So, after bringing a third system into the mix, and experiencing the same issue, we began to question the environment. I dug up a copy of the HP ProLiant Servers Troubleshooting Guide and found the POST problems flowchart shown below.
Carefully running through the steps in the chart, we realized that the one constant across all of the servers was a KVM switch attached to the data center crash cart. This was a consumer-class USB-enabled KVM. As per the highlighted node in the flowchart, Do you have known good KVM?, I could not answer conclusively.
So, we unplugged the servers from the KVM switch and ran an automated boot, sleep 300; reboot
sequence in rc.local
. The servers had no issues with this, regardless of the normal DIMM, low-voltage DIMMs, PSU wattage, etc.
This was all the result of a poor interaction with a USB KVM switch. By virtue that this was the console, it ensured we'd see the failure if we were looking for it. Self-fulfilling...
You need the equivalent of EL5.7 or 5.8 in order to have an installer that supports the newest generation of Smart Array controller.
Please see the footnotes on the HP/OEL technical exceptions matrix.
You need Oracle Linux/UEK 5.8. That's the minimum-supported installer version.
What version is your OEL installer?
Edit:
This was an issue with multiple elements. First, the OS the original poster was installing was too old for the server hardware. That was resolved by viewing the technical exceptions matrix from HP for Oracle Enterprise Linux. The same applied for RHEL and CentOS.
Second, I assumed the OP was using a proper Smart Array RAID controller. The P420i is the right controller for this setup. Instead, he is using a "Dynamic Smart Array B320i", which is a fakeraid controller. See these notes from the CentOS forum. It uses a software-side closed-source driver to enable RAID functionality. Terrible.
Red Hat explains that the servers with this controller are shipped in a bad default configuration that will prevent installation.
Resolution: Systems with these controllers will ship from HP with the Software RAID mode enabled by default. You can either load a driver disk/USB key at installation for your OS or disable the RAID...
This mode requires a closed source driver that is not shipped or supported by Red Hat.
In order to install RHEL on these systems without the closed source driver and RAID support, the Software RAID mode must either be disabled (B320i controller) or switched to SATA AHCI support mode (B120i SATA controller).
For systems with the B320i SAS controller:
1. Boot the server into System Options
2. Navigate to HP Smart Array B320i Raid Configuration
3. Change to DISABLED
Best Answer
You have a number of options available to you for preparing a new, modern ProLiant Gen8 server for use. My approach varies depending on the operating system.
For your server, please answer my question about RAID configuration and the type of controller in the server.
Edit:
Your server has a Dynamic Smart Array RAID controller. It may not boot off of the array into the Oracle Linux installer without some assistance. I answered this question earlier about driver disks.
Do the above and get your OS loaded. Following the OS installation, you will want to mount your SPP DVD and try to initiate an
hpsum
installation directly from the disk.You can also just install the Oracle MCP package for ProLiant if you can download this bundle to the server.