HP ProLiant DL360 G4 will not boot HP Smartstart 8.70 from USB key

I would try downloading the USB key software and trying it again.  I'd use a different USB key if possible.

I would also confirm that the software you downloaded is for the hardware you own.  Focus on compatibility with the video chip.

No screens found sounds like X is unable to find working settings for your video chip.

Look at the documentation to see if you can modify the USB key configuration to use VESA mode for X.  The resolution won't be great but once you get a screen, you should be able to do some work.

Have you looked in the BIOS (F10) setup screens to see if there's an option to show F8 and other prompts? I seem to recall on some 360's you could supress them?

That might give you iLO access again.

It seems seems like the ilo is not running at all.. (hence the prompt is not showing up)
Have you tried reflashing the ilo rom? You can get the firmware CD's from HP for free.

You don' t have to look in to the bios.. the ilo config is not there...
Actually it runs complete stand alone of the rest of the system. It only responds to a call on the bus (INT19, like a SCSI or network card) to show a message.

Tony & RitBit, Marco reports getting the Linux boot log.  The error he's getting is most likely from the Xorg server software.  When I've seen the error, it's due to attempting to set a resolution and rates that aren't supported by the h/w.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Dear hmccurdy...
Will all respect: It seems you are not familiar with the HP Proliant DL360 G4 hardware.
He is not complaining about an X11 problem, but the built in IP-KVM solution of the server (name iLO). This has absolutely nothing to do with any OS but the build in features of this server. The firmware update solution runs on linux and uses X11 and indeed produces an error but the fact that that one doesn't work properly is not his main problem. It's another issue he is facing.

isvouga:
Do you have an OS running on the system? Most firmware you can install from linux. You only need to identify the correct file from the CD. I'm happy to help you with that.
Have you tried bootig from a CD as well, maybe there is something wrong with the files on the stick. You can try to download the software ( check Md5!) ) and reflash the USB stick once more.

Fair enough RitBit.  Is the "no screens found" the reason he's trying to do the rescue?  Sounds to me that "the server boots fine" is what confused me.  

I agree with reflashing the USB key.

A question for the author -- do they offer a CD image that will boot to the USB key?  I have a system that I build (for customers) on a usb key.  Some computers have trouble booting directly to a USB key so I also make a CD that can be used to reboot to the USB key.  If I found a need to do that, perhaps HP did too.  (Or perhaps they didn't).  Occurs to me that is something to investigate if the USB key won't boot after reflashing.

Well, yes...

In fact i face two problems:
1. ILO not working
2. Cannot start Smartstart

I only face the 2nd problem because i cannot solve the first one.
The USB key is fine. I recreated it with HP USB Key Utility and tried again
Tried the HP Smart Update Firmware but it won't reflash the ILO Rom because it is already in the last version.
Yes, the server has an Operating system working (Win2k8), but tools for accessing ILO do not respond.

I'll tell you what I'd try with "no screens" assuming I'm right about it being X.  I don't know if this is really a good idea but it's what I'd try.  RitBit is right in that I don't know about that specific server.  I have had numerous battles with X.  OK, with the caveat stated...

I would get a LiveCD version of Linux (or a different USB version of Linux).  I'd boot to that and then mount the partition and go into inittab and change the runlevel to boot to the command prompt instead of right into X.

I'll go look that up if you don't know how to do that.  (I'd say right now but I'm on a Windows box ATM and don't currently have a Linux box handy.)

Again, don't know if this is a wise approach on that computer.  I can say, if this was my problem, I'd try it wise or foolish.

I'd go with hmccurdy's suggestion of trying a different USB key, I've gone through many USB keys trying to get SmartStart (and the firmware DVD) to work reliably. Some makes aren't bootable, some half load and hang with some meaningless Linux message (presumably like this case) and some work all the time. If I could buy a key marked "guaranteed to work with SmartStart" I'd pay double price for it and buy 10 while I was about it.

The ILO problem was not solved as it seems to be an hardware problem.

Thanks Ghodder using the correct release of Smartstart resolves this issue. HP G4 servers are not supported past 8.3. You must use 8.3 to install Windows 2008r2 on a G4 server