this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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Hello everyone,

I just got a DL380e G8 and I have a small problem: iLO report something wrong with the Embeded SD Card slot.

There is no SD card in the slot inside the server and I'm wondering what is this slot used for ? and can I put any SD Card in it ? is there a size limit ? where can I buy a replacement ?

I can't seem to find the right document on HP's website.

Could you guy help me figure it out and maybe point me to the right direction!

Thank you very much!

Problem description on iLO web interface:

Embedded Flash/SD-CARD : Controller firmware revision 2.10.00 Partition Table Read Error: Could not partition embedded media device

Which is logical since there is no SD Card in there, right ?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The info in this thread is mostly incorrect - error has nothing to do with the SD card you plug in the server.

This error happens because HP had a bug in earlier versions of iLo where flash memory wear levelling was not enabled. It results in a failed flash chip unless iLo was updated early on.

The SD card is Embedded - it’s NOT the one that you plug in, but rather it’s soldered down on the motherboard. You can try formatting it (there is HP support advisory on this, requires sending special XML) but chances of bringing it back to life are slim. Out of 10+ machines with these symptoms I’ve seen only two were alright after flash format. Proper fix would be to desolder and replace the chip on the motherboard…

Part number for the chip: SDIN7DP2-4G

Here’s the link to support advisory: https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c04996097

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This guy HPs.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's used as a boot device. VMware used to support booting from SD but dropped support a while back.

I think the largest I ever used was like an 8GB SD card since VMware only needed 2 or so.

[–] Krafting 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

then why iLO complains and report about a missing SD Card there ?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No idea, unless there's something wrong with the SD controller itself (and it thinks there's a card in there).

[–] Krafting 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

and it thinks there’s a card in there

Might be that yeah.. I'll plug a card in the and see what it does; but before that, did you try something similar with off-the-shelf sd card ?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just used an 8 GB off-the-shelf card I had lying around.

[–] Krafting 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Krafting 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It was probably not a problem with the SD card reader; as I now get the error:

Controller firmware revision 2.10.00 NAND read failure: Media is in a WRITE-PROTECTED state

Even tho the SD card is not locked and the error still shows after pulling it off, the reference to the NAND make me think of a chip on the board that might be dead (but why eveything stills work then ?), might try to see if there is something in the BIOS by any chance tomorrow.

Also, It's weird that they would group the SD Card and the NAND together...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have a similar fault in my dl380 from my searching it can be a fault with the nand and requires a new board to make the fault go away, it’s doesn’t seem to change the functionality of the iLO though just the annoying fault

[–] Krafting 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What is this NAND used for then? I thought about logs, but they still show correctly on iLO so it must be something else?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I don’t know at all, I have a feeling it’s a bit like a smart error that it’s dying but not yet dead, if you figure out a cost effective fix please let me know, I just avoid looking at my iLO and when I do I end up in a rabbit hole and then remember I don’t care enough to keep looking

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I have a similar (if not the same) error and I tryed everything without success. I can boot from the SD card but the SD card reader isn't recognized by the OS. (I have two identical servers and the other one, which has no issues, is able to read the SD from the OS)

Not an issue for me, just sad that I know have a permanent warning and cannot boot in IntiligentProvisionning, which I don't use anyway

[–] Krafting 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah, seems the same with my server, a shame for enterprise-grade hardware... and I guess I'll never learn how to use this Intelligent Provisionning thing too; I don't think I miss a lot to be honest