Server Startup

Mike Ralston

So I'm trying to get an HP DL 185 to run off of a bootable Flash drive, and the server is in perpetual startup phase, around twenty minutes. Anyone have any ideas?

scottalanmiller

What part of the startup is on the screen? What is the message that it is cycling through?

Might work to use a phone a grab a literal screen shot.

Mike Ralston

Nothing at all. Screen stay blank.

PSX_Defector

So it goes through POST, says checking RAM and such, then sits after all of that or it never gets to the big giant HP screen splash?

Mike Ralston

Never does any of that.

art_of_shred

Is the monitor plugged into a serial port?

scottalanmiller

@Mike-Ralston said:

Nothing at all. Screen stay blank.

How do we know where it is hanging then?

scottalanmiller

@art_of_shred said:

Is the monitor plugged into a serial port?

Should only be one VGA port on the unit. AFAIK.

PSX_Defector

@art_of_shred said:

Is the monitor plugged into a serial port?

That would be a feat. Serial is 9 pins, VGA is 15.

scottalanmiller

So either the issue is that it is not POSTing at all or we have a graphical output issue.

This machine is the one that had its BIOS toasted but it was repaired.

PSX_Defector

@Mike-Ralston said:

Never does any of that.

Are you sure it fired up and have you connected your monitor properly?

All else fails, it's like working with any other PC. Gank out any stuff you put in, memory, drives, etc, then try to make it POST again, then add stuff back until it keeps POSTing.

Also try booting up but before hitting the power button hold down the insert key. That should clear the config just in case someone messed it up.

scottalanmiller

In theory we could hook up a serial cable and see if that has output. Got a laptop with a serial connector?

scottalanmiller

That thing has been shipped around a bit. Could easily be loose memory.

PSX_Defector

I think it only does that if it's got an iLO.

PSX_Defector

@scottalanmiller said:

That thing has been shipped around a bit. Could easily be loose memory.

Well why the hell didn't you say so?

D00d, gank and reseat everything!

scottalanmiller

@PSX_Defector said:

I think it only does that if it's got an iLO.

It does.

thanksajdotcom

@PSX_Defector said:

@art_of_shred said:

Is the monitor plugged into a serial port?

That would be a feat. Serial is 9 pins, VGA is 15.

Yup. That and serial connectors are typically female while VGA is typically male. Wait, that would mean...never mind. Not going down that rabbit hole...

thanksajdotcom

Otherwise, I present this:
Youtube Video

Joy

@Mike-Ralston When I saw this "Server Startup" I hope that you are just playing with this server.
I always get Nervous whenever I saw Server Start up

scottalanmiller

It's a lab unit, but intended for production. Something is sadly, quite wrong with it.