HP ProLiant Gen8 Troubleshooting Guide Volume I: Troubleshooting

Hardware problems 56

If the server has only one processor installed, replace it with a known functional processor. If the

problem is resolved after you restart the server, the original processor failed.

CAUTION: Before removing or replacing any processors, be sure to follow the guidelines

provided in "Performing processor procedures in the troubleshooting process (on page 15)."

Failure to follow the recommended guidelines can cause damage to the system board, requiring

replacement of the system board.

6. If the server has multiple processors installed, test each processor:

a. Remove all but one processor from the server. Replace each with a processor terminator board or

blank, if applicable to the server.

b. Replace the remaining processor with a known functional processor. If the problem is resolved after

you restart the server, a fault exists with one or more of the original processors. Install each

processor one by one, restarting each time, to find the faulty processor or processors. At each step,

be sure the server supports the processor configurations.

Unsupported processor stepping with Intel processors

For systems based on Intel processors, you must update the system ROM to support new steppings (revisions)

of processors. System ROM for HP servers contains the Intel microcode, also called processor support code,

that the system uses to initialize the processor and ensure proper operation of the platform.

New steppings of Intel processors tend to be functionally equivalent to previous steppings. HP ProLiant

servers fully support mixing steppings when other parameters are identical: processor speed, cache size,

number of cores, and processor wattage. To maintain support and uptime, HP provides updated system

ROM before shipping new stepping processors.

A new or replacement processor may be a newer stepping. At boot, the server indicates if the current system

ROM does not support the new stepping processor. The following message is displayed:

Unsupported Processor Detected

System will ONLY boot ROMPAQ Utility.

If this message is displayed, update the system ROM in one of the following ways:

• Updating system ROM without removing the processor (on page 56)

• Updating system ROM after removing the processor (on page 56)

Updating system ROM without removing the processor

If the "Unsupported Processor Detected" message is displayed, and you choose to leave the processor

installed, the system will only boot the Systems ROMPaq USB Key.

A systems ROMPaq USB key is a USB drive key that contains the ROMPaq utility. For information on how

to create a systems ROMPaq USB key, see "System ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade Utility (on page 84)."

Updating system ROM after removing the processor

If the "Unsupported Processor Detected" message is displayed, and you choose to remove the processor,

update the system ROM using any standard ROM flash mechanism. After updating the system ROM, install

the new stepping processor.