I have one DL385 G2 server that since Thursday is not able to power on properly. I can't figure out what's the problem, since there is no indication neither in iLO 2 log, IML, nor any red/amber LED on the front panel. Sometimes it can boot to the OS, sometimes it power of after few seconds. I've tried swapping the CPUs, also backup CPU and memory, switching the PSUs, but nothing helps. After I press power button, it is green, after some random time it's dark, fan run full speed for about 1 second, and then power off and power button is amber. Thank you very much for your help and insight.
DL385 G2 powering off after some time
hphp-proliantpower-supply-unit
Related Solutions
Well, you're trying to troubleshoot a circa 2006-2008 server that's fallen outside of its normal hardware warranty...
Internal health LED means just that. Internal health. Could be RAM, system board, CPU/CPU socket. You're also at the age where the system board battery could use a refresh. Nowhere in your post here did I see any indication of opening the server and reseating the components. Normally, that's the first step.
Now, outside of that, I recommended that you download the bootable HP Firmware DVD and run it on the system in your previous question. Did you do this?
If all else fails, you can call HP and talk to a tech. I don't know if you're in the US, so I won't post a direct number... but you can usually get fairly far in phone troubleshooting... but still, they'll ask you to update your firmware. So please do that first.
Edit:
You said that you received several of these old servers at the same time. Try swapping components or booting with a minimal set of components. One CPU, 1 or 2 DIMMs to start. And work up from there. At a certain point, though, how much is your time worth? This is a server that can be found for < $200US on the used market. If there's a problem with it, get a different one.
You likely have a hardware problem. This is not an issue with VMware ESXi.
- Which build number of ESXi are you on?
- What firmware revision is the server hardware/BIOS on?
- Is the other ESXi host you mentioned comprised of the same hardware?
Your best bet is to examine the HP Integrated Management Log (IML) of the server. You can do this through the ILO 2 interface.
- Log onto the ILO, check the hardware system status tab. That main summary screen will probably tell you what's wrong.
- Additionally, take a look at the IML option under the "System Status" tab. This will tell you why the server crashed.
That's all. You may have a RAM, CPU or system board issue here.
Edit: Update your host's firmware, please!! - Don't become a statistic!
The download for the current bootable firmware DVD for your system is here. Please boot your system with that and let it update all of the components. Everything on that server looks like it dates back to 2008. That's a BIG no-no when working with HP server hardware.
Best Answer
Well, this is an older ProLiant DL385 G2 server... 2006/2007 or so...
I'd suspect system board. Due to the age of the system and the fact that it's probably not under contract or support, you'll probably need to go the used parts route to outfit this system. Another thing to try is the motherboard battery. When the system powers off then boots all the way, is the time correct?
Have you run a diagnostic CD/DVD?
You should reference the HP ProLiant DL385 Generation 2 Server Maintenance and Service Guide for parts information if you choose to self-support.
If you intend to troubleshoot this unit, follow the diagnostic flowchart outlined in the HP ProLiant Servers Troubleshooting Guide.
Personally, I would not spend much time troubleshooting a server this far out of production. If you just need something that works quickly and intend to keep this system alive for awhile, buy another DL385 G2 system on eBay. They're under $200US. This ensures that you'll have some parts available for cannibalizing and is a quick fix. Long-term, prepare to move to a more current platform.
I do have two DL385 G2's still in production, though.