USB Key Utility 3.0 Will Not Recognize USB Drives

[phenym]

Trying to run the SPP on a new Gen10 v2 Microserver. I am trying to use the the USB Key Utility after unsuccessful attempts with Rufus and Balena Etcher.

My first problem comes with using the microserver with my high-res monitor. Solved that by using "nomodeset" in grub on USB bootup.

My next problem comes because when the SPP boots it stops with:

Starting initrd...
Warning !!! Unable to mount file system [cdrom]
Warning !!! Unable to mount file system
Preboot maintanance mode

/bin/ash: can't access tty: job controll turned off

Other posts describe using the HPE USB Key Utillity to create the USB drive (instead of Rufus or Etcher, like I tried).

But... the USB Key Utility refuses to recognize the USB drive in the system. I was using a Samsung 256GB USB Key. I thought maybe the utility ignored it because it thought it may be a system drive (because it's so large), so I bought a smaller 64GB model. Still does not recognize it. It DOES recognize smaller 4GB USB Keys I have... but those are too small for the SPP.

Is there a limitation on drive size when creating a USB Key with the HPE utility?

I am at my wits end.

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

USB Key utility is old, the last version was in 2017, if I am not wrong.
It says, "Minimum 1GB USB 2.0 flash drive (maximum size is 32GB)."

Have you tried the Online mode to install SPP?
There are other utilities available to make a USB key bootable.

Thank You!
I work with HPE but opinions expressed here are mine.
HPE Tech Tips videos on How To and Troubleshooting topics

[phenym]

I was able to get the USB Key Utility to work (and the SPP successfully execute and update my server) after buying a 16GB USB drive.

It just seemed such an odd limitation to limit the drive size.

I am running Ubuntu Server 22.04. I did not take a look, but I am assuming the online method directly from linux is for RHEL only?

[Kashyap02]

Hi 
You can deploy SPP online only windows and linux systems. 
You can use the below commands to execute. 

• smartupdate /s /romonly - With this attribute, SUM only deploys firmware components needed for installation.
• smartupdate /s /software only - With this attribute, SUM only deploys software components needed for installation.

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=a00026884en_us#N100A2

A Quick start Guide: https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=c03190790

[Chris_Baumann]

same for me. 16 GB usb-stick works, 32 GB not