Managing G1 Proliant Servers with modern Linux
Not much of an “upgrade” for anyone who’s in IT, but jasonantman.com is currently being upgraded from old desktops used as servers to a pile of generation-1 (G1) HP/Compaq Proliants. I know that there are utilities for Linux to manage the servers, specifically control fan speed and monitor hardware-level health for Linux. However, the most recent download on HP’s site is for SLES9. All of my boxes will be running openSuSE 10.2, and the SLES9 version wouldn’t install on them.
After an hour long phone call to HP support, I ended up speaking with Paulo, the third support person I was transferred to. #1 read off the web site, #2 knew what Linux was, but Paulo (#3) actually told me that he was experimenting with installing HPASM (HP’s server administration/management utility) on an older Proliant as well. He spent about half an hour walking me through it. Here’s what I found:
The most compatible version of HPASM (I guess it’s some hidden feature for people who know it) is the version for the DL380 G4. Paulo instructed me to download this RPM from their site. I did, choosing the SLES10 (x86) download (hpasm-7.7.0-115.sles10.i586.rpm). This installed fine. Running hpasm status from the command line asks us to activate it first. Do the activation. Now, running hpasm status still asks us to activate. Paulo confirmed this as happening on his machine too. Try /etc/init.d/hpasm status and you should see that all of the modules are working.
Now, the install is complete. I’m not sure if the SNMP works, but it should as long as your snmpd is running. The hpasm activate command modifies snmpd.conf appropriately. and you will be queried for the currect configuration information.
To give it a test, run hplog -f or hplog -p and you should see fan and power status, respectively.
Paulo also told me that I could download the hpadu package (also DL380 G4 / SLES10) to get array diagnostics, He warned me that some of the install scripts in HPADU look for the web management homepage, which we haven’t installed. To get around this, install the HPADU RPM file (hpadu-7.70-12.linux.rpm) rpm -ivh --force --nodeps --noscripts hpadu-7.70-12.linux.rpm. Be aware, though, that this package is supposed to be web-based. It installs to /opt/hp/hpadu.
The web interface, luckily for me, is written in PHP. It is pretty complex so it might take me a while to figure out the workings, but when I do, I’ll post as much info as I can on how to make a CLI interface, or where one exists if I can find it.
Also, I’ll most likely develop a Python check script to use with Nagios to monitor most of the hpasm-enabled components.
For the use of anyone else, here are some of the links that HP Support sent me after the call:
Link for users guide for Proliant Support Pack, which includes documentation on HPASM from the CLI:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/WebDoc/720/psp-users-guide.pdf
Product manuals:
ML370 G1
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/UCR/SupportManual/TPM_143091-004/TPM_143091-004.pdf
Nice work Jason – thanks. I’m also running OpenSuse 10.2 on a G1. I have now managed to get the full psp 7.8 SLES10 package loaded. This involves editing the Suse-release file found in /etc/ to make the script think its a SLES10. The script seems flaky and does not terminate correctly, but all the tools load ok. I’ve even managed to get the HP System Management Homepage running ok.
I don’t know about your hosting setup but I just ordered two compaq proliant dl380s g1 series. I am hosting off of standard pcs from my home right now using an adsl connection and I was wondering about power consumption on these models. I don’t know if you know about about them or not but I thought I would ask. Any help is appreciated. Thank you. Shawn Seibers