BL460c Gen9 VMware support

[jlangmead]

Hi

I after clarification on support for VMware 7.x on a BL460c Gen9. I'm 99% certain it is supported as it's listed here

VMware Compatibility Guide - System Search    and here

VMware from HPE Certification and Support | Hewlett Packard Enterprise

BUT the 2021.10.1 SPP for the latest BL460c Gen9 SPP only shoes support up to VMware 6.7 - could this simply be because the SPP doc was not updated when VMware 7.x was launched?

many thanks

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

Please take a look at the Notes for BL460c Gen9.
https://techlibrary.hpe.com/us/en/enterprise/servers/supportmatrix/vmware.aspx

"Operating System Support for the HPE ProLiant BladeSystem portfolio is frozen starting from Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) Version 2021.10.0"

https://downloads.hpe.com/pub/softlib2/software1/publishable-catalog/p212582145/v205808/Gen9_SPP2021.10.0ReleaseNotes.pdf

https://downloads.hpe.com/pub/softlib2/software1/publishable-catalog/p212582145/v205808/Gen9SPP2021.10.1ReleaseNotes.pdf

Thank You!
I work with HPE but opinions expressed here are mine.
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[Tam92]

Hello,

I see my colleague has already answered the queries.

The answer follows as below

Operating System Support for the HPE ProLiant BladeSystem portfolio is frozen starting from Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) Version 2021.10.0, released in October 2021. Starting with March 2022 MSB, there will be no updated firmware nor driver releases across the ProLiant BladeSystem platform. HPE will not be testing new operating systems nor validating existing OS support with newer SPP or MSBs. No updated firmware nor driver releases later than SPP version 2021.10.0 may be applied on HPE ProLiant BladeSystem products.

HPE will make best efforts to resolve issues and defects as follows:

• HPE will triage critical defects and critical security issues and work to identify root cause
• Components within HPE control (e.g., iLO, bios, etc.) will continue to be prioritized
• If possible, HPE will attempt to fix these defects and security issues but cannot guarantee the ability to do so
• This applies only to supported OS versions and FW levels as of 2021.10.0 SPP

Thanks,

TAM

[jlangmead]

Hi TAM

Many thanks for your response - I'm not sure it clarifies my understanding though. Please read the below as this is my current understanding, but it's important I'm correct on this.

So I read this as the following. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I have taken the pertinent parts of the information you have provided and aligned my interpretation of this.

"Operating System Support for the HPE ProLiant BladeSystem portfolio is frozen starting from Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) Version 2021.10.0,"

I take this to mean that 2021.10.0 will not be qualified with VMware ESXi 7.x as 2021.10.0 is only certified up to VMware 6.7 even thought VMware 7.0 was release in 2020.

"HPE will make best efforts to resolve issues and defects as follows:

• HPE will triage critical defects and critical security issues and work to identify root cause
• Components within HPE control (e.g., iLO, bios, etc.) will continue to be prioritized
• If possible, HPE will attempt to fix these defects and security issues but cannot guarantee the ability to do so
• This applies only to supported OS versions and FW levels as of 2021.10.0 SPP"

The key bullet point here is the last one (I've underlined it). So HPE will ONLY provide support for "supported OS versions and FW levels as of 2021.10.0. SPP". I take this to exclude VMware 7.x support from any system running SPP 2021.10.0 as this SPP only supports up to VMware 6.7. 

Therefore please confirm (a simple yes or no will be great) that a customer with a BL460c Gen9 running 2021.10.0 and  VMwrae 7.x is NOT a supported configuration??

My request for clarification is that the VMware website and the following link to an HPE website

VMware from HPE Certification and Support | Hewlett Packard Enterprise

both show VMware 7.x support for BL460c Gen9s? If it is supported to run 7.x on BL460c Gen9 please confirm what SPP should be installed on the blades as you've already said HPE will only support OS versions supported by 2021.10.0 which only includes VMware 6.x

Am I missing something?? 

The only clarification I need now is that SPP 2021.10.0 supports VMware 7.x as I can't see that documented anywhere - please provide a link where I can satisfy myself of this capability

many thanks

[Tam92]

Hello,

Esxi 7.0 is no doubt supported on BL460c Gen9 servers.

2021.10.0  has the required components of Esxi 7.0 

Please refer to the content report of the SPP

https://downloads.hpe.com/pub/softlib2/software1/publishable-catalog/p1099065821/v176687/Gen10SPP2021.10.0ContentReport.pdf

So you can use this SPP on BL460c Gen9 running with ESXi 7.

Thanks,

TAM

[jlangmead]

Hiya TAM

Many thanks again for continuing assisting me with my query - I'm 99% confident in the information you've provided so far but just have two further questions to be 100% happy that I'm not going to be deploying an unsupported solution.

1. You sent a link to the SPP conrtents release for a Gen10 server stating that I can install this on a Gen9 server to enable VMware 7.x support but the SPP download site  Software Details - Gen9 Service Pack for ProLiant (Production) | HPE Support states the following:

• Starting from SPP 2021.10.1, two SPPs are being released, one for Gen9 only products and the other one for Gen10/Gen10 Plus products.

So can I really install the Gen10 SPP onto a Gen9 to allow for VMware 7.x support??

2. On page 6 of the Gen9 version of the 2021.10.1 Release notes it doesn't include VMware 7.x in the list of supported OS versions - should I ignore this and proceed to install the Gen10 version of the SPP to get around the restriction??

Supported OS versions shown on page 6 of the Gen9 2021.10.1 Release notes: Gen9SPP2021.10.1ReleaseNotes.pdf (hpe.com)

• Microsoft Windows Sever 2019 - All Editions
• Microsoft Windows Sever 2016 - All Editions
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 - All Editions
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.3, 8.4
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.8, 7.9
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2, 15 SP3
• VMware vSphere 6.5 U3
• VMware vSphere 6.7 U2, U3

Many thanks

[Tam92 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Apologies.. 

Here is the Content report for Gen9 SPP

https://downloads.hpe.com/pub/softlib2/software1/publishable-catalog/p1975509575/v205807/Gen9SPP2021.10.1ContentsReport.pdf

Gen9 SPP download link : https://techlibrary.hpe.com/us/en/enterprise/servers/products/service_pack/spp/index.aspx?version=Gen9.1#!&tab=TAB4

Below links will also be helpful

https://downloads.hpe.com/pub/softlib2/software1/publishable-catalog/p572133740/v205809/Gen9SPP2021100_ServerSupportGuide.pdf

https://downloads.hpe.com/pub/softlib2/software1/publishable-catalog/p1760112894/v205683/Gen9SPP2021.10.1ComponentNotes.pdf

Thanks,

TAM