Install 11.3, 12.1 and 13.1 on HP Proiant Gen9 server with P440ar

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

Hi folks

I tried to install 11.3, 12.1 and 13.1 on HP Gen9 server with P440ar array controller. But all failed on probing hard disk even I inserted a HP P440ar driver update usb drive. It’s fine to install 11 sp1,sp2 and sp3 with gen9 bootable driver kit. And it’s also fine to install SLES 12 with the native ISO image.

I tried to to add hpsa.ko into the initrd image but still can’t probe the hard disk. The read me in CCISS souce code doesn’t say that the driver support OpenSuse.

Please let know if you have are successful to install OpenSuse on HP Gen9 server. Thank you.

Winston.a.lee@gmail.com
Winston

#2

Hi
What about 13.2 with the later kernel? The version in 13.1 is 2.0.2 whereas for SLE 12 and 13.2 is 3.4.4.

The only difference I see between 13.2 and SLE 12 hpsa module is on SLE 12 it depends on scsi_mod which isn’t present in 13.2.

#3

hi Malcolmlewis,

Thank you for reply.

13.2 also can’t be installed on Gen9 Server, failed on probed hard disk process.:frowning:

Winston

#4

Gen9 P440ar requires HPSA 3.4.6-165 from Sep2014 , the one included with 13.2 is 3.4.4-1. If you compile the module vs the default kernel in the 13.2 install, you should be able to modprobe it during the install.

I don’t have any G9’s (a bunch of G6-G7’s though - great machines) yet from HP so I haven’t had time to make a suitable module but if you give me a few moments, I might be able to conjure something up in a VM.

#5

hi MiukuMac:

Good news from you.

I have one DL360 Gen9 Server. If you need the server, I can provide you a teamviewer gateway to connect the server. lol!

Winston

#6

Well this’ll be a bit trickier than I expected - to get this to work I’d have to build a Driver Update Disk and it seems HP doesn’t have the source rpms for the hpsa anywhere where I can find them quickly.

It would have been trivial to grab it, then replace it with a newer driver and recompile it.

#7

Hi
The OP can get it to work with the 3.4.4 driver as they used SLES 12 which worked… the difference is the scsi_mod driver which is required in SLE but not openSUSE…

#8

Wouldn’t the driver crash and burn due to being compiled for the SLES kernel?

I actually managed to find the hpsa driver source rpm and compiled a 3.4.6-170 kmp version of it for 13.1 and 13.2 from HP sources - creating a driver update for it seems to be a bit… annoying and overly complex.

#9

On Wed 21 Jan 2015 04:16:01 PM CST, Miuku wrote:

Wouldn’t the driver crash and burn due to being compiled for the SLES
kernel?

I actually managed to find the hpsa driver source rpm and compiled a
3.4.6-170 kmp version of it for 13.1 and 13.2 from HP sources - creating
a driver update for it seems to be a bit… annoying and overly complex.

Hi
Think you misunderstood, the OP installed SLES 12 and the hpsa version
3.4.4 worked fine, so it does work, same driver is in openSUSE 13.2
doesn’t work, yet they are the same version… just different
kernels 3.12 vs 3.16.

The difference is in SLE 12 the hpsa kernel module ‘depends’ on
the scsi_mod kernel module. This is not built for openSUSE, hence those
are the only differences I can see…

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° LFCS, SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 GNOME 3.10.1 Kernel 3.12.32-33-default
If you find this post helpful and are logged into the web interface,
please show your appreciation and click on the star below… Thanks!

#10

Yeah I did - however it’s kinda curious because HP themselves say in their hpsa documentation that Gen9 requires a newer driver. Perhaps the SLES version has backported something or then HP themselves are in error.

From their README (hpsa driver):


Version 3.4.6-170  - September 2014  - Update to address a device discovery issue (mostly involving
    tape drives) that was found in hpsa version 3.4.6-165.
Version 3.4.6-165  - September 2014
  - Driver updated to support HP Proliant Gen9 servers with new Smart Array
    and Smart HBA controllers.
  - Many changes to support HBA mode on these new controllers.
  - Driver updates to increase performance especially for SSDs.
  - **NOTE** This version has a known device discovery issue (mostly involving
    tape drives) that will be addresses in the 3.4.6-170.
Version 3.4.4-126  - July 2014
  - Cleaned up memory leak that would occur at device discovery.
Version 3.4.4-125  - January 2014
  - Added HP SSD Smart Path feature.
    http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/software-management/smartpath/index.html
  - Updated controller support.

Not quite sure how I can send the kmp to the op, I put it up in my home repo so software search should find it with hpsa :slight_smile:

#11

http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/Miuku/openSUSE_13.2/

#12

Yeah but I was thinking how to get it to him so he can load it up during the install as a driver update - I have never done one of those DU disks in all the years since I never had to. Found some instructions online, gotta see if they still work :slight_smile:

Oh and the kmp comes with a disclaimer; I have no idea if it works :slight_smile: I need to ask one of my clients to get a HP Gen9 server so I can test it rotfl!

#13

hi Miuku:

Just let you know that I have a DL360 Gen9 with P440ar. :slight_smile:

Winston