ESXi 5.5.0 HP DL 380 G5 with a smart array p212

[Popusimiga]

Hi,

I have a HP DL 380 G5 with a smart array p212 connected to a SAN, HP MSA 70.

ESX will not complete startup (hangs) unless I disconnect the MSA 70.

If I boot Windows server 2008/2012 it works and finds the MSA 70 disks.

There are 10 146GB disks in the MSA, less than 1.5TB volume.

Am I missing something? Both the smart array p212 and MSA 70 are in ESXi HCL.

Thankfull for any help.

//tom

[weinstein5]

Welcome to the Community - does the installation complete with MSA70 disconnected? Make sure the BIOS on  the P212 is up to date as well as for the MSA 70.

[Popusimiga]

Hi, thanks for the quick answer.

Yes with MSA disconnected it completes fine. I have run HP latest SPP. Support Proliant Pack (2013-09), so all bios and firmware are uppdated. I have attached a picture of the screen when it hangs. It is after the error 49...something.

[chaplina]

Did you install the version of ESXi provided by HP which includes HP drivers and CIM modules?

[JLackman]

What chaplina is referring to is HP's customized ESX installs that contain all of the configuration specific to Proliant servers. Here is what HP says about it;

• Based on the standard VMware ESXi ISO, it is the easiest and most reliable way to install ESXi on HP ProLiant servers
• Includes all of the required drivers to run ESXi on HP ProLiant servers
• Installs the management software to enable robust server management
• Works seamlessly with Intelligent Provisioning

....and it's located here; Customize VMware ESXi Images for HP ProLiant Servers

[Popusimiga]

Hi,

Short answer: no, the problem remains.

When MSA attached the install of HP's customized ESX hangs.

When MSA disconnected, ESX installs fine. When rebooted and MSA again connected it hangs at excatly same place.

Anyone know what the error message means?

Now I ve also tried Linux and Win2008/2012 and it works fine. The hardware seems OK.

Any suggestions?

[Popusimiga]

Short answer: NO, the problem remains.

[JLackman]

Did you review this KB for applicability?  VMware KB: Cannot create a VMkernel port on an ESXi host

[Popusimiga]

Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I looked at the link is does not seem to be like the problem I have.

The KB describes some kind of network problem.

My problem occurs before even getting the possibility to config network.

ESXi 5.5.0 hangs when MSA is connceted prior to network config right after :

"vmkibft loaded succesfully"

Thanks.

[JLackman]

I can only think of one other thing to try. I know you have the most current firmware and HP MSA drivers. I have read where there have been issues with new drivers for the MSAs and I believe some drivers were actually pulled. So, if it were me, I would try to perform a test with older MSA drivers. If this is under warranty, I would also suggest engaging HP support.

[Popusimiga]

Thanks for the reply,

The reason I upgraded firmware/bios etc in the first place was because the smart array p212, Proliant DL380 G5 and the MSA70 had
old firmware/bios etc. The problem was first seen with the old versions. Same problem when bios/firmware upgraded to latest versions.

What does this log entry mean?

NMP: nmp_ThrottleLogForDevice CMD 0x1a

Thankful for any help!