Supermicro would like us to gather BIOS debug output, which is emitted to the COM2 serial port. This requires installing a card with a breakout cable and then attaching a USB to serial adapter to another server:
| Status | Subtype | Assigned | Task | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | None | T373519 Allow UEFI DHCP configs | |||
| Open | jhathaway | T383173 Supermicro: UEFI HTTP boot request hangs on cold boot | |||
| Resolved | Jhancock.wm | T400211 Install serial port breakout card on sretest2001 | |||
| Unknown Object (Task) |
Hi @Jhancock.wm - since @Papaul is out on sabbatical, can you take a look at this one? It's related to debugging some of the Supermicro issues.. Thanks, Willy
@jhathaway i can take care of this connection today. Can you remind me what the hostname of this server is?
Thanks @Jhancock.wm, the host we want to add the card into is sretest2001, however, we have not procured the card (CBL-0010L) yet, nor the debug cable. Once the card is installed we can use the cable and attach to the closest physical server, e.g. dbproxy2006.
I'm not sure for the wording and want to clarify. Are you ordering the items needed? Or do we need to start a procurement task?
If you folks could take care of procurement that would probably be better, apologies for the lack of clarity.
@RobH we can probably discuss this during our meeting this afternoon. Need to order the two items linked in the description.
I'm a bit surprised the server doesn't have an external comport, but we can order that from SM store or Rich@SM via quotation.
Then any db9 to usb adapter should work, and I'd think ops-codfw has some on-site for laptop to serial troubleshooting. If not, we'll definitely want to order 1 for each on-site.
I suggest 1 per on-site so you just keep with your laptop, and they can be a bit of a pain to get working initially depending on your OS/laptop/usb to serial converter so it is usually easier to just use the same one all the time.
I found a console cable we can use but I'm not sure it's going to work. I connected it to the serial port on the back of the server. connected that to the scs switch in A1 (temporarily using the port for the psu in B7). I can't connect. attempted to change the baud rate. @jhathaway if you have time, can you check it out. I'm gonna let my brain marinate on this one and see if there's a way of getting around ordering these things.
FYI, the server does have a serial port, but I don't know if it's the same kind as the one that SM linked for us to procure. Not without opening up the server. I can do that if it's okay to power it down for a bit.
Supermicro indicated that the debug output from the supplied BIOS is only outputted to COM2. From briefly looking at the manual COM2 is only available as a header on board, "One serial port on the rear I/O panel (COM1) and one onboard header (COM2)." Which, from my read, indicates we will have to purchase the PCIE bracket and cable.
That stinks, on Dell you can swap the com1/2 assignments to the external serial port or idrac, if we cannot do on SM then indeed we need the breakout cable. I'll create an order task off this one.
connected. using the serial connection for the ps1-b7-codfw temporarily. if we need a more permanent line, lmk and i can run it.