I checked the article, and at the end it recommended using the Support Live image. That would be the CentOS based one with the GUI, as opposed to the scripted bootable .ISO. Apologies if it feels like I'm asking the obvious, but did you also test that?
Apologies for the delay in responding. I didn't use the SLI because these are ESXi hosts and all the VLANs are trunked. The lazy option I ended up following was to use a Windows Server 2012 image, it was then easy to create an ISO image to attach via IDRAC containing the firmware update.
The firmware update successfully applied to the cards in the server.
However, even after a reboot and server power cycle, iDRAC reset.... iDRAC is still not showing the Fibre Channel devices section in its web interface. I've also confirmed that at the end of the POST process the server reports the Lifecycle Controller collecting system inventory, and that process is definitely being reported as running.
So I'm now really confused as to why iDRAC isn't showing the Emulex FC cards...
Now that the Emulex card firmware is updated, you might try a power drain on the server. With most issues on the iDRAC, I usually find resolution by either updating or performing a power drain.
In this case the firmware is already up to date, so I'd shut the server off, unplug it, and hold the power button down for ~30 seconds. Once that's complete, power back up as normal. If that doesn't work, you might consider testing the Emulex card in another PCI slot, to see if behavior changes. The article you linked to already recommended the firmware flash on the cards, so the drain is what makes sense to me at this point.
If that doesn't do it, I'll be feeling a bit puzzled, too.
Well, I won't be anything but honest and upfront - I've got nothing at all off hand. The things that I'm used to seeing resolve these types of issues didn't work out.
I went around the support floor yesterday to see if any of my colleagues had run into this before, but struck out. I'll try again today and tomorrow, there are a couple of avenues I want to explore on this end. The drawback here is that I may need a bit of time to get back to you with whatever I may find. I don't think my server lab has Emulex cards in it, but if any of them do, I'll throw different firmware at them and see if I replicate what you're seeing.
Dell-DylanJ
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2.9K Posts
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March 6th, 2020 09:00
I checked the article, and at the end it recommended using the Support Live image. That would be the CentOS based one with the GUI, as opposed to the scripted bootable .ISO. Apologies if it feels like I'm asking the obvious, but did you also test that?
JamesK2020
1 Rookie
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3 Posts
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March 10th, 2020 02:00
Apologies for the delay in responding. I didn't use the SLI because these are ESXi hosts and all the VLANs are trunked. The lazy option I ended up following was to use a Windows Server 2012 image, it was then easy to create an ISO image to attach via IDRAC containing the firmware update.
The firmware update successfully applied to the cards in the server.
However, even after a reboot and server power cycle, iDRAC reset.... iDRAC is still not showing the Fibre Channel devices section in its web interface. I've also confirmed that at the end of the POST process the server reports the Lifecycle Controller collecting system inventory, and that process is definitely being reported as running.
So I'm now really confused as to why iDRAC isn't showing the Emulex FC cards...
Dell-DylanJ
4 Operator
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2.9K Posts
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March 10th, 2020 07:00
Now that the Emulex card firmware is updated, you might try a power drain on the server. With most issues on the iDRAC, I usually find resolution by either updating or performing a power drain.
In this case the firmware is already up to date, so I'd shut the server off, unplug it, and hold the power button down for ~30 seconds. Once that's complete, power back up as normal. If that doesn't work, you might consider testing the Emulex card in another PCI slot, to see if behavior changes. The article you linked to already recommended the firmware flash on the cards, so the drain is what makes sense to me at this point.
If that doesn't do it, I'll be feeling a bit puzzled, too.
JamesK2020
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3 Posts
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March 11th, 2020 07:00
Hi Dylan.
I managed to get someone to go on-site with the servers and carry out the power drain as you recommended.
Unfortunately, the boxes are still not showing the Fibre Channel cards.
Any more thoughts?
Dell-DylanJ
4 Operator
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2.9K Posts
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March 11th, 2020 07:00
Well, I won't be anything but honest and upfront - I've got nothing at all off hand. The things that I'm used to seeing resolve these types of issues didn't work out.
I went around the support floor yesterday to see if any of my colleagues had run into this before, but struck out. I'll try again today and tomorrow, there are a couple of avenues I want to explore on this end. The drawback here is that I may need a bit of time to get back to you with whatever I may find. I don't think my server lab has Emulex cards in it, but if any of them do, I'll throw different firmware at them and see if I replicate what you're seeing.