DL360 G5 Not Booting
I have here a DL360 G5 server.
Windows 2003 Server R2 installed. Server has been historically troublefree. Uninstalled AV and rebooted, but it wont come back up!
Server finds and initialises RAID (P400i) as per normal. Finds the logical drive.
At the point at which it normally shows the boot screen it just lists the boot order (CD, USB, HDD, NIC) and tried to then boot from NIC which of course is unsuccessful.
Checked boot controller order - RAID Card is before IDE channels.
Pressed F10 for System Diagnostics (CPU/RAM/Boot Disk) and all pass. Boot disk passes on all 3, including valid OS boot sector.
I had this with my own VMWare Server not booting to a USB Key, which I fixed in the end by powering off completely then restarting.
I have tried several power cycles (power leads out) and still nothing.
This Server is the one and only DC so nothing works with this off!!
Windows 2003 Server R2 installed. Server has been historically troublefree. Uninstalled AV and rebooted, but it wont come back up!
Server finds and initialises RAID (P400i) as per normal. Finds the logical drive.
At the point at which it normally shows the boot screen it just lists the boot order (CD, USB, HDD, NIC) and tried to then boot from NIC which of course is unsuccessful.
Checked boot controller order - RAID Card is before IDE channels.
Pressed F10 for System Diagnostics (CPU/RAM/Boot Disk) and all pass. Boot disk passes on all 3, including valid OS boot sector.
I had this with my own VMWare Server not booting to a USB Key, which I fixed in the end by powering off completely then restarting.
I have tried several power cycles (power leads out) and still nothing.
This Server is the one and only DC so nothing works with this off!!
Looks like it's not finding the O/S on the RAID which is why it's trying boot via other means.
I'd unplug anything from USB that you don't need.
I'd unplug anything from USB that you don't need.
Did you change anything else at all (no matter how minor) before rebooting; after AV uninstall?
What issue were you trying to resolve by the AV removal?
Anything else plugged into this server?
Have you checked the integrity of your RAID on the P400i? Do you have another server you can plug it into to boot from?
What issue were you trying to resolve by the AV removal?
Anything else plugged into this server?
Have you checked the integrity of your RAID on the P400i? Do you have another server you can plug it into to boot from?
All the RAID drives seem OK? SmartCD is a good idea. Maybe you can review the logs.
http://www.tricksguide.com/how-to-view-save-iml-logs-integrated-management-log-smartstart-cd.html
http://www.tricksguide.com/how-to-view-save-iml-logs-integrated-management-log-smartstart-cd.html
Take the lid off and switch switch 6 on the system maintenance switch to reset CMOS. POwer it on and wait until it tells you to power off and switch switch 6 again. Might not fix but won't hurt.
ASKER
Wellll
The server is back up. Out of desperation I simply changed the boot order to C: first, although it should make no difference as there were no USB devices plugged in, nor anyhting in the CD Drive.
BUT I now have zero confidence in the server, and there is a scheduled 24hr power outage next week...
In answer to your comments:
pjam: No CD's to hand. I was just downloading the firmware update DVD but that kept cutting out anyway.
Server is 3 1/2 years old.
Number-1: All the diagnostics I could do suggests that it could see the OS, primarily F10 for System Diagnostics which includes a boot disk check.
Roy-Long: Nothing on the RAID side has been touched for probably over a year. I also booted into the RAID ROM and checked the array, all reported as OK. ALso re-selected the single logical drive as the boot volume twice.
The AV was an upgrade exercise, prior to that the Server was dandy. No issues. Nothing else plugged into the server. Integrity on ACU I just ran comes back fine. No spare servers.
Andy: I turned off the server and unplugged the power leads, when I rebooted I noticed the iLO had lost its IP.
Not sure if that is significant or not.
I need to get another server in ASAP to act as a backup, then find out a way to diagnose this one...
The server is back up. Out of desperation I simply changed the boot order to C: first, although it should make no difference as there were no USB devices plugged in, nor anyhting in the CD Drive.
BUT I now have zero confidence in the server, and there is a scheduled 24hr power outage next week...
In answer to your comments:
pjam: No CD's to hand. I was just downloading the firmware update DVD but that kept cutting out anyway.
Server is 3 1/2 years old.
Number-1: All the diagnostics I could do suggests that it could see the OS, primarily F10 for System Diagnostics which includes a boot disk check.
Roy-Long: Nothing on the RAID side has been touched for probably over a year. I also booted into the RAID ROM and checked the array, all reported as OK. ALso re-selected the single logical drive as the boot volume twice.
The AV was an upgrade exercise, prior to that the Server was dandy. No issues. Nothing else plugged into the server. Integrity on ACU I just ran comes back fine. No spare servers.
Andy: I turned off the server and unplugged the power leads, when I rebooted I noticed the iLO had lost its IP.
Not sure if that is significant or not.
I need to get another server in ASAP to act as a backup, then find out a way to diagnose this one...
Sounds like no O/S partion is being found. Im assuming the Win2003 install completed ok but maybe the boot.ini is corrupt.
Check your Boot.ini file and make sure it looks similar to the 'Sample Boot.ini' in this article.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323427/en-us
Check your Boot.ini file and make sure it looks similar to the 'Sample Boot.ini' in this article.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323427/en-us
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Mez - I'm not convinced that it is a Windows problem, as when the Server finally recognised that there was a valid boot it started fine no worries.
Ray, can you suggest some good P2V software (pref free?) that requires no rebooting?
Ray, can you suggest some good P2V software (pref free?) that requires no rebooting?
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As stated; vmware standalone converter for windows or Linux - either set up with vmware converter server on the same machine OR transferred directly to vcenter server if you have one set up.
Other free virtualisation apps will convert for free; i.e. virtualbox (oracle) but not as reliable.
For paid for apps Platespin has always been the gold standard.
Other free virtualisation apps will convert for free; i.e. virtualbox (oracle) but not as reliable.
For paid for apps Platespin has always been the gold standard.
ASKER
Not direct fix but highlight best way forward
Bit confused as to how you're going to P2V it or setup another DC until you get this one to boot. If you had another ProLiant server of the same generation you could just swap the disks but by the sound of it you don't.
ASKER
The server did boot in the end, by changing the boot order to boot from C first (even though CD ROM and USB were empty anyway).
This "fix" makes no sense though.
This "fix" makes no sense though.
W2003 is very similar to XP and a BAD CDRom can cause all kinds of issues with booting in XP. Since you removed CD from 1st place that indicates to me you need to replace the CDROM. My two cents.
I hate it when a server doesn't boot. Glad you are on the right track. Search this site for info on PtoV as it can be tricky if there are a lot of HP type programs running on the P
I hate it when a server doesn't boot. Glad you are on the right track. Search this site for info on PtoV as it can be tricky if there are a lot of HP type programs running on the P
ASKER
Really? You mean a bas CD ROM, as in the physical device, can cause non-bbot scenarios like this?
I downloaded and installed VMWare Standalone Converter but then realised it's a bit moot as you need an exisiting V infrastructure in place already, which they dont.
I downloaded and installed VMWare Standalone Converter but then realised it's a bit moot as you need an exisiting V infrastructure in place already, which they dont.
Yes haven't seen it on W2k3 but have had several XP Pro computers that would not boot until i replaced the CDROM.
ESXi 4.1 is free however you will need a server (or possibly workstation) to run it on.
Hanccocka is resident VMWare expert. Do another post asking for help on PtoV and he will respond of this i am sure.
ESXi 4.1 is free however you will need a server (or possibly workstation) to run it on.
Hanccocka is resident VMWare expert. Do another post asking for help on PtoV and he will respond of this i am sure.
ASKER
Yes I converse with Han on nearly a daily basis with my VMWare stuff :D He probably dreads posts by me now.
I will be discussing options with the client later today to see how they wish to push forward. I am leaning towards replacing with a Physcial server, becuase we need this in ASAP and there is not enough time or funding to get a proper Virtual Infrastructure in place.
I think Virtualisation tends to be almost riskier than physical if you dont go the full hog and have redundancy, and they could lose much more than 1 server, if you see what I mean.
I will be discussing options with the client later today to see how they wish to push forward. I am leaning towards replacing with a Physcial server, becuase we need this in ASAP and there is not enough time or funding to get a proper Virtual Infrastructure in place.
I think Virtualisation tends to be almost riskier than physical if you dont go the full hog and have redundancy, and they could lose much more than 1 server, if you see what I mean.
I can't believe you still haven't tried resetting CMOS!
ASKER
Andy,
By the time I had seen your comment on doing this the server was already back up - given the circumstances I didnt want to shut the server off again to try!
If the server does go down again, this will be one of the first things I do.
By the time I had seen your comment on doing this the server was already back up - given the circumstances I didnt want to shut the server off again to try!
If the server does go down again, this will be one of the first things I do.
How old is the server? 5 years?