G10 SPP 2021.04.0 create on usb key utility 3.0 can't boot

[xiaoV]

When I boot the G10 SPP 2021.04.0 which create on usb key utility 3.0，it can‘t boot，so where i can find the solution to solve the problem 

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

Here is the Gen10 SPP 2021.04.0 Release Notes.

According to that there are no compability issues mentioned.

Try with a different USB key.
Check in the BIOS if USB Boot option is enabled.
Try other means of SPP installation to make sure the SPP downloaded is not corrupt.

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

[FezUSA]

Are you getting the GRUB prompt?  If so then the issue is related to the USB Key Utilitiy tool.  HP knows about the issue and claims it was fixed in 2020.09.0, however I've tried the 2020.09.1 tool and that did not change anything.  Unfortunately HP's advisory is to use the version found in SP 2020.03.0 or earlier, which is no longer available.  The download center has a couple of older versions of the USB tool so I'm going to try those.

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=a00109613en_us&docLocale=en_US

[FezUSA]

Also, make sure the USB drive is NOT bigger than 32GB!

[Torsten.]

What server model do you try to boot?

[gsb88]

I got the Grub error on the same USB stick that just had 2020.9 working on it. So I just did Remote Console and used the remote iso mount from my work PC and gave up on the USB stick

[Sebasbin]

Hi,

I would suggest to download the G10 SPP 2021.04.0  Image once again 
>>Extract the SPP ISO Image to the folder 
>>Open the extracted folder and then open the "usb" folder and run the usbkey.exe
>>Follow the onscreen instructions to create usb bootable with SPP.
>>Also you can mount the SPP image via ILO virtual media and boot from the SPP to update the server . 

[xiaoV]

I follow your suggestion，but when I boot the SPP 2021.04.0 from USB stick also get the GRUB prompt! 

So can't I try another USB stick utility?

And I mount the SPP image via ILO virtual media and Success boot from the SPP to update the server!

[AndyB2X]

I've got the same issue.  I even tried it with the USB creator from 2020.03 that I had in my downloads folder - still no luck.  I put a ticket in but they won't help over email.  

[FezUSA · Accepted solution]

I finally figured this out definitively for my environment!  Using a 32GB flash drive, I "mount" the downloaded ISO file (latest SPP > 2021040) and navigate to the USB > USBKey folder and launch USBkey.exe

When the utility opens, point it to the mounted CD/DVD drive that you just launched the utility from, NOT the ISO file.  Then run it against the USB drive (create the USB drive).

Once done, remove the USB drive and put it in your server and reboot > F11 > from the boot menu choose the USB drive

Decide on auto or manual update and go!

While figuring this out and trying different versions of the utility and alternative 3rd party utilities for creating the USB drive, I also successfully connected to the iLO and used remote console (HTML5) and used virtual media pointed to the ISO file on my workstation, then booted the server to legacy boot menu and chose the virtual CD drive

[AndyB2X]

This worked, hopefully OP posts this as the solution for those having trouble.  Thanks FezUSA.  

[TTECS]

Also works with the Gen9/Gen10 5/21 SPP

[DimitryB]

Same problem here.  i've got a Grub prompt whwn booting from the USB

[FezUSA]

Did you follow my instructions from my post 04/28/2021 to create the USB key?

Re: G10 SPP 2021.04.0 create on usb key utility 3.0 can't boot

[Torsten.]

>> When the utility opens, point it to the mounted CD/DVD drive that you just launched the utility from, NOT the ISO file. 

This works for me too.

[DimitryB]

Yes pointed to the CD Drive and that was indeed the solution. But now i'm frustrated why it works this way. 

Thanks for the solution.

[Erdogan Temur]

Hi,

I hope you are not using the front service port as the usb port.
Use the usb ports on the back of the server and use usb 3.0 key.

HPE Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) update with ILO 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghA2B91my6s 

Admin [above link is no longer valid, please visit https://support.hpe.com/connect/s/  to find the latest info ]

[AndyB2X]

Erdogan,

Respectfully - 

Nobody is having the issue where we cannot see the USB stick, which would happen if we were using the service port.  The normal front USB port is totally serviceable.  The issue is, for some reason, a USB stick cannot be correctly made using the inlcuded USB Key utility without first mounting the ISO file and then using that to point to in the USB Key utlity.  Obviously it would be much more intuitive to just point to the ISO file while using the utility, but for some reason, that does not make a stick that will boot into the SPP, it will boot to a GRUB prompt instead.  HPE could help by correcting the error between the USB Key utility and the SPP so that you can point directly to the ISO file again to create the USB key, which is more intuitive for most users and was the way it worked prior to the 09.2020 SPP.  Then they wouldn't have to pop onto the web and research the issue.

Thanks

[Erdogan Temur]

Hello,

Customer Advisory: (Revision) HPE Service Pack For ProLiant (SPP) - SPP Version 2020.03.2 and 2021.04.0 USBKEY.EXE Utility for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems Does Not Function Properly

RESOLUTION

This issue has been addressed in SPP version 2020.09.0 for SPP version 2020.03.2

For SPP 2021.04.0, as a workaround, use usbkey from previous a version of SPP such as SPP 2020.03.0 or any third party usbkey utilities to create a bootable SPP from the ISO image.

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-a00109613en_us

[AndyB2X]

I can confirm the workaround will work but ONLY if you mount the ISO as a drive.  It will not work if you point to the ISO as the image, no matter if it's an old version of the USB key utility or not.  

I also tried it with Rufus (as the same problem exists there if you point to the ISO as an image).  

To give it a try - use the USB Key utility from any version of the SPP, then point to the ISO file as the image.  The image created will boot to a grub prompt instead of into the SPP program when inserted into a Gen10 Server.  

If the workaround of mounting the ISO as a drive was included in that advisory, that would probably help people who see that advisory but don't keep searching to find this forum post.  

[LabLemos]

Thank's a lot. It worked for me.

[Erdogan Temur]

SUPPORT ALERTS - CUSTOMER ADVISORY

Document ID: a00116450en_us

Version: 2

Advisory: (Revision) HPE ProLiant Gen10 Servers - USB Keys Created With USBkey.exe From Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) 2021.04.0 or 2021.05.0 Fail to Boot to Boot Mode UEFI

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-a00116450en_us

[Syeather]

I had this same problem, using the same usb drives that previously contained 2020.09.0 & worked just fine. 2021.04.0 would just boot to grub. I enabled legacy boot & it would boot fine, and would complete normally in manual install, but automatic (guided) mode seemed to work, but would hang at the very end, on the final inventory (just before a normal reboot would occur).

[byeros]

It works also with the SPP P45316_001_gen10spp-2021.10.0-SPP2021100.2021_1012.13

I suggest to disconnect all others USB also KVM.

Thank you FezUSA 

[jonrstacey]

I have an HPE SimpliVity DL380 Gen10.

I'm using SVTSP-2022_1021.02.iso which was booting to grub prompt and HPE USBKey Utility would not write to USBKey even when mounting ISO to Windows.

Here is what I did:

1.  Format USBKey 32GB or Less Fat32

2.  Export contents of ISO to USBKey

3.  Copy the file "system\initrd.img" to root folder on USB key.

4.  Copy the file "system\initrd.img.sig" to root folder on USB key.

5.  Copy the file "system\vmlinuz" to root folder on USB key.

6.  Copy the file "system\vmlinuz.sig" to root folder on USB key.

7.  Delete "efi\boot\grub.cfg" on the USB key.

8.  Rename "efi\boot\grub_usb.cfg" to "grub.cfg".