DL380 GEN8 - ILO Errors

[INFOR-RAM1]

Hi all,

I´ve a few DL380p G8, and fans speeding up to 100%, takes me to update all ILO and Bios for last version, all system are ok with two exceptions two DL380p G8 wich serial number is one after other, at same production. The error reports bad ILO initialization, looking corrections the ways are downgrade to 2.61 and cross fingers for a correction at ILO Chip (SD/Nand) or format the ilo, any help to correct it will be welcome.

On diagnostics, we have a Embedded Flash/SD-CARD with Controller Firmware revistion 2.10.00 and Embedded media initialization failed due to media write-verify test failure.

Can anyone help me solve this problem?

Thanks.

Nélio Abreu

[rmay_bk]

We have a large number of these iLO4 modules in our datacenter.  The 2.70 firmware appears to be more capable than 2.62 or 2.61 when working with SD card format problems.  I have been upgrading our iLO4 modules to 2.70 as the very first step.

[INFOR-RAM1]

Hi may_bk,

The errors reported are related to ILO need to be formated?

NA

[Torsten.]

see

https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=a00048622en_us

note: pull the power plugs after initiating a format.

[INFOR-RAM1]

Hi,

Do you have experience in formating the ILO Flash?

Have you done this before?

Did it work?

For what I have understood from the link, I need to place the Administrator password for the ILO in the XML file Force_Format and I have to reload the Inteligent Provisioning!

NA

[Torsten.]

No, with current ILO firmware you just need to click "Format", then pull the plugs, then check ILO log for success.

[INFOR-RAM1]

Hi,

This note:

note: pull the power plugs after initiating a format.

I pull the power plugs during the format process, without letting it finish?

NA

[Torsten.]

The advisory says "A server AC power removal may be required (prior to the NAND format) in order for the NAND format to be successful."

Based on my experience if you click "Format", the command is queued, ILO will reboot and format during boot. If you pull the plugs, the command is still queued but not yet performed, so pulling the plugs quickly after selecting "Format" will cold start the ILO, then it formats during boot.

You should consider to first pull the plugs, then format, then check for success. If not successful, try the other way.

[INFOR-RAM1]

What about the message in the screen, about having to install all back?

NA

[rmay_bk]

Yes, the SD card format and/or initialization errors are occasionally mitigated by upgrading to firmware 2.70.  I would do this upgrade as the first step.

If the web interface is malfunctioning so badly that you cannot reach the format/reset screen, there's the nuclear option.  First Install the HP iLO Powershell cmdlets on a system that has connectivity to the iLO.  Then create this file:

<RIBCL VERSION="2.0">
<LOGIN USER_LOGIN="adminname" PASSWORD="password">
<RIB_INFO MODE="write">
<FORCE_FORMAT VALUE="all"/>
</RIB_INFO>
</LOGIN>
</RIBCL>

Change the username and password to the appropriate values.  Save it to C:\ as Force_Format.xml.

Then in powershell:

$xml = ([string](get-content "C:\Force_Format.xml"))
$iLOIP = "<ip address>"
$username = "adminname"
$ilopassword = "password"

Invoke-HPiLORIBCLCommand -server $iLOIP -Username $username -Password $ILOpassword -RIBCLCommand $xml -DisableCertificateAuthentication -verbose

Again, replace "adminname" and "password" with the appropriate values.

[INFOR-RAM1]

Hi,

After formating the SD, I'll then install Inteligent Provisioning, right?

NA

[Torsten.]

Yes, install Intelligent Provisioning version 1.71.

[INFOR-RAM1]

Hi,

Ok.

The situation of the cables.... I press the button Format, and then I remove the power cables?

And then what? I plug them again and power on the server for the format to be carried out?

NA

[rmay_bk]

>After formating the SD, I'll then install Inteligent Provisioning, right?

You're supposed to.  I never bother to do it.

[INFOR-RAM1]

You never bother installing Inteligent Provisioning?

How Come?

All my servers have VMWare installed!

To have the login and password back again I have to create the force_format.xml file.

Where will I store this file?

NA

[rmay_bk]

We never saw a need for it.  We just install from the HPE customized ESXi ISO image.

I keep force_format.xml on my C: drive.

[INFOR-RAM1]

But I have no C: drive in my DL380p Gen8 servers.

VMWare is isntalled on both.

NA

[rmay_bk]

You'll need to have the XML file on your workstation (or whatever machine has network access to the iLO along with having the iLO Powershell cmdlets.).

[INFOR-RAM1]

Oh... Ok.....

But, in the ILO, the Format command, how will it know where to look for the file?

It will prompt?

Or it has to be in a specific location known by the ILO?

NA

[rmay_bk]

It's in the Powershell.  You'll need to adjust the path as appropriate.

$xml = ([string](get-content "C:\Force_Format.xml"))

[INFOR-RAM1]

Ok.

The issue of the power cables, that must unplug, after issuing the Format command:

After issuing the format, it will be in queued, and then i keep the cables out or plug them again into the server?

If I plug them back again what will I do next? Power on the server?

NA

[Ravi2019]

Hi if you are formatting the NAND memory pls follow up below article 

https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=a00048622en_us

And pls describe in detail what is the symptom seen on the affected server 

Thank you

Ravi swamy 

HPE