HP DL180 server

sdc · 12-09-2008, 12:08 PM

Hi

We've bought two new HP DL180 rackmount (2U) servers. One's been fine; the other seemed to randomly reboot itself. We had this one swapped out as I thought it was a hardware issue - there was no record of anything in the event viewer. However, now the new one's here, it's just rebooted itself without any warning! Again, nothing in the event logs. We had users logged in and using it (although as the reboot didn't take much time, I don't think they noticed - no phone calls yet!).

Anyone experienced anything like this?
Thanks
Stephen

Michael · 12-09-2008, 12:11 PM

Have you checked/replaced the power lead and source? Are the servers both connected to a UPS?

sdc · 12-09-2008, 12:13 PM

Yes, both the servers are on a UPS (and the previous one which we sent back was, too). I hadn't thought of the power lead itself, but will try replacing it at a convenient point.

FN-GM · 12-09-2008, 04:49 PM

Do you have any USB devices in the server?

Domino · 12-09-2008, 04:52 PM

the other thing is what are its settings for autoupdates?

Sylv3r · 12-09-2008, 06:07 PM

Are they on top of each other and one is over heating?

SYNACK · 12-09-2008, 06:17 PM

Is your rack properly grounded. We once had issues with a faulty VDS system that was happily earthing itself into the wall cabinet, unfortunately the cabinet was not properly earthed and it was leaking back into the other components.

We got the dirty little VDS unit replaced and grounded the cabinet which solved the problem.

sdc · 15-09-2008, 08:02 AM

Thanks for all the responses everyone; firstly, the rack is fully grounded so I don't think there's much of a problem there (nothing else in the rack - containing about a dozen servers - is affected). They are on top of each other but the room is fully air conditioned, so as far as I can see there shouldn't really be any overheating - but I will relocate the thermometer to the rear of the affected server for a week and see what readings we get.

The autoupdates are turned off (both by GP and manually, just to be sure...!), but I'm intrigued by the USB question. Currently there is no USB device on that server, but we do have a USB DLT backup drive which was attached to the former server (the one I had to send back); I've not yet connected the drive to this new server as I'm waiting for a new release of the software, which they assure me is due any day now (and has been for about a month!). As this drive has the option of connecting via USB or eSATA, I thought this time I'd try the eSATA route.

Any thoughts on any of this appreciated. Thanks again for all your comments and replies.

Stephen

sdc · 19-09-2008, 03:53 PM

OK, I think I've narrowed it down - it would appear to be a loading issue. This afternoon, for example, I was running a simple search for JPGs on the server (from a mapped drive, not actually on the console), and suddenly the server rebooted. Nothing in the event logs - you'd think it had never happened!

Any ideas?!
Thanks
Stephen

SYNACK · 19-09-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdc

OK, I think I've narrowed it down - it would appear to be a loading issue. This afternoon, for example, I was running a simple search for JPGs on the server (from a mapped drive, not actually on the console), and suddenly the server rebooted. Nothing in the event logs - you'd think it had never happened!

Any ideas?!
Thanks
Stephen

Have you run a full scandisk of the drives, it is uncommon but perhaps there is some rather nasty unhanded corruption of the file system that drops the machine without warning.

sdc · 22-09-2008, 12:40 PM

Hi

Full scan disk run; no errors reported. So, running a few tests, all seemed OK. Then ran a test backup on a selection of a few folders, using Windows NT Backup (Server 2003). Backup finished OK, but then the screen blanked (background remained, all icons and start menu vanished etc), the disk lights all turned on continuously. So I hit CTRL-ALT-DEL, before I could click Task Manager, the screen went black and it rebooted...!

Again, nothing in the event logs when it came back up.
Stephen

SYNACK · 22-09-2008, 11:52 PM

Does it have the latest BIOS/Firmware installed for all of its devices, this can be a major cause of instability.

Also have you got any brother printers installed on it, their filthy drivers leak memory into the nonpaged pool and can cause crashes similar to the one you described. Check how much is in use by going into task manager, the processes tab, view menu, select columns and checking the non paged pool box.

Check through all of your processes to make sure that none are using up lots (more than 500kb) as there is only around 5mb allocated total. You would need to be looking just before a crash to detect it definitively unfortunately but if a process is using a lot it could be the problem.

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12-09-2008, 12:08 PM	#1
sdc Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 87 Thanks: 23 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Rep Power: 2	HP DL180 server Hi We've bought two new HP DL180 rackmount (2U) servers. One's been fine; the other seemed to randomly reboot itself. We had this one swapped out as I thought it was a hardware issue - there was no record of anything in the event viewer. However, now the new one's here, it's just rebooted itself without any warning! Again, nothing in the event logs. We had users logged in and using it (although as the reboot didn't take much time, I don't think they noticed - no phone calls yet!). Anyone experienced anything like this? Thanks Stephen

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HP DL180 server

12-09-2008, 12:11 PM	#2
Michael Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 2,360 Thanks: 37 Thanked 188 Times in 148 Posts Rep Power: 44	Have you checked/replaced the power lead and source? Are the servers both connected to a UPS?

12-09-2008, 12:13 PM	#3
sdc Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 87 Thanks: 23 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Rep Power: 2	Yes, both the servers are on a UPS (and the previous one which we sent back was, too). I hadn't thought of the power lead itself, but will try replacing it at a convenient point.

12-09-2008, 04:49 PM	#4
FN-GM Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochdale, Lancashire Posts: 5,124 Thanks: 168 Thanked 179 Times in 173 Posts Rep Power: 43	Do you have any USB devices in the server?

12-09-2008, 04:52 PM	#5
Domino Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hastings Posts: 1,253 Thanks: 15 Thanked 84 Times in 71 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Rep Power: 23	the other thing is what are its settings for autoupdates?

12-09-2008, 06:07 PM	#6
Sylv3r Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Co. Durham Posts: 1,133 Thanks: 32 Thanked 54 Times in 42 Posts Rep Power: 19	Are they on top of each other and one is over heating?

12-09-2008, 06:17 PM	#7
SYNACK Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,844 Thanks: 60 Thanked 267 Times in 243 Posts Blog Entries: 2 Rep Power: 59	Is your rack properly grounded. We once had issues with a faulty VDS system that was happily earthing itself into the wall cabinet, unfortunately the cabinet was not properly earthed and it was leaking back into the other components. We got the dirty little VDS unit replaced and grounded the cabinet which solved the problem.

15-09-2008, 08:02 AM	#8
sdc Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 87 Thanks: 23 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Rep Power: 2	Thanks for all the responses everyone; firstly, the rack is fully grounded so I don't think there's much of a problem there (nothing else in the rack - containing about a dozen servers - is affected). They are on top of each other but the room is fully air conditioned, so as far as I can see there shouldn't really be any overheating - but I will relocate the thermometer to the rear of the affected server for a week and see what readings we get. The autoupdates are turned off (both by GP and manually, just to be sure...!), but I'm intrigued by the USB question. Currently there is no USB device on that server, but we do have a USB DLT backup drive which was attached to the former server (the one I had to send back); I've not yet connected the drive to this new server as I'm waiting for a new release of the software, which they assure me is due any day now (and has been for about a month!). As this drive has the option of connecting via USB or eSATA, I thought this time I'd try the eSATA route. Any thoughts on any of this appreciated. Thanks again for all your comments and replies. Stephen

19-09-2008, 03:53 PM	#9
sdc Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 87 Thanks: 23 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Rep Power: 2	OK, I think I've narrowed it down - it would appear to be a loading issue. This afternoon, for example, I was running a simple search for JPGs on the server (from a mapped drive, not actually on the console), and suddenly the server rebooted. Nothing in the event logs - you'd think it had never happened! Any ideas?! Thanks Stephen

22-09-2008, 12:40 PM	#11
sdc Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 87 Thanks: 23 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Rep Power: 2	Hi Full scan disk run; no errors reported. So, running a few tests, all seemed OK. Then ran a test backup on a selection of a few folders, using Windows NT Backup (Server 2003). Backup finished OK, but then the screen blanked (background remained, all icons and start menu vanished etc), the disk lights all turned on continuously. So I hit CTRL-ALT-DEL, before I could click Task Manager, the screen went black and it rebooted...! Again, nothing in the event logs when it came back up. Stephen

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22-09-2008, 11:52 PM	#12
SYNACK Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,844 Thanks: 60 Thanked 267 Times in 243 Posts Blog Entries: 2 Rep Power: 59	Does it have the latest BIOS/Firmware installed for all of its devices, this can be a major cause of instability. Also have you got any brother printers installed on it, their filthy drivers leak memory into the nonpaged pool and can cause crashes similar to the one you described. Check how much is in use by going into task manager, the processes tab, view menu, select columns and checking the non paged pool box. Check through all of your processes to make sure that none are using up lots (more than 500kb) as there is only around 5mb allocated total. You would need to be looking just before a crash to detect it definitively unfortunately but if a process is using a lot it could be the problem.

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