Rif.: ML110 Gen11 - Fan noise

[Roberto80]

I recently bought my first Gen11 server - an ML110.

I found that fans make more noise if compared to older servers.

When server was first started fans 3 and 4 ran at 60-65% for 3-5 minutes every 15-20 minutes.

Then, after bios/firmware/drivers upgrades, they went down to 40-42%, that is still quite high and makes it difficult to work in the same room.

At the moment the server is doing almost nothing: 1 shared folder sporadically accessed by 1-2 users.

I made an in-depth monitoring via restful apis, polling fan speed and temperatures every 30 seconds. The result is that fan speed is not related to temperature changes.

I opened a case with support and they told me:

 - that this is normal

 - that I cannot expect the fans to run at constant speed

 - that they consider an issue only if the fans run at constant high speed

 - that a fan speed of 40-42% every 15-20 minutes (and its related noise) is to be considered acceptable.

They suggested me to set workload profile to "Max Performance", but that worsened the situation.

I run many different servers (an ML350 Gen8 is in the same room) and I barely hear them.

Did anyone experience the same fans issue with ML110 Gen11?

Thank you!

[SydUmar_1]

Hello Roberto80,
Considering that you've already initiated a support case, the logs would have been reviewed, and recommendations would have been communicated. Please verify that the thermal configuration is optimized for cooling, ensure there are no third-party hardware installations, and set the ambient temperature according to operational guidelines.

[FrancescoM]

Same issue here, 

two servers ML110 Gen11 fully updated with latest VmWare esxi and no VMs running 

they are so noisy I cannot bring them to the customer in this condition

regards

Francesco

[Roberto80 · Accepted solution]

My server has 2 SDDs (bays 1 & 2) and 2 HDDs (originally in bays 3 & 4).

HPE actually escalated my case and after a couple of days they suggested me to try to move HDDs to different bays. They wrote me that in a similar situation with an ml110 gen11 that helped.

I tried to operate the server for a couple of days without HDDs and then I re-inserted them in bays 7&8. In both cases the two problematic fans (3&4) ran at an almost fixed speed of respectively 17% and 19% that is definitely acceptable.

Maybe you can try to move your disks, too.

[FrancescoM]

Hi Roberto,

I have no HDD, only SSDs. 

After a day of research I think it is an "intentionally bad design" issue,

the fans even look far worse that what used to be available in Gen6,

and I would suggest to fully abandon the product line entirely.

Buy a ML110 Gen10 instead.

I have opened yet another support ticket.  

[jkubis]

We are running into the same issue. Things with HP has been terrible as well as support. I've had this server in our office for 6 months with parts availability being bad, getting a defective fan, etc. Finally was able to put this all together last week and the fans are going out of control at the customer's site. I had to pull it to bring it back for troubleshooting. Engineering told us a network card that is in the configurator will cause higher fan speeds. Well we pulled it and still having issues. Asking us to pull drives out and put a sata drive in. Not sure what that is going to do when it's a design issue.

[NunoR]

Hello 

Same problem here. The noise is unbearable. Don't know if my client will acept this! HP needs to sove it!

[Mr_Techie]

You may follow these advisories, I hope it helps: 

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=sd00002310en_us&page=GUID-6E56342A-49F9-47DE-A46A-381D34EE1EE2.html

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=sd00002310en_us&page=GUID-89FB1A76-F982-4429-9A3E-5A430D548C8C.html

Let me know how it goes. 

[jkubis]

There is a big issue with these servers and HP and their engineering is clueness. I have a server that I have had in the shop here for 6 months and they have tried numerous bios fixes and profiles. It's time to get a class action lawsuit rolling.

[jkubis]

They sent us SSD drives as well. We are beta testers apparently for HP who clearly didn't test properly. This product is straight trash.

[jkubis]

It's so bad. HP doesn't seem to care. Trying to get distribution to take this server back.

[FrancescoM]

No it does not help, we are talking about a different problem.

Some HW components are just causing this abnormal fan behaviour.

HPE is aware of the issue and replied me in the ticket :

"most likely a new BIOS version will come with a fix for noise issue (However there is no Exact ETA but the work is in progress)"

kind regards

[jkubis]

Which is unacceptable. The configurator tells us all what parts are compatible. Something that sounds like a ford mustang at 9000 rpm on a dyno about to explode is not normal. I literally had to walk away from this server as I feared for my life. We had a representative from HP come down and take DB readings of how loud it is. It's over 100 decibels. HP sent out a bunch of lemons with this line. I wish someone in America would contact me at corporate instead of talking to a third world country. 

[Sunitha_Mod]

Hello @jkubis, @FrancescoM  @NunoR 

We regret any inconvenience you may have encountered. We request you please take a moment to reply to the private message we've sent and provide the requested information. This will enable us to address your concerns with the relevant team.

[Rok1215]

Hello - we've ran into a similar issue with a ProLiant ML110 Gen11 where the second fan (Fan 3) jumps to 85% when the OS boots with no CPU load at all on the server and the fan does not lower its speed. All original HPE parts.

I've tried everything possible I can think of or find online and still no solution. I've also opened a ticket with HPE regarding this but still no answer.

Did you ever get any clarification or solution regarding this issue? The loud noise is not acceptable for a tower server that would be used in an office space.

[NunoR]

After the intalation of cp056870.exe the problem is almost solved. A few moments after Windows boot the noise reduces. Please note that the server has 3 SSDs with RAID 5. 

[andesl]

would you post the url or link to download cp056870.exe?

thanks

[Rok1215]

Yes!!! Thank you very much for sharing this! This also resolved our issue with the constant high fan speed!

This is the download link: https://support.hpe.com/connect/s/softwaredetails?collectionId=MTX-ada99fb833d94a8b&tab=Installation+Instructions

It is: HPE Gen11 Agentless Management Service for Microsoft Windows x64

On the official ML110 Gen11 page, the driver listed there for Agentless Management is an older version which I installed before but had no effect on the fan speed.

After installing this on our OS (Windows Server 2022), after 30-60 seconds the fans speeds finally go down to under 10% and is quiet as it should be.

But be aware that when you reboot the server and it boots into the OS, the fans will still be loud as before for 2-3 minutes then it will gradually start slowing down and in our case Fan1/Fan3 stabalize at around 6-8% speeds.

[NunoR]

Hello Andesl

Here's the link

https://support.hpe.com/connect/s/softwaredetails?language=pt_BR&softwareId=MTX_594cc68cedfe4b40bfa6f232de&tab=revisionHistory

[CarlosCrespo]

Hi,

Just to confirm that on my case in a new ML110G11 installing ILO 6 Channel Interface Driver and HPE Gen11 Agenteless Management Service also solve this issue (at least 4 or 5 minutes after Windows 2022 starts.

https://downloads.hpe.com/pub/softlib2/software1/sc-windows/p1305298480/v231968/cp057240.exe 

https://downloads.hpe.com/pub/softlib2/software1/sc-windows/p1646731504/v229136/cp056870.exe 

[andesl]

my problem fixed by going to System Utilities => System Configuration=>BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU)=> Advance Options=>Fan and Thermal Options => Thermal Configuration =>

i changed to max cooling and reboot, then changed it back to " optimal cooling"

[billy_walton]

I am running ESXI 8 on my ML110 Gen 11 and the fans are super loud.  This is a brand new server. 

[Mr_Techie]

Hello @billy_walton,

I would say log a support ticket, the team will take this further. 

[billy_walton]

I have opened a ticket

[SmallLawOffice]

We have the same issue with HPE ML110 Gen11. We will likely RMA and go with a non-HPE. Should be simple for fan to work on temperature.