ML350 Gen8 Wiping RAID drives

[RikkS]

My task is to wipe RAID array hard drives of decomissioned server and to forward server with drives to local school.

I tried UBCD HDD utilities (USB Boot disk)  Active Killdisk utility which founds a RAID of 5.5Tb.

Does 5.5TB seems correct size of 4x2000 SAS RAID?

Server drives probably are not in original slots now.

To check RAID configuration fails - Entering HP Array Configurationduring during server boot fails, instead after F5 (and F10) server tries to boot from CD.

Is it safe to use Active Killdisk utility from USB Boot disk and does it wipes all disks?

Any ideas how to complete wipe task?

[Torsten.]

Press F10 for Intelligent Provisioning during boot.
There you can wipe the disks.

[RikkS]

As I mentioned, it has been already checked.

Unfortunately this HP server doesn't know, what to do when F10 (or F5) is on screen during boot and is pressed on keyboard.

Actually my initial thread subject was How to fix F5 and F10 error but I changed it because there might be another easier way to complete my task.

[Torsten.]

You are probably hit by the

ILO NAND issue


You need to format the NAND and reinstall IP.
If you cannot find thr apropriate advisory, I can post the link later.

[RikkS]

I read earlier today that there is some kind of plague also in HP servers but descriptions how to fix were rather confusing or outdated..

And I hoped so much, that it's not now and here.

I am ready to create an ILO update media but didn't found any link where to download.

Any help is much appreciated.

[Torsten.]

See here

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-a00048622en_us

and here

https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?swItemId=MTX_a2b2caf8066e4a8b82a966d628

[RikkS]

Hello

Thanks for your support.

Despite of some success in wiping disks, I want to make this servers as user friendly as possible.

Few questions:

1. I create next Intelligent Provisioning Recovery Media - I hope it's able to boot and fixes issue of ignoring F5, F10. 

2.  Is it possible to access ILO locally from keyboard? (Not only trhough network connection or serial console cable)

3. If there is still some ILO password, can it be reset locally? (Not searching last person who still might remember psw)

My next message planned after checking boot with Intelligent Provisioning Recovery Media. I Use Rufus for creating bootable USB.

So far I have succeeded to wipe 2 SAS disks with Active Killdisk for DOS 4.1 (UBCD).

When inserting single drives into different slots RAID controller configuration seems to be bypassed and single disk is normally initialized and vsible for op system.

I just discovered it and now there is 2nd 2TB disk being wiped taking 3-4 hours.

[Torsten.]

First you should read about ILO in the ILO user guide. This will answer a lot of questions.

Inspect if your ILO has the NAND issue, If yes, try to fix it. Reinstall IP, create the image using the USB Key Utility inside the ISO, don't use rufus!

You can configure ILO from the console (VGA screen). You can always set a new password or even bypass it from a local connection.

[RikkS]

I created bootable Intelligent Provisioning Recovery Media DVD version 1.71.

DVD boots normally but after "Verifying System settings" and "This may take up to 30 seconds" warning screen

Progress bar remains on 0% until appears error:

"Error Flashing the NVRAM"

"Please try again".

Server boots and same repeats in endless loop.

Any ideas?

[Torsten.]

This is exactly why I sent you the other link about the NAND issue.

You need to format the NAND first.

[RikkS]

Hello

In meantime I checked server boot ILO F8 menu and removed previous admin account.

Still no success with recovery DVD but somehow

but

I got into menu named Option ROM Configuration for Arrays ver. 8.50

Controller P420i.

I guess I pressed F10, is it correct menu for F10?

I deleted Logical RAID menu and wiping now disk which was not accessible so far.

Or is there some other key for Array settings?

If still needed, I check the NAND formatting tomorrow.

Thanks for support.

[Torsten.]

You should try to repair the NAND anyway, it is an essential server functionality.

[RikkS]

I used method 1

NAND format via the iLO GUI

1. The iLO 4 GUI login will display a warning if the iLO has reported a self-test error on the Embedded Flash/SD-CARD.

Self Test Results in Diagnostic Page:

Embedded Flash/SD-CARD Controller firmware revision 2.10.00 NAND read failure: Media is in a WRITE-PROTECTED state

ILO Log:

682356
[NOT SET] [NOT SET] 1 Embedded Flash/SD-CARD: Embedded media initialization failed due to media write-verify test failure.

There is a switch 2 on mobo and should I set No 1 to "On" ?

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c03421406

Details

System maintenance switch:

The system maintenance switch (SW2) is a twelve-position switch that is used for system configuration.

Position

Description

Function

S1

iLO security override

• Off = No function

• On = Override enabled

S2

Configuration lock

• Off = System configuration can be changed

• On = System configuration is locked

S5

Password disable

• Off = Power-on password enabled

• On = Power-on password disabled

S6

Reset configuration

• Off = No function

• On = ROM reads the system configuration as invalid

When the system maintenance switch position 6 is set to the On position, the system is prepared to erase all system configuration settings from both CMOS and NVRAM.

CAUTION: Clearing CMOS and/or NVRAM deletes configuration information. Be sure to properly configure the server or data loss could occur.

82345
03/18/2019 21:14 03/18/2019 21:01 2 Embedded Flash/SD-CARD: Embedded media initialization failed due to media write-verify test failure.

[Torsten.]

You could try to pull the power plugs and re-insert them, then try the format again.

But maybe the NAND is really defective. In that case you need to replace the system board.

[RikkS]

I did power cable off cycles several times.

At some moment in Ilo was stated that NVRAM is Write protected.

That is when I found SW2 switches on mobo.

But SW2 description HP provides isn't meaningful for me.

1. Is there any option how to write protect this ILO flash (NANAD or NVRAM ... )?

2. If F5 and F10 doesn't work because of this issue, how usable is server? Any tasks still capable to do or not?

Thanks.

[Torsten.]

Write protected means write failure.

There is nothing you can do.

WIth a failed NAND the ILO may not work fully, so you don't have hardware monitoring, Intelleigent Provisioing, Logs, fan control, virtual media, etc ...