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Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

 
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ITPros
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Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

Even when the BIOS boot order is set correctly,  a ProLiant ML110 G5 won't boot using any brand of USB 3.0 Drive and different brands have been tried.   Surprisingly, it will boot with a USB 2 drive.    The system hangs until the USB 3.0 is unplugged or powered off.   It doesn't appear that the server is "trying to boot from the external drive (no messages like "Operating System not found"), but it seems the presence of a USB3 device is sabotaging the boot process."    Looking forward to input from the HP experts available today.

10 REPLIES 10
Sessid
Visitor

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

USB 3.0 is not supported on the ML110 G5.

 

As you can see from server quickspecs:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12867_na/12867_na.HTML

 

Only USB 2.0 is supported.

I am an HP Employee
Greg Tinker
Valued Contributor

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

It sounds like the system is not passing POST.

 

When the USB 3.0 device is connected to one of the 8 (Im pretty sure this model had 8 USB 2.0 ports) and you issue a "power on" you see nothing but a blank screen.  No keyboard function (caps lock light) which confirms no interrupts - which confirms POST is not processing due to a primitive seq negation on the connected device.

 

In short, your USB 3.0 device is not dropping down to USB 2.0 Spec (my guess).

 

 

 

This model server ML110 G5 only supports USB 2.0 primitives on POST to peripheral devices.  You can try the latest firmware (go here, and choose your operating system) http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/psi/swdHome/?sp4ts.oid=3577715&lang=en&lang=en&cc=us&cc=us&ac.admitted=1363277564901.876444892.199480143

 

which will provide you the 2010.10.25 version  - but no direct modes to the USB code in this version - there was a minor change in 2009.10.09, but not sure what version you are running.

 

My advise - just use a USB 2.0 external enclosure device - the 3.0 is not going to provide you any benefit, as the physical server will not perform at 3.0 rate.

 

 

I am an HP employee.

Twitter/FaceBook My twin brother and I @TinkerTwinsatHP

Our Blogs are at http://h30507.www3.hp.com/t5/Technical-Support-Services-Blog/bg-p/TechnicalSupportServicesBlog
Med-H
Frequent Advisor

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

hi,

 

ML110 G5 does not support USB 3.0 drive .

 

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12867_na/12867_na.HTML

 

 

 

I am an HP employee
Greg Tinker
Valued Contributor

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

Right - the server does not support USB 3.0, but  any USB 3.0 device should drop down to USB 2.0 spec so that POST could pass.

 

But nevertheless, if the latest BIOS still endures this issue -- regardless if the BIOS or USB 3.0 device is at fault, the server does not support 3.0 and would revert to the fault of the USB 3.0 device.

 

You can try what I suggested in my previous post - if that fails, you will need to use a 2.0 device.

 

 

I am an HP employee.

Twitter/FaceBook My twin brother and I @TinkerTwinsatHP

Our Blogs are at http://h30507.www3.hp.com/t5/Technical-Support-Services-Blog/bg-p/TechnicalSupportServicesBlog
ArnieK
Visitor

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

Would adding an aftermarket USB 3.0 controller be a viable option?

Greg Tinker
Valued Contributor
Solution

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

Yes if you have a free PCI slot to connect the new adapter.   

I am an HP employee.

Twitter/FaceBook My twin brother and I @TinkerTwinsatHP

Our Blogs are at http://h30507.www3.hp.com/t5/Technical-Support-Services-Blog/bg-p/TechnicalSupportServicesBlog
ArnieK
Visitor

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

To avoid confusion, this is actually my issue reposted from the HP forum in Spiceworks by a kind and good HP employee. I did indeed flash the latest BIOS earlier this afternoon and it actually fixed the USB 3.0 problem, but now the case/CPU fan constantly runs at max RPM and pulls an extra 100 watts of power... Any advice to help solve the new problem is most welcome.

TVVJ
HPE Pro

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

Remove the drive and check if the fan noise comes down. If the issue persists, then reseat internal components. Furthermore, it could be possible, a remote possibility, that thermal grease on the processor needs to re –applied. Ensure that the heatsink fan and the processor are cleaned with an alcohol swab and then re-apply thermal grease.

 

If the issue is resolved when the drive is disconnected from the server, then if there is a similar drive of then install it to isolate between the drives or the server’s ability to handle USB 3.0.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Vijayasarathy

I work for HPE
Views expressed herein are my personal opinion and are not the views of HPE

Accept or Kudo

ArnieK
Visitor

Re: Proliant ML110 G5 booting issue with USB 3.0 drive

apparently, the runaway fan was a well known issue after applying the latest BIOS, but fixed by SP49103. All is well now!

 

SP49103