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tlyczko
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Does ESX 3.x still require BIOS adjustments on HP DL-series servers??

Does ESX 3.0.1 still require this to be done on HP Proliant DL-series servers??

"For stable operation on these systems, ESX Server requires a BIOS MPS Table Mode setting of Full Table APIC. "

Source: http://virtrix.blogspot.com/2006/07/hp-proliant-and-compaq-mps-table-bios.html

This article was written before ESX VI 3.x was released.

Thank you, Tom

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Texiwill
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Hello,

HP says to set it. And there are good reasons to do so. The main reason is how the IRQs are setup for the adapters. I have found that if MPS Table mode is not set properly that ethernet cards behave rather odd (ie. never going to GigE), they disable themselves under load, or many other seemingly unrelated performance issues.

However, these settings are really only for the older versions of Intel based DLs. The AMD based DLs never required this setting. IMHO, if HP says to make the change for your model of BL/DL/ML, then it really does mean you should make the change. HP Does test all their servers with ESX installed and makes these requirements so that they run the best with no weird problems showing up. In addition, this is one of the main things HP support looks at as it is often times set incorrectly and is the root cause of many a problem.

So yes, make the change.

Best regards,

Edward

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Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill

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doubleH
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not on my new DL385 GL2's

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MR-T
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I've installed ESX 3.0.1 on DL380's and it does complain if this isn't set.

However, I've not experienced any instability issues, simply a message after boot.

tlyczko
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What kinds of complaints??

Thanks, Tom

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Texiwill
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Hello,

HP says to set it. And there are good reasons to do so. The main reason is how the IRQs are setup for the adapters. I have found that if MPS Table mode is not set properly that ethernet cards behave rather odd (ie. never going to GigE), they disable themselves under load, or many other seemingly unrelated performance issues.

However, these settings are really only for the older versions of Intel based DLs. The AMD based DLs never required this setting. IMHO, if HP says to make the change for your model of BL/DL/ML, then it really does mean you should make the change. HP Does test all their servers with ESX installed and makes these requirements so that they run the best with no weird problems showing up. In addition, this is one of the main things HP support looks at as it is often times set incorrectly and is the root cause of many a problem.

So yes, make the change.

Best regards,

Edward

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill
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tlyczko
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Well, then how do we know if we are supposed to make this setting if we don't know what means "older" versions of Intel-based DLs??

I guess the only thing to do is to make the change, though for my DL380 G5, the manual says the OS setting cannot be changed like most commentary about this topic says to do.

I'm waiting for two more hard drives to arrive, then I'll configure it etc., and I'll try to remember to update this question...

Thanks, Tom

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Texiwill
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Hello,

DL/BLX85 or AMD machines do not require the OS to be changed and some of them do not require the MPS Table Mode to be changed, however, if MPS Table Mode is available in the BIOS then yes, change it to Full Table APIC.

DL380 G3 and like models (Which does not correlate to the G3 version of all modesl, which I know is confusing) and earlier do require both OS and MPS Table Modes to be set. Newer models will require only MPS Table MOdes to be set. If the BIOS has BOTH then change both as appropriately, if there is only MPS Table Mode, then change only MPS Table Mode.

Best regards,

Edward

--
Edward L. Haletky
vExpert XIV: 2009-2023,
VMTN Community Moderator
vSphere Upgrade Saga: https://www.astroarch.com/blogs
GitHub Repo: https://github.com/Texiwill
tlyczko
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Hey texiwill, you are an excellent expert. Smiley Happy Smiley Happy Smiley Happy

Thanks a lot for all your kind answers. Smiley Happy Smiley Happy tom

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