We bought two identical ML310e Gen8 servers following advice from our local IT dealer (not on business anymore) for the same function (ethernet high protection switch connected to other self-designed factory equipment). Until that moment we used to rely on self assembled PC using branded components (Asus, Gigabyte, Intel, NVidia,...)
Just two months before this purchase, we bought two compatible boxes for the same function, that have been since then in the same conditions without any issue at all.
These 4 boxes were intended for this specific function, we don't need the slightless improvement on them. Maybe they are a little overdimensioned, but we choosed them for their supposed reliability.
Three months ago one of the HP boxes suddenly stopped. Power led went amber and, after some kind of attempt to go on green, went back to amber and health led started flashing red. No active fans, no ILO connection, no video signal.
The other HP box and the two self assembled kept working until today. Same workload, power supply, interface connection, electrical isolation, signal redundancy and protection,...
We waisted countless hours -in several time periods as soon as frustration allowed- following each and every documented procedures, flow charts, community forums and what else you can imagine, just to end up crashing on any undocumented aspect of HPE policies (motherboard LED meanings, undocumented DIP switch functions, cryptic led light sequences, no label jumper position, motherboard proprietary connectors, useless label notices,...)
As for now, we brought down to bare minimum configuration, switched every needed component (fans, thermal probe, power supply, RAM, processor, button battery,...) of our server with his twin brother box components except, indeed, motherboard, and the outcome is the same in all attempts:
- Power light goes amber after power cord is connected.
- Motherboard led P80LED1 and P80LE7 go fixed green for about 20 seconds.
- P80LED1 goes off, P80LED7 blinks 4 times, approx 1 flash per second.
- P80LED7 goes fixed (sometimes on, sometimes off), P80LED5 goes on, for about 4 seconds.
- PQ35ERRLED goes amber for 1 second, PWRLED1 goes green for 1 second, FAN1 and FAN2 try to start but stop after a few revs. Front panel LED goes green for a second All these events at once and last just a second.
- immediately all activity stops, P80LED7 starts blinking (1Hz) , P80LED5 fixed on, front UID blue led flashes 5 times (1Hz too), and front health led flashes red (about 2-4Hz).
(At this point we can push on power switch and the system goes to point 5 and back to 6 with no UID flashes any more. There is some kind of debounce for 6 seconds that avoids repeated pushes of the main front button.)
I'm under what they call it righteous indignation in my country, so there are only two outcomes for this server:
- We get the right information to diagnose the problem and keep this server up and going and evaluate as "labyrinthic but succeeded support service" on any further HP hardware expense.
- We recycle (and unsolder any valuable component) from this box and his twin and never again use any HP equipment on our small business.
(I've said "small" business? well, please understand "very tiny" but beloved business).
In any case, this is the last time we will spend any time trying to solve this issue.
Advice to any community reader: please, don't get misunderstood: there are many countries in Europe where their citizens don't have English as their first language and that doesn't mean they are stupid, better "au contraire", most of them are able to speak (even though some of them with basic skills) one or more languages than most of native English speakers.
