[CentOS] Random Proliant Crashes CentOS 6.1

are 2 bugs at Redhat about it:
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id`5444
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?ida5543

But I did not find a stable configuration even using HP cciss driver
3.6.28-12 supposed to solve I/O hangs :
http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/psi/swdDetails/?sp4ts.oid974971&spf_p.tpst=psiSwdMain&spf_p.prp_psiSwdMain=wsrp-navigationalState%3Dlang%253Den%257Ccc%253DUS%257CprodSeriesId%253D3974962%257CprodNameId%253D3974971%257CswEnvOID%253D4004%257CswLang%253D8%257CswItem%253DMTX-a25f030ce09e4bfeb646edeadd%257Cmode%253D3%257Caction%253DdriverDocument&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken


In september, I did the upgrade to SL6 and no crash since.


-- Pierre-Fran?ois Honor?



2011/12/17 John Hinton <webmaster at ew3d.com>

If you follow the cited bugzilla's, you'll see that you *must* upgrade
your HP firmware too (for everything(!!) -- particularly RAID controllers
and SAS expander, etc.) --> to the absolute latest release. [Note: the
updates on the 9.30 ISO are *not* late enough, btw.] Then, you need
the latest version of the kernel that has a work-around in the cciss / hpsa
driver.

HTH

-rak-

Thanks. I have already started down the firmware path. This is
irritating! 15 years of solid reliability out of Proliant products and
then suddenly this! :( I'm starting to wonder if the Linux kernel is
just trying to do too many things... geez... (Isn't that what Windows
does?) Maybe there is a need for a server kernel which could be a
simplified version of a desktop or full kernel? Then again, I have no
insight into what led to this... perhaps it was introduced due to the
server side features.

So, by "latest kernel", I suppose that would not be the latest CentOS
6.1 kernel? If not, does anyone know if it is in any kernel provided by
upstream and if it will soon be available under CentOS? For instance 6.2
that seems to be just around the corner?

Upstream seemed to blame it on their upstream, or the kernel. The cases
I found were closed in spite of no good resolution. There has to be a
ton of Proliant stuff out there. Actually, HP seems to have a lot of
holes in providing for RH6 and has only RH5 for many of these firmware
updates. I did successfully run HP RH5 firmware updates on a RH6 box,
but I'm not so happy about taking chances like that.

Or worse.... perhaps we are starting to see a degradation due to
ownership by HP vs. the fine products that Compaq created? I certainly
hope not!

Meanwhile, I guess I'll sit back and wait to see if what I have done is
enough.

The problem is *not* the linux kernel --> it's HP firmware. Look @ the
kernel changes and you'll see where it is working around HP FW.

Note: Some of the firmware upgrades *require* that the box and disks/
MSA's be power cycled (as in you must pull the power cord!) for the FW
upgrade to take effect. If you don't do that the new FW isn't what's being
used ... (but, then, I assume most folks realise that about FW upgrades...)

The latest kernel in the channel should have the "fix" (aka work-around)
in it. Of course, it is not effective unless the corresponding FW patch is
also been applied. You have to be very diligent and find the FW's on the
HP site and get the very latest. Not sure about G4's, but on G6's, the
motherboard FW upgrade was also important too (and is not part of 9.30).


HTH.

-rak-

Richard,

After hours of Googling, you have summarized the issues and the resolve
clearly. The bugzillas hopped around with too much bad information
interspersed between the few good bits. I will now assume those that
said this didn't work, either DL'd too old a firmware update or failed
to go far enough. Thank you very much!