ASR Automatic Server Recovery: how does it work ? how to configure it

[Pagnotta]

Hello everybody,

I'm trying to find a solution on ou servers to configure ASR on our Proliant servers to respond correctly to a system crash du to a boot on san configuration.

When a server is booted from a volume on the san, it will be crasing a soon as the connexion to the san is lost (to be accurate not immediately). The net result of this type of crash is a windows blue screen message. The server in tgis state should normally be restarted by the ASR system of HP Prolisant severs...

My questions, can anyone explain my more in details how this ASR system is implemented and if the Operating System configuration could interfere with this behavior restarting the server before the ASR system do it ?

Thanks

Angelo

[Storage-Manager]

Hi,

As far as i know ASR is implemented as part of the System ROM. The ASR functionality tries to communicate with the health driver (part of HP Insight Management Agents) when the OS is loaded. A crash of the OS i.e BSOD would prevent the ASR to communicate with the health driver. The default timeout for ASR is 10 minutes. After 10 minutes when communication between the health driver and the ASR is possible the timer will be reset to 10 minutes. When the OS crashes this timer will run out and the ASR initiates a hard reset fo the server.

[Rajashekar Chintakunta]

Hi Pagnotta,

Automatic Server Recovery is: At regular intervals, the System Management Driver updates your hardware. If the driver cannot perform an update, it indicates that the system is not functioning due to a critical hardware or software error. When this occurs, Automatic Server Recovery resets your system and brings it back on line.

There is a time interval that can be set in the BIOS for Automatic Server Recovery. Like 5, 10, 15, 30 Mins.

If the System Management Driver does not update the BIOS/hardware the ASR would be triggered.

In the Operating system when BSOD or any error occurs OS can also restart the server. The Enable or Disable this option, Goto MyComputer->Properties->Advance-> Click Settings button under Startup and Recovery.

Regards,
Raj.

[Storage-Manager]

Hi Rajashekar,

There is a little differnece between System Management Driver and Insight Management Agents.

For ASR to work you need the Health Server Agent which is part of the HP Insight Management Agents. You can find the explanation in this guide on page 42.

The HP System Management driver provides monitoring of server components, event logging, and support for the HP ProLiant Management Agents but it has nothing to do with ASR as far as I know.

greetings

[Storage-Manager]

Hi Rajashekar,

There is a little difference between System Management Driver and Insight Management Agents.

For ASR to work you need the Health Server Agent which is part of the HP Insight Management Agents. You can find the explanation in this guide on page 42.

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/WebDoc/750/imaug.pdf

The HP System Management driver provides monitoring of server components, event logging, and support for the HP ProLiant Management Agents but it has nothing to do with ASR as far as I know.

greetings

[Pagnotta]

Hi,

Thanks for all these answers. Can anyone tell me if ASR timeout can be changed from a script or batch with a utility from HP and from a running windows ?

I need to change this setting for a group of servers and I'd like to do it without a server restart...

Thanks

[Rajashekar Chintakunta]

Hi Pagnotta,

"The ASR timeout delay duration is a settable parameter within the server ROM-Based Setup Utility (RBSU)."

We cannot set this timeout value from within Windows OS.

There is a Conrep utility which is used to set the BIOS values, but that utility is used pre-OS installation.

The ASR is Managed by the ASM refer the following Link:

HP ADVANCED SYSTEM MANAGEMENT (ASM) SOFTWARE RECOMMENDED: Benefits Of Installing And Running The HP ASM Driver And Agents On ProLiant Servers:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=PSD_CN0416W

With the HP ASM driver loaded and Automatic Server Recovery (ASR) enabled, the server detects the hang condition and restarts itself. In a lockup condition, the ASR timer expires.

Regards,
Raj.

[Pagnotta]

Hello,

So as far as I understand no way to configure the ASR timeout via a script from windows running on the machine....

We use Insight Manager (SIM) with hosts running the HP Management agents. I've seen that the ASR is configurable, enablle or disable... I was wondering if more recent agents could implement the configuration of that timeout value ?

Does anyone know if this is possible via SIM and these HP Management Agents ?

Angelo