ProLiant ML350 G6 - iLO2 Won't boot to Virtual Media

[Robert Egloff]

Since the forums are changed and searching is hopeless without google...

I'm having issues getting a ML350 G6 to boot to any virtual media - any clue why? I've tried at least 6 different ISOs and I can get them to work on other servers. Firmware update isn't much of an option since there's no OS on the server and if I wanted to update Firmware, I'd need the virtual media applet.

Otherwise, I can't see what I'm doing wrong - it doesn't at all attempt to boot to the virtual media. I can even do a 'one-time boot' from CD/DVD drive and it just ignores it.

Any known reasons this will happen? The server was in use, but deployment got delayed and it needs re-imaged now. I'm almost positive it's been imaged with virtual media before and with this version of Firmware. I believe the Firmware is at 9.20, I did update it at one point - maybe 4 months ago.

[Dennis Handly]

>searching is hopeless without google.

Have you tried a forum search?

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Tips-and-Tricks/Searching-in-the-HP-Enterprise-Business-Community/m-p/4825025/message-uid/4825025#U4825025

Or try google with: site:http://h30499.www3.hp.com

[Robert Egloff]

I did - but couldn't find anything for "iLO2 virtual media" at all.

That being said - I guess it came across wrong.. :)
I do like the new forum setup.

I just couldn't seem to find anything on a search, but I can try it again in any event.

[Robert Egloff]

Well.. I found my post now, lol - so I guess it's working.

[Jimmy Vance]

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@Robert Egloff wrote:

Firmware update isn't much of an option since there's no OS on the server and if I wanted to update Firmware, I'd need the virtual media applet.

You don't need an OS on the server to update the firmware

The latest version of iLO2 is 2.06. Download cp014891.exe (Windows) or CP014890.scexe (Linux) and extract the files. Login to iLO using your browser, under the admin tab select firmware and upload the extracted file ilo2_206.bin

 http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=1135772&lang=en&cc=us&taskId=135&prodClassId=-1&prodTypeId=18964&prodSeriesId=1146658

[Robert Egloff]

Doh, didn't even think about that - yeah, suppose I can do the iLO FW manually, it's at 2.01 so that will help. Hopefully that will get it to work. Thanks Jimmy

[Robert Egloff]

Ok - I tried about everything I can think of. I even tried the ISO on a ML350 G5 and it worked as expected.

Firmware's updated... any other ideas as to why I can't boot from virtual media on a iLO2 in a ML350 G6?

It doesn't even prompt to 'press any key to boot from cd', etc. - but it does respond to keys being pressed, I checked the BIOS and the CD-ROM is the first device in the boot chain. I know before I took down the OS, that it detected and loaded the virtual media ok....

Any suggestions appreciated :)

[Jimmy Vance]

Make sure USB hasn't been disabled in RBSU

[Robert Egloff]

I'll check that - I just had an on-site helper pull the power cables from the server and let it sit for a bit - maybe that will help too.

[Robert Egloff]

Oddly, USB 2.0 was disabled - but regular USB wasn't. I was hoping to say it works now that I enabled USB 2.0, but that doesn't seem to be the case..

We really might need this function working on this one, with it being a remote site.

Oddly, the BIOS menu is also 'jumping around' like something is laying on a key, on the keyboard for instance - I thought that could have been the issue, but the keyboard is unplugged from it now.

I might just have to open a case on this one :(

[Robert Egloff]

I did call SupportOne - they asked me to download a different version of SmartStart, but oddly, I doubt that will do anything at all to help with this problem. I suspect we'll have to have the system board replaced - eventually..

Thanks for your input on this in any event!

[d3vnul]

I'm having exactly the same problem on a DL380 G6.

I have ESXi installed on the internal USB port ... no idea if this might affect the booting but I'm out of ideas.

Ilo2 version 2.0.6
Ideas i tried:
- cd-rom first boot option ( virtual drive doesn't boot )
- external usb drives first boot option ( virtual drive doesn't boot)
- disable intel sata from bios ( virtual drive doesn't boot )
- verified virtual media port in case it's blocked ( port open , telnet works , virtual media still wont boot ).
- tried multiple java editios including even the recommended version by hp witch is : j2re-1_4_2_13 ( same story , doesn't boot)
- tried to restart ilo ( same story , doesn't boot )
- tried all the above steps from freshly installed OS's ( xp & win7 x64 ) -> same story , doesn't boot

In my case i was in need to use the firmware dvd and the new offline hp acu iso because we cannot use any hp tools due to virtualization layer. After we connect a iso image via ilo virtual media we can access the content of the iso via a guest virtual machine from ESXi but the only problem is that it just wont boot from it while restarting the server ( even tried pressing F11 at boot options to bypass the regular boot options and select option 1 to attempt to boot 1 time from cd-rom but without any success).

p.s: i also read all the ilo2 documentation and tried everything without success :(

[Jimmy Vance]

---

@Robert Egloff wrote:

I did call SupportOne - they asked me to download a different version of SmartStart, but oddly, I doubt that will do anything at all to help with this problem. I suspect we'll have to have the system board replaced - eventually..

Thanks for your input on this in any event!

---

Next option I'd try is to reset RBSU to factory default. Pop the cover and flip the switch (usually switch 6) refer to diagram inside lid for switch location. You can also reset under advanced options in RBSU, I prefer the switch method.

[Jimmy Vance]

d3nvul, it be a good idea to start your own thread, as they may not be the same issue.  Your trouble shooting so far looks good, one other suggestion, did you try to boot the DVD in anotehr system to make sure it is bootable?

[d3vnul]

Jimmy , sorry for 'hi-jacking' the topic , it was just very similar to mine that i though it's the issue , wont do it again :) , and for your suggestion yes i always do test the iso's on more systems before starting live maintenance on a server.

I will just keep an eye on this topic for possible updates/resolution for the topic owner as it might also solve mine.

[Robert Egloff]

No, that's good - it's on topic, IMO. Same issue.

Problem is that the server is 900 miles away and it's not so easy to get that done. I may have to call HP Support back - but I'll mention that to the Tech Jimmy, it might be the easiest fix.

And another ISO didn't fix it - I didn't think it would, but I was willing to try it, plus I needed the new version of SmartStart anyway.

One of my team members suggested running the FW update again - just in case, I tried that, but no dice :(

When I initially loaded the OS on this server, I was on-site so the virtual media's never been tested. But issues arose and the software that's partially installed on it was put on hold and installed to a different server due to a problem we were having with the array on this one - it was just a single bad drive that has since been fixed.

This is turning out to be one of those annoying problem servers, sadly. Although 99% of HP's servers are great, every now and then... one is quirky. Still, I like the HP servers and prefer the iLO's over other similar technologies.

It seems to me a system board replacement is over the top, although it may fix it. But I've run into this before every now and then, so I'd like to find some type of fix for it.

I should be able to get the site to put in a DVD - that's a good idea, just to make sure it's actually the Virtual Media and not something else. I have a bit of time on this one to dig into the problem.

[Mikey976]

I think i may figured this out for any user whom is having this issue. without the need for on-site assistance.
withing the RBSU go to the usb settings and select "disable external usb devices"
then reboot (Making sure your virtual media is loaded) , your image should boot from that point. this disables all external input to machine and unlike disabling usb legacy devices will still retain iLO support/control as well as "embedded" ie Virtual Media Devices.

hope this helps

[JayCallahan]

Disabling the External USB did the trick for me. Thanks

[JonnySLC]

I just had this exact same issue. Disabling the external USB ports fixed the issue as well.

Reboot server

Press F9 for bios/setup

System Settings

USB

Disable External USB

Reboot and now working!!

Thanks guys!

[blentes]

thanks for that tip. It helped me after struggling for days :-)). Strangely i now have "legacy usb disabled", but ILO virtual media is booting, although RBSU says with "legacy usb disabled" ILO virtual media would not work. Hmm. Nevertheless, thanks again for that very helpful tip.

Bernd