ML350 G2 Serial Port Issue

[Scott Clowers]

We have approx. 40 ML350 Servers at various locations They all run SCO OpenServer 5.0.4. A few are first generation and most are G2's. These servers communicate with a DOS box over serial. The DOS boxes all have DIGI boards as do most of the ML350s. The problem arises when we try to run this setup without the DIGI board in the ML350; i.e. we connect the serial cable to one of the on-board serial ports on the ML350. This is a file transfer application and it will transfer several blocks and then seem to hang and retry the same block several times before it is successfully sent. Finally the application will terminate because of too many errors. We have this configuration running successfully on one of the first generation ML350s. The problem seems to only be with the G2s. We can take the same serial cable and connectors, connected to the same DOS box and substitute an older Compaq server (a Prosignia 200 running SCO OpenServer 5.0.4 and the same application) in place of the ML350 G2 and the transfer goes fine. Was there a change in the serial port hardware/config between the ML650 G1 and G2? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Scott

[Prashant (I am Back)]

Hi Scott,

Try this, in case you want to validate the port of the server is working or not
HP Server Diagnostics
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/18396.html

This will containg the server diagnostics that will check for server component. There will a loop back test option also in same.

Since it is a offline Daig tool it down not matter which OS we are working on. This is to validate the Hardware port only.
Might help you.

Regards,
Prashant S.

[Scott Clowers]

Hi Prashant, thanks for the suggestion. The serial port is working as we do get a log in and it transfers several blocks(and not the same number everytime) before hosing up. Also, we are seeing this issue on every ML350 G2 that we have tried it on. We are trying to get rid of the DIGI boards since we don't use dumb terminals anymore. It seems to be an issue with only the G2 models since we have a first generation ML350 running this setup OK.

Thanks,
Scott

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi Scott,

There were some changes in the BIOS for serial connection but I'm guessing that you have the latest BIOS installed already - D11 V4.04 11/01/2003 (November 2003).

The BIOS history for the G2 can be checked here: -
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/revision/3501.html

If you don't have the latest BIOS, download and apply it to one of the servers to see if there is any improvement.
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/19847.html

It might also be worth trying the latest Extended Feature Supplement for SCO 5(EFS 5.62A).
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/19834.html

All the drivers and firmware for the ML350 G2 running SCO Openserver 5 can be found here: -
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/26_2588.html

You can also check the BIOS serial console settings using the setup utility (F9 on POST). It's in the Advanced Options area. There might be a setting there which is affecting your serial port performance.

I hope this helps,

Brian