBA model, Driver/firmware version of HBA. After that need to check SPOCK and figure out all compatible stuff.

You may also need to check HBA BIOS if all configuration correct or not.

Hope this helps!
Regards
Subhajit

I am an HPE employee

If you feel this was helpful please click the KUDOS! thumb below!

***********************************************************************************

[Asst-DGM]

Hi Subhajit, sorry for the long delay in my answer, i was in a hurry with other tasks.

Servers are 2 x HP DL380 G10, each with 1 x S4110 Intel processor, 96 GB of ECC HP RAM.

HBA are 2 x E208e-p per server, cables are - as you said - are ok.

Here you can find each firmware as reported by the ILo interface:

(firmware name firmware version Location)

iLO 5 1.40 Jan 29 2019 System Board
System ROM U30 v1.46 (10/02/2018) System Board
Intelligent Platform Abstraction Data 7.2.0 Build 30 System Board
System Programmable Logic Device 0x2A System Board
Power Management Controller Firmware 1.0.4 System Board
Power Supply Firmware 1.03 Bay 1
Power Supply Firmware 1.03 Bay 2
Innovation Engine (IE) Firmware 0.1.6.1 System Board
Server Platform Services (SPS) Firmware 4.0.4.393 System Board
Redundant System ROM U30 v1.46 (10/02/2018) System Board
Intelligent Provisioning 3.20.154 System Board
Power Management Controller FW Bootloader 1.1 System Board
HPE Smart Storage Battery 1 Firmware 0.70 Embedded Device
HPE Eth 10Gb 2p 535FLR-T Adptr 20.08.0401 Embedded ALOM
Network Controller 20.12.41 Embedded LOM
HPE Smart Array P408i-a SR Gen10 1.66 Embedded RAID
HP Ethernet 1Gb 4-port 331T Adapter 20.8.41 PCI-E Slot 1
HPE Smart Array E208e-p SR Gen10 1.04 PCI-E Slot 2
Embedded Video Controller 2.5 Embedded Device

Hope this helps, thanks in advance for your support.

Asst-DGM

[SUBHAJIT KHANBARMAN_1 · Accepted solution]

The output you have shared not clear to understand HBA driver/firmware.

As per SPOCK it seems required HBA firmware version: 1.34 and driver version: 1.0.2.1038-1OEM

You can also refer the below link and check the driver/firmware version as per the OS installed in the Server,

https://h20272.www2.hpe.com/spock2/Cont/ConfigsetView/index/102199

https://h20272.www2.hpe.com/SPOCK/Content/ExportPDFView.aspx?Id=14901&typeId=1

Hope this helps!
Regards
Subhajit

I am an HPE employee

If you feel this was helpful please click the KUDOS! thumb below!

***********************************************************************************

[Asst-DGM]

Hi Subhajit,

problem seems to be solved with an update of the HBA's firmware.

We've previously checked for firmware updates through the ILO / Intelligent Provisioning  and there seems to be none available for our HBA's, but following your suggestions we're able to find and download an update from HP' web site (v. 1.98). It has then been applied trough VMware's ssh shell.

After a reboot of the hosts both cloning from a template and vmotion completes without hanging at 40%.

Thanks for your support.

Ass-DGM