dl560 & windows 2000 with 4 cpus

[Andrew Pike]

Are there any known issues with Windows 2000 Advanced Server running on a ProLiant DL560 with 4 CPUs ? I ask this because I am having difficulties with getting this configuration to work correctly. I can install the OS (without using SmartStart) with 2 CPUs in the server and it boots fine afterwards. However, once I add the two remaining CPUs Windows no longer boots, stopping at the ntdetect.com/driver load phase. Our supplier has said that there is a known issue with SmartStart and four CPUs but I did not anticipate that this would affect me. I have always preferred to manually install and considered that the only difference between the two was that the HP ProLiant Support Pack drivers would be added during the SmartStart install, whereas they must be manually added following a custom install. Could it be that there is a custom HAL incorporated into SmartStart that I am unaware of ? Please enlighten me.

[Sunil Jerath]

Hello Andrew,
I have not heard of anything like. But do update the system ROM before you install the other two. Here is the link in case you need it.

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/20003.html

Please let me know if this makes a difference.

Regards,

[Andrew Pike]

Thanks for responding Sunil.

Just to let you know that I have already applied the 12/11/03 firmware revision as you suggest. Also the CPUs are 2.5GHz Xeon, 512KB L2, 1MB L3, and all are detected during POST. The server has 5GB of RAM and the 3 PCI slots are used by a Smart Array 6402 and two FCA2101 fibre channel HBAs.

[e4services]

Andrew,
Have you tried to identify if one processor is bad? Like add a third only or switching the CPUs around? Sounds to me like one is bad or one of the VRMs

[Luc Derveaux]

To test if the cpu or working or not: if you installe with smartstart the 4 cpu are found or not ?

[Andrew Pike]

Thanks for the replies.

I forgot to mention that I managed to complete the Windows installation process with all four CPUs in the server. It was only when the server tried to boot for the first time following the install that the problem arose. I've not checked this but maybe the setup program only runs in uniprocessor mode ? I will swap the two spare CPUs with the two that are presently in the server tomorrow and let you know what happens.

[Andrew Pike]

The server booted OK once I had swapped the two spare CPUs with those that were running in the server. It is also now working fine with three CPUs. However once again the server is failing to boot after adding the fourth CPU. Possibly a faulty CPU slot ?

[Sunil Jerath]

Hello Andrew,
If the server does not work with the 4th CPU then the only reason it could be is the failed CPU slot. So if you still have the warranty then log in a call to have the faulty component replaced.

Regards,