HP DL160 Gen 9 - issue with add-in video

[melelhov88]

Hello,

We have several HP DL160 servers with video card Matrox Extio F2408 that is connected to Matrox Box.

We had some issues with these cards, but we installed the latest drivers WDDM and also disabled the Embedded Video Output (BIOS->Advanced Options->Video Output -> Add-in Video Enabled, Embedded Disabled) and now it works ok.

There are two issues. First - when Matrox is powered down, the screen turns black and we have to restart the server (which is quite bad but we can live with it).

Bigger problem is when the Matrox Box is powered down and server is restarted. Then, BIOS is losing the settings and it turns to "Both Add-in and Embedded Video Enabled" . When Matrox is powered up again, after the restart of server, the screen connected to Matrox is black and Add-in Video is disabled.

Is there any solution for that? To keep Add-in Video Enabled?

Best regards

m88

[Paul_J_K]

Please try to check the PCI slot in which the interface is installed. As per matrox, x16 slot recommended for maximum compatibility. 

Have you checked with Matrox about this? Any pointers they can give?

You might have to re-visit the OS version (compatibility with the matrox as well as server), drivers, LED indicators. 

Check if "enable system restart" option is enabled in the Matrox utility. More info on http://www.matrox.com/graphics/media/pdf/products/kvm/en_extio_f2000series_guide.pdf

Check if the server is going to standby/sleep while powering off matrox. 

Check if it is feasible to try XDDM and WDDM drivers and see if that makes any difference.

Hello @melelhov88

Can you please help us to understand if the issue got resolved or not?

If issue got resolved then how?

This will help for everyone who are all following your forum.

If you feel this was helpful please click the KUDOS! Thumbs below!

[melelhov88]

Hello Paul_J_K,

Thanks for response.

Yes - we're using x16 slots.

Matrox says that we should use UPS.... The problem is that someone can disconnect the Matrox Box and then try to restart. The problem is that we have additional APC Automatic Switch Transfer between UPS and Matrox and sometimes it stops working (after drop of frequency).

We tested WDDM and XDDM.  XDDM works with enabled Embedded Video, but the screen freezes when we use additional KVM and also there is a problem with Audio drivers after restart. WDDM works only with disabled Embbedded Video and then we don't have any problems with KVM and audio drivers. 

We've installed the latest BIOS for HP DL160 and the latest drivers for Matrox.

We tried to enter to Matrox Setup (by pressing F7) but it doesn't work. 

Is there any possibility to use WDDM with enabled Embedded Video or "save" somehow option "Disable Embedded Video" in ROM?

Best regards

m88

[Paul_J_K · Accepted solution]

If a frequency loss is causing such an issue in the event of even a small voltage brownout, the continuity of the power source is questionable. Since Matrox has recommended to have a UPS, it definitely means that there should be uninterrupted power. Some offline UPS options do skip a beat during the switch over and that's not healthy for sensitive equipment.

When the power back up reliability is no longer a problem and if the problem still happens, I suggest that you raise these parallely with the respective manufacturers support teams. 

I personally don't think it's a good idea to disable the embedded display option permanently. It is unlikely for such a setting to exist as it will flaw the useability of the server display when an appropriate external display adapter is not connected. Embedded display is always supposed to critically pitch in as soon as secondary display is lost.

Please do help us understand if the issue got resolved or not?

If issue got resolved then how?

If you feel this was helpful please click the KUDOS! Thumbs below!