DL308p G8: "Array cannot be created. The operation is not available."

[clawshrimp]

Hello,
I am trying to reconfigure an older server with some new drives.  The system already had a 2-drive array, and I installed six more and created a second array via HPSSA with no problems.  Once the OS was installed we got into a boot loop so we decided to blow everything away and start fresh,

Now in HPSSA (using the embedded P420i controller) I can see all eight drives and select them, but there are no further options - just a message at the bottom of the screen which reads "Array cannot be created. The operation is not available."

I haven't found anything via Google which seems to apply to this issue - anyone have any ideas?

Edit: I'm guessing the controller is just disabled for hardware RAID but for the life of me I can't find a way to re-enable it (or why it would have changed), assuming that is the issue.

Thanks!

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

Have you tried creating an array with just 2 drives or 4 drives, this is to check if the controller is fine.

Additionally you can update the iLO, BIOS and Controller firmware to the latest to see if that fixes the problem.

Thank You!
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/home

[clawshrimp]

I have tried each of those (ultimtely we would like one 2-disk array and one 6-disk array).  What was that link intended to point me to?  I may not have the product entitlement neccessary to reach it.

I have been trying to update the BIOS firmware nut have had no luck so far.  Still working on it.

Thanks

[hunter86_bg]

Have you checked if there is a newer version for the controller ?
The last SPP for Gen8 is 2017.04.00 , but BIOS and iLO have newer versions than that.
Mine is running on 8.32 and after a specific version , there are more features out of the box (licensing for smart cache is still needed).

[sudhirsingh]

Hi,

Update the Intelligent provisioning to latest (1.72) supported for gen8 and check

Download and use the recovery media

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/swd/detail?swItemId=MTX_923c2214ad9247a6adc85f1425

Regards,

Sudhir

[clawshrimp]

I've been trying to update all the components I can, but no luck so far (I no longer have entitlement to get the newer SSPs, unfortunately).  I was able to run the recovery media, but the problem persists. HPSSA shows all 8 physical drives, but 0 loogical devices and 0 unassigned drives, with no actions available to do anything. 

I have noticed during POST the following message:

"Slot 0 HP Smart Array P420i Controller (0MB, v5.42) 0 Logical drives
Hardware RAID  support is disabled via NVRAM configuration settings"

Trying to find a way to enable that... 

[sudhirsingh]

Hi,

Try to clear NVRAM from hardware switch:

The following steps may be performed to clear the server NVRAM by accessing the system maintenance switch on the system board.

a. Extend the server from the rack, remove the access panel, and locate the system maintenance switch (refer to item 1 in figure 1 below).
b. Move switch S6 from default 'Off' position to 'On', install the access panel and install it in the bay.
c. When a message indicates that a maintenance switch has been turned on and the unit has been reset, power it off, remove it from the enclosure and reverse switch S6 and install it in the bay.

Reference (S6 position Should be same for Gen8)

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=kc0108542en_us&docLocale=en_US

Regards,

Sudhir

[clawshrimp]

No luck with the S6 switch either, I'm afraid.  I've reset the BIOS and updated all of the firmware that I can find on the HPE support site (and am still able to download, since it's out of support.  I am stumped...

[hunter86_bg]

Slot 0 HP Smart Array P420i Controller (0MB, v5.42)

I already asked you to update the raid controller firmware to v8.32
Also, you have to identify why there is no cache on the Controller.

[clawshrimp]

I'm afraid I have not yet been successful in updating the firmware - With no accessible dist to install an OS, and no access to the Gen8 SPP, I'm not sure what my other options for doing that are.  Running live bootable operating systems to attempt an online firmware update have also not worked.

As for the cache, I'm assuming that's simply because the Smart Storage battery has failed.  That said, the server was still opearting normally without the battery before all this began.

[hunter86_bg]

I have the same raid controller on my ML380p Gen8 and it's having a capacitor instead of a battery. Maybe you got a loose cable, as capacitors are harder to die.

You don't need to download the SPP, as the raid controller firmware is available without entitlement:
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/swd/detail?swItemId=MTX_42b6aa58956a438aa85bd73d0f#tab-history

I guess you can boot a live CD like Fedora in order to install the rpm and follow the instructions.

[clawshrimp]

Will re-check the cables again.  I had already attempted to install that RPM using an Ubuntu live USB stick, but with no luck.  That may just be me, I'm not much of a Linux guy.  Will give it a shot with Fedora as well...

[hunter86_bg]

Ubuntu doesn't use 'rpm's , but Fedora does.
If you need to use Ubuntu (or other Debian-like distributions) , you need to extract the rpm via cpio (also described in the instruction).

There are flash utilities for VmWare and Windows, but I think that they got no Live CD and installing (and later booting from) a USB stick is quite time consuming.