New HP System Insight Manager agents (v7.7.0) for VMware

[Ken_Cline]

I don't typically like to make this type of post here - it's largely promotional - but since so many of you have been having issues with the Insight Manager agents, I wanted to make sure that the word got out as widely as possible.

A new version of agents will be posted to hp.com this week. The following indicates what was fixed. One thing to be aware of – ESX 2.5.x and ESX 3.x will have separate agents as of this release and going forward[/b].

\- The Insight Manager agents bundle for VMware is now released in two separate packages: one for ESX 2.5.x and one ESX 3.0.x

\- Added support for new hardware including ProLiant servers with Quad Core Intel Xeon processors, new network adapters like NC364T and NC110Tn, etc.

\- Added browser support in System Management Homepage to include Internet Explorer 7.0

\- Fixed an issue wherein the storage agents consumed excessive CPU time, potentially resulting in server reboots (ASRs). The CCISS device nodes are now kept open by default on all servers to workaround this issue

\- Fixed an issue wherein excessive SNMP log messages were being recorded into /var/log/messages

\- The manual pages for the HPASM agents have been updated

\- Fixed an issue wherein the help pages for the NIC agents were not being displayed in the System Management Homepage

\- Error messages written to /opt/compaq/cma.log reading "[i]modprobe: Can't locate module mptctl Can not open /dev/mptctl, errno = 19[/i]" have been fixed

\- Fixed an issue wherein the HP Management Agents initiated a system shutdown immediately after a critical event or hardware failure, on IPMI supported servers running VMware ESX Server 2.5.4.

\- The status for DVD/CD devices is now updated properly under the Storage link in System Management Homepage

\- The help pages for Rack Asset, Server Enclosure and Power Enclosure are now displayed properly when launched from the System Management Homepage

Along with the above enhancements and fixes, we will also be including the README file for the NIC agents in the agents bundle.

As a side note, there is a new ROM to be released this week for the DL585 G2 that will fix a few issues also. Please watch for that release on hp.com.

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I've marked this as a question - the first three people who install and test the new agents and report their findings back here will be awarded points

[dpomeroy]

We were told last week by VMware that 7.70 is now

supported.

But the support doc still says 7.6.0, so hopefully they will update that as well.

I had an ESX server that was getting PSODs and one of the fist things they said was that 7.7.0 wasn't supported and I should go back to 7.6.0. Turns out the problem had nothing to do with that though.

[vmrulz]

We are also told by VMware that you "may" want to disable storage agents in 7.70. There is some speculation that the agents may occasionally fully lock a LUN. Something that possibly happened to us several weeks ago when we had some major and mysterious slow downs.

I think VMware needs to clear the air on this one.

[BUGCHK]

I think VMware needs to clear the air on this one.

HP and[/b] VMware (alphabetical order) need to work together properly.

It is not acceptable that:

\- both publish conflicting information of which version is supported or not

\- each new release gives so many problems

[hharold]

Its official now: (updated 4/4/2007)[/i]

[u]VMware ESX Server Supported Hardware Lifecycle Management Agents:[/u]

HP Insight Manager Agents, version 7.7.0[/b]

http://www.vmware.com/support/esx25/doc/sys_mgmt_links.html

Supported for ESX 3.01 and ESX 2.5.4

cheers,

Harold

[brownb01]

So...should we disable the storage agents? if so...how?

And as far as installation...should we un-install the old version and install a new...or can we basically do an upgrade?

thanks.

[martin_schmidt]

Please use 7.7 on all ESX releases (3.x and 2.x).

Although an upgrade is possible, we recommend to uninstall older agents (for example with installvm760.sh –uninstall) and do a fresh install of 7.7 agents.

Please do not run 7.6x since we had some serious issues (as described on http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/26407.html). For example:

\- Fixed an issue wherein the storage agents consumed excessive CPU time, potentially resulting in server reboots (ASRs). The CCISS device nodes are now kept open by default on

You do not need to disable the Storage Agent with 7.7.

Note: There are different packages for 2.x and 3.x.

So please choose the right one.

7.7 is officially supported by VMware and HP.

Regards, Martin (HP)

[jparnell]

Hi,

We have agent 7.7.0 installed. We were wondering if anyone has any ideas why it doesnt send SNMP traps when NIC link failures occur?

Disk and power problems work fine, but not NIC (we can see the failure on the insight manager homepage, but just dont receive any SNMP notification).

[Schorschi]

This a bug that HP refuses to fix since 7.2.x agents for ESX 2.5x We have completely given up on HP on this point. They just do not acknowledge the issue as a priority. They do acknowledge it is not very customer friendly. To bad, I have always been a fan of the issue. Part of of the problem is that ESX does a better job watching the NICs than HP agents do.

[lamson123]

I downloaded and installed v7.8.0 and installed it on DL585 G2 server. I got alert okie when disconnect a NIC but did not get any alert when I pulled out a drive or 1 power supply.

Any one having this problem ?