ML350 Gen11 stuck in "Attempt firmware Update"

[Unidec]

Issue with the Intelligent Provisioning installing firmware updates repeatedly installing them and requesting a reboot to apply the changes but the system would reboot and then install them again, request reboot again...

1. download the Service Pack for ProLiant 2024.11 Gen11 from the https://myenterpriselicense.hpe.com/
2. Open the iso on a PC, navigated to the USB folder X:\usb\usbkey
3. launch the USB tool usbkey.exe
4. burn the Service pack bootable ISO to a USB drive (8GB) 
5. Insert the USB in the front USB connector on the server
6. Power up/reboot using F11  (Boot menu)
7. Select Boot from USB
8. Once booted the screen will display two choices - Automatic or Interactive. 
9. Select Interactive mode
10. Select firmware update: Update Server and option firmware using SUM
11. Step 1: It will now inventory the system device
12. Step 2: Review
    1. Click Select all components
    2. If you have a TPM enabled on the system, click ignore warnings
13. Step 3: Deployment : Wait for it to complete (~1Hr)
14. Reboot system, Press F11 and reboot from the USB again to check the installation
15. Powerdown or Reboot the system again
16. Remove the USB thubmdrive

It may be necessary to repeat these steps, removing power from the server for a few minutes each time to clear the firmware job cue.

You may need to reset the HPE Intelligent Provisioning if the Rapid Setup button does not appear.  To do this :

1. Power down your system (remove AC power completely)
2. open the case
3. Locate the system configuration dip switch pack,  set switch 6 on
4. Power up the system (restor AC power)
5. "The maintenance switch detected in the ON Position. The System is being default configured. This may take a few minutes. Power off the server and toggle the maintenance switch to the OFF position." is displayed after booting
6. Power down your system (remove AC power completely)
7. Locate the system configuration dip switch pack,  set switch 6 off
8. Power up the system (restor AC power)
9. Allow system to boot
10. Select F10 Intelligent Provisioning
11. If a load operating system task is displayed, click the delete x button
12. Reboot again

If this fails, try downloading this tool

Intelligent Provisioning Recovery Media:
https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/swd/detail?swItemId=MTX_87208ed7fe36472c88194b17e4

1. Open the iso on a PC, navigated to the USB folder X:\usb\usbkey
2. launch the USB tool usbkey.exe
3. burn the Service pack bootable ISO to a USB drive (8GB) 

Back on Server

1. Insert the USB in the front USB connector on the server
2. Power up/reboot using F11  (Boot menu)
3. Select Boot from USB

Now install your operating system. 

1. Selelct Intelligent Provisioning F10
2. Select Rapid Setup
3. Place Operating system distribution iso thubmdrive (16GB)
   1. Windows Server 2022 *
   2. Windows Server 2025 *
4. Select Install Operating system from USB
5. Select the operating system ISO from the list.
6. If the ISO will not select it may not be compatible with your HPE firmware.*
7. Follow the prompts (1-2 Hrs)

* If the firmware is not compatible with your operating system, the iso may not be selectable in Smart Provisioning.  We found this issue on Gen 11 V4.35 

Some users claim we can use Putty on the iLO port

1. We installed a USB Ethernet Adapter in the iLO port
2. The Ethernet adapter must be an type ASIX AX8872 family - use a Pluggable USB2-E100
3. The Server iLO address is 169.254.1..2 (don't bother trying to changing it)
4. The laptop is set to 169.254.1.1
5. Ping the Server iLO >Ping 169.254.1..2
6. Run Putty on the laptop
7. login to the console (should ask for Username and password (same as iLO Administrator user)
8. issue a command to iLO CLI root to clear the REST API state “oemhp_clearRESTAPIstate”,

We tried to connect using putty but we get no response from iLO in the window to enter our credentials.  Should we be using port 22 or port 17990?

[Greeshma21]

Hi @Unidec 

Please refer to this post. It might help you.

Regards,
Greeshma

[Greeshma21]

Hi @Unidec 

Let us know if you were able to resolve the issue.

If you are satisfied with the answers, please click the "Accept As Solution" button for the most helpful response, which will benefit all community members.

Please click on the "Thumbs Up/Kudo" icon to give a "Kudo".

Regards,
Greeshma

[Unidec]

If you are able to proceed to Rapid Setup but unable to install the operating system software, it is likely your RAID VROC selection was reset with system init (swt 6) step.

“Rapid Setup did not find any supported disk installed on this system.  Either there is no disk installed, or there is a cabling or other problem.  Please exit Rapid Setup and check your hardware configuration”

Reboot, Enter the F9 System Utilities, RBSU settings, Storage and then select your server storage device (RAID or other) .  For us we have a the Intel VROC SATA RAID configured, so make sure it is enabled., F12 save and exit.

[Unidec · Accepted solution]

We found it nearly impossible to use the built in Intelligent Provisioning - Rapid Setup after the "fixes" , it did  work once but if the Attempted Update Firmware checkbox is set, the server will again get into  update looping hell.  

Tech support instructed us to use the iLO browser terminal (169.259.1.2) , login using the iLO credentials (found on the cabinet sticker), then nav to the HTML5 terminal, once open, click on the CDROM icon at the top, select the Microsoft Server iso to mount.  Then back on the system press F11 boot menu, then select the Virtual drive you just mounted in iLO, this allows the WIndows ISO to install just live a CD/DVD bootable disck image..

Would'nt be much easier if Intelligent Provsioning Raid Setup worked or if there was a make bootable USB drive from the Windows ISO to install from (we tried to make several but none booted)

This work-around fix works but obviously Hewlett Packard Enterprise programmers have not resolved the Intelligent Provisioning Rapid Setup bug in the V4.35 patch (Nov 2024) and that is truely sad.  Please fix this firmware toolset, , it shouldn't take 40 hours to provision a server...this is my last HPE system..!

[Unidec]

Intelligent Provisioning Recovery Media should be the V4.35 for Gen11 servers and V4.43 for Gen12 servers

https://support.hpe.com/connect/s/softwaredetails?tab=releaseNotes&collectionId=MTX-317c484cef664c9d

1. Open the iso on a PC, navigated to the USB folder X:\usb\usbkey
2. launch the USB tool usbkey.exe
3. burn the Service pack bootable ISO to a USB drive (8GB) 

Back on Server

1. Insert the USB in the front USB connector on the server
2. Power up/reboot using F11  (Boot menu)
3. Select Boot from USB

Note: even after installing this fix and resetting the server - the F10 Intelligent Provisioning may still be stuck in attempting to install firmware updates.  HPE needs to fix the Intelligent Provisioning system because it may never complete installing the firmware updates and allow proceeding to rapid start via the server console.