ML110 G7 - Strange fan behavior

[Ali]

Hi,

I had the similar issue, which has been resolved by updating the system bios, iLo firmware and system management driver.

as per my personal experience, Bios and ilo firmware upgrade and sometime downgrade does the trick.... not sure whether its a feasible option for you.

thanks,

Aftab

[NickMartin]

Aftab,

Are you saying you had a similar problem with the ML110 G7 or just with another machine?

If it was specifically with the ML110 G7 then please advise the version numbers of the iLO firmware, BIOS and System Management driver that now work for you and I will try them out.

I was running old versions of all 3 when I first started using the unit and have since upgraded to the latest versions of each.

This isn't homoeopathy; if you run two identical machines in two identical environments with the same combination of drivers and firmware you should get the same results, unless the machines or the environment aren't identical.

Can anyone advise a combination of BIOS, firmware and drivers that actually works? If so then I'll try them and if I'm still experiencing the problem then it's a hardware fault.

Nick

[IDH]

Nick

At last someone who has the same problem as me with a ML110 G7 - ok I haven't found a solution yet but at least it's not just me.

And your description of events matches mine - no change in temperature from the sensors but the fan speeds increase

I'm on my 2nd ML110 G7. RMA'd the first one back to Ebuyer with the overspeed fans but this one is just the same.

Current setup which HAS the fan problem:

System ROM (firmware) J01 02/01/2012 (already at latest version on delivery)
ILO version 1.28 (updated from 1.26 but made no difference)

Your idle fan speed of 30%/13%/10% matches mine.

The number of recent fan problem reports on the web is increasing, and will surely continue with the cashback offer creating a sales increase.

If HP don't acknowledge that there is a problem, they soon will need to with all the RMA'd machines coming back to haunt them.

As Nick has indicated, if anyone knows the combination of firmware/software that works, please let us know.

Ian

Edit: other links to same problem

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/ProLiant-Servers-ML-DL-SL/ML110-G7-High-Fan-issue/td-p/5563939#.UDDRG91lS4p

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/ProLiant-Servers-ML-DL-SL/ML110-G7-fan-noise/td-p/5442955#.UDDRT91lS4o

http://www.gibel.net/Blog/tabid/64/EntryId/22/HP-ML110-G7-strange-fan-behavior-extremely-loud.aspx

[IDH]

Not yet a definitive solution since the ambient temperatures have cooled a bit here.

Having looked at other threads, the one about replacing the thermal paste between CPU and cooler intrigued me.

So I took a look to see how difficult that would be. Four bolts hold the cooler in place. I loosened one a little and it did not seem very tight.

So I tightened it up. Repeated on the other 3 bolts, ie backed each one off about 10 degrees and then tightened about 20 degrees (overall tightening of 10 degrees - not a lot).

This was just a desperate measure but since then the fans have been rock solid at minimum speed.

Ambient temperature has got up to 23 degrees C (which previously was enough to trigger the fans speed increase). Until ambient reaches at least 24, I won't be convinved this a definitive fix but I'm hopeful. 

If anyone else has success with this, please confirm. it would be nice to know it wasn't some coincidence.

Edit: just hours after I posted this, the ambient has increased to 23degC and the fans have gone to 41%/34%/10%. Not too noisy so fingers crossed it will not increase further.

Update: the fan increase was a result of a runaway VM that used 100% of a core so justified. Closed that down, reset ILO and back to peace and quiet.

Ian

[NickMartin]

After replacing the thermal paste mine ran silently for 2 weeks, now back to 54% / 46% / 10%  :o(

Nick

[IDH]

Same problem has come back again even after replacing thermal paste. Seems related to ambient temperatures rather than CPU cooling.

Considering this is hardly a hot UK summer, 24 deg C sending the fans to max does not sound like anyone at HP has thought this through (or got a clue?).

SMEs or home users buying these are not going to have cooled server rooms so either the odd one is bad (well I've had two out of two bad ones!) or HP have a whole pile of complaints.

Interestingly, despite this being an HP forum, no one from HP has come back with ANY comment - yes guys keep your heads down!

Well temepratures here should drop soon so maybe the noise will go away. Either that or it's going in the garage. I foresee it going on eBay next summer and no more of my money going HPs way given their lack of interest.

Ian

[Dennis Handly]

>no one from HP has come back with ANY comment

This is a peer to peer forum, not an official HP support site.  So unless this board is part of an Expert Day you can try: http://www.hp.com/go/hpsc

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Announcements/Expert-Day-September-20th/m-p/5757193

[MRCaccapi]

@Howooden wrote:

@Having unsuccessfuly tried the methods mentioned - here's how I seem to have fixed my fan issue (Rear fan @ 50% - 54% regardless of ambient temperature or load).

Power on the server.
Press the F9 key to enter RBSU.
Select "Advanced."
Go into "Thermal Configuration and select "Increased Cooling."

Exit and restart server.

Using iLO all fans now run at around 47% and boy is it noisy.

Restart server and repeat process, setting "Thermal Configuration" back to "Optimal Cooling"

After this I had a very quiet ML110 G7. I hope this works for you.

Regarding the missing heatsink see HP's explanation.

Hello, we just bought a couple of ML110 G7 and we have the same noisy fan problem.

We discovery that the fan speed increase when you plug-into additional items, i.e. HDD or DVD-Rom or PCI additional card.

Infact, unbox the 1st server, open it and add Ram, HDD and PCI card.

The when start it the fans run really quick.

So we unbox the 2nd server and power on w/o adding any items and it runs really quiet.

Adding component to 2nd server and power-up it again the fans become really fast.

We upgrade the ILO firmware to the latest version available getting a low improvment.

So we use the upon method and we get an additional improvement, but I think a new Bios/firmware will be necessary from HP.

[MRCaccapi]

HP support just contact me w/o solution.

They told that if you add component to server (i.e HDD or PCI card) system fan runs at high speed...

This is a really bad design IMHO

I hope they delivery a new Bios update asap to silve this problem.

If anyone has news please post here

[garethcamp]

Hi Guys,

I'm a very recent owner of the ML110 G7 for use as a Home server (I already have an N40L MicroServer).

I thought I'd post to give my findings:

The fans in my system are very noisy, I've tried:

1. Replacing the CPU heatsink compound

2. Making sure all the BIOS, iLO & other firmwares and drivers are at the latest version.

3. Changing the BIOS setting to 'increased cooling' then switching it back to 'optimal cooling'

With no change whatsoever, please, please can HP issue a new BIOS with some way of resolving the fan speed issue, I was hoping to be able to buy and fit replacement fans but given the unique design of the HP fans this isn't an option.

[MRCaccapi]

waiting for HP new Bios I just purchased a new fan

http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=44&lng=en

then I will try to connect it following the proliant scheme hoping Bions wont give me error on boot.

I will post here my result.

Please cross your fingers :-)

[MRCaccapi]

Do you have fan problem with PCI card installed or also without?

I'm trying to restore the original fan speed unistalling all additional component but I'm unable to do... any suggestion?

[garethcamp]

I have a PCI-E Video Card and 3 x Non-HP HDDs installed, I've not bothered removing anything because the server should function correctly with all of this in it. I'd rather find a fix for the server as I intend to use it, not with it being a bare shell.

[MRCaccapi]

Right! I have installed 1 PCIe adaptec 2405 card and 2x non HP HDD and all works fine except the case fan.

I'm thinking to repliche the fan and in Bios Giove me startup error, I will cut all blades of the standard fan so it runs without noise because it is w/o blades and connect an additional quote fan to the rear.

[thecheekymonkey]

Hi also am having an issue with the ml110 g7

if i install another pcie graphics card in the machine the fans go ridiculous, if i remove it they go down.

latest firmwares / ilo management etc etc

make no difference.

im sorry HP but this is ridiculous.

am going to return them , unfortunate as the hardware for cash is brilliant but its a stupid fault in the bios.

[mack22]

MRCaccapi,

Were you able go get your aftermarket case fan working?  If so, how are the results?

thanks for the information

[MRCaccapi]

unfortunately I do'nt have yet the other fan, I expected to get it tomorrow.

Meanwhile I got a similar connector, cut it as 3x2 and settled the cable like the original fan, so when I receive the new fan I can try in one minute without cut the cables to original fan.

Then I will post here my result.

[MRCaccapi]

unfortunately the new fan doesn't work.

I connected it using a replacment connector and it runs fine, but the bios give the message about insufficient fan (it seems that case fan is brokne, but it was replaced with other) and shut down the server.

It is a very bastad policy! I would chenge components not HP branded!

The only solution is a new HP bios.

HP you MUST delivery a new bios now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nszhang]

The loud noise (100% on two fans and 39% on the other) was caused by the iLO on my ML110 G7. Once it was disabled, all was quiet.

What a dissppointment! iLO is almost a must for me.

Nan