Issue with Upgrading CPUs in HPE ML350 Gen9 Server with 2xE5-2696v4

[AlecMuffett]

Hello HPE Community,

I'm encountering a challenging issue with my HPE ML350 Gen9 server during a CPU upgrade and would greatly appreciate any insights or suggestions.

I recently attempted to upgrade the server's CPUs to Intel E5-2696v4. Prior to this, the server was running with an Intel E5-2609v3 CPU. After meticulously installing the E5-2696v4 CPUs and configuring the RAM slots according to the recommended schema, the server fails to boot. Specifically, the fans spin up for about 1 second and then stop, repeating this cycle. Notably, the Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) interface still displays the previous E5-2609v3 CPU as being installed.

Additional steps I have taken:
- Ensured that the SPS/ME firmware is updated as per the guidelines provided here: [HPE Support Document](https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=sf000075382en_us).
- The BIOS is updated to version P92 3.30.

Interestingly, when I remove one of the E5-2696v4 CPUs, the fans continue to spin, but there are still no signs of the system booting up, and iLO continues to show the E5-2609v3 CPU. When I revert to the original E5-2609v3 CPU, the system boots up normally.

I'm looking for advice on the following:
- Could this be a compatibility issue between the E5-2696v4 CPUs and the ML350 Gen9, despite the firmware updates?
- Are there additional steps or settings in iLO that I might have overlooked?
- Is there a possibility of a hardware malfunction with the new CPUs?

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated. I'm keen to resolve this issue and get the server running with the new processors.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Best regards,
G
P.S. Notably, I've come across several instances of ML350 Gen9 servers being successfully configured with E5-2696v4 CPUs, despite this particular model not being included in HPE's official compatibility list. This observation adds to my curiosity about the nature of the issue I'm facing.

P.P.S. Additionally, I'm inquiring about the availability of a bifurcation option for this server. I've checked the CTRL-A menu in the RBSU, but couldn't find any related settings. Any guidance on this would be helpful.

[support_s]

System recommended content:

1. HPE ProLiant Gen9 Troubleshooting Guide, volume II: Error messages | Event log entries

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

Thank you for being a HPE valuable community member.

[AlecMuffett]

According to https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c04443279&docLocale=en_US

12a System board for Intel Xeon E5-2600v3 processors              780967-001

12b System board for Intel Xeon E5-2600v3 and v4 processors 841389-001

My server has 780967-001

Does it mean there is no possibility of upgrading to the v4 CPUs, without replacing System Board?

[TVVJ]

Hello,

The supported v4 processors are listed under section "Intel Xeon E5 v4 processor" of the same document. Any processor that is not listed on that document means that they have not been tested on the server.

Regards,

[MV3]

Hello,

Can you please help to confirm if you are using any of the below spare part number

HPE ML350 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2609v4 (1.7GHz/8-core/20MB/85W) Processor Kit : 801233-B21
HPE ML350 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2609v4 (1.7GHz/8-core/20MB/85W) FIO Processor Kit : 801233-L21

Cheers...

[AlecMuffett]

I will get HPE ML350 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2609v4 (1.7GHz/8-core/20MB/85W) Processor Kit: 801233-B21 for testing in the next two weeks.

[AlecMuffett]

@MV3 

Meanwhile, I received and tried 2 x HP 780761-001  E5-2699v3, after installing both CPUs the behavior is the same as in the case with e5-2696v4, I am still stuck with bootup the server, and iLo still shows that only one e5-2609v3 still installed, but after leaving just one e5-2699v3 system starts and iLo was updated with the new CPU onboard. After I tried to install the second e5-2699v3, the system hung again, and only one socket configuration worked.

Any ideas?

[Mr_Techie]

---

@AlecMuffett wrote:

@MV3 

Meanwhile, I received and tried 2 x HP 780761-001  E5-2699v3, after installing both CPUs the behavior is the same as in the case with e5-2696v4, I am still stuck with bootup the server, and iLo still shows that only one e5-2609v3 still installed, but after leaving just one e5-2699v3 system starts and iLo was updated with the new CPU onboard. After I tried to install the second e5-2699v3, the system hung again, and only one socket configuration worked.

Any ideas?

---

It seems like you've encountered a persistent issue with the second CPU slot not working properly, even after trying different CPUs. Here are some additional steps and considerations to help troubleshoot the problem:

1. Check the server's documentation to ensure that you're using the correct configuration for installing multiple CPUs. There might be specific guidelines or limitations for installing two CPUs in your server model.

2. Physically inspect the motherboard and CPU sockets for any damage, bent pins, or debris. Ensure that there are no physical obstructions preventing proper contact between the CPU and the socket.

3. Ensure that all firmware, including the system BIOS and iLO firmware, is up-to-date. Sometimes, firmware updates include fixes for hardware recognition and compatibility issues.

4. Verify that memory modules are installed correctly according to the recommended configuration for dual-socket setups. Misconfigured or incompatible memory configurations can lead to boot issues.

5. Try swapping the CPUs between the two sockets to determine if the issue is specific to one socket. If the problem follows the CPU, then there may be an issue with the CPU itself. If the issue remains with the socket, it could be a motherboard-related problem.

6. Reset the BIOS/UEFI settings to default and reconfigure them manually. Ensure that the settings related to CPU and memory are correctly adjusted for a dual-socket configuration.

7. Remove unnecessary peripherals and expansion cards, leaving only essential components. This can help rule out any potential conflicts or issues with additional hardware.

8. Use any available hardware diagnostic tools provided by HPE to test the functionality of individual components, such as CPUs and memory modules.
If the issue persists after trying these steps, it's essential to involve HPE support for more in-depth analysis and assistance. They can provide specific troubleshooting steps tailored to your server model and configuration.

If you still have the same issue, please contact the support team for further assistance. 

[AlecMuffett]

Finally forced 2696v4 to work with DL380 gen9 (848774-B21)

[Mr_Techie]

Hello, 

Is it solved for you @AlecMuffett ?

[AlecMuffett]

If changing ML350 --> DL380 is a solution - then yes.