Advisory: HP ProLiant DL580 G7 Server- Windows WHEA Logger Frequently Logs Event ID 47 Errors and Linux Logs MCE Errors With Intel Xeon E7 Family Processors Installed Because Higher Than Expected Correctable Machine Check Memory Errors May Occur - c03282091

DESCRIPTION

Certain ProLiant DL580 G7 series servers (listed in the Scope section below) utilizing Intel Xeon E7 Family processors may experience Correctable Machine Check (CMC) Memory Errors. These CMC errors are not operating system-dependent and may occur with any operating system. With high-speed processor busses, it is normal for a low occurrence of CMC memory error events to occur. However, on rare occasions, a higher than expected number of CMC memory errors may be logged in the IA32_MC8_Status Model-Specific Register (MSR) or IA32_MC9_Status MSR of the processors across a single processor package.

Windows-based operating systems will log the following event in the System Event Log by Windows Hardware Error Architecture (WHEA)-Logger as Correctable Machine Check memory errors:

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-WHEA-Logger
Date: 2/2/2012 9:30:02 AM
Event ID: 47
Task Category: None
Level: Warning
Keywords:
User: LOCAL SERVICE
Computer: %%
Description:
A corrected hardware error has occurred.
Component: Memory
Error Source: Corrected Machine Check
The details view of this entry contains further information

Linux-based operating systems will display events in the "mcelog" output or in the /var/log/mcelog if that log file exists. Customers will also notice "machine-check event logged" in the "dmesg" output. Although the errors are benign, these errors may "taint" the Linux kernel.

RESOLUTION

The "Minimum Processor Idle Power Package State" utilized by the server can be modified from its default value of "Package C3 State" to the "No Package State." Modifying this setting will prevent the issue described in this advisory .

Note : disabling Package C3 State may result in a loss of power savings when the system is idle.

Modifying "Minimum Processor Idle Power Package State - Package C3 State" Using the ROM-Based Setup Utility (RBSU)
Perform the following steps to modify the "Minimum Processor Idle Power Package State" using RBSU:

Press the F9 key when prompted during POST to access RBSU.
Select Power Management Options .
Select Advanced Power Management Options .
Select Minimum Processor Idle Power Package State and modify the setting from "Package C3 State" to "No Package State".
Press the F10 key to exit RBSU. The server will restart automatically.

Modifying " Minimum Processor Idle Power Package State - Package C3 State " Using CONREP Utility
Perform the following steps to modify the "Minimum Processor Idle Power Package State" using the CONREP tool from the HP Scripting Toolkit for Windows and Linux v9.00. The HP Scripting Toolkit for Windows and Linux v9.00 is available for download at the following URL under the "Downloads" tab:

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/toolkit/stk/index.html

For detailed information regarding using the CONREP utility, reference the User Guide contained in the HP Scripting Toolkit for Windows and Linux v9.00 at the following URL:

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/toolkit/stk/index.html

Download the HP Scripting Toolkit for Windows or Linux v9.00.
Create a text file named "conrep.dat" that contains the following information:

<Conrep>
<Section name="Intel_Minimum_Processor_Idle_Power_Package_State">No_Package_State</Section>
</Conrep>
Run the following command to apply the settings in the conrep.dat file:
conrep -l -x <path to appropriate ProLiant server XML configuration file>

Note: The ProLiant server CONREP XML configuration files are located in the \Tools\conrep_xml directory of HP Scripting Toolkit. The directory is created after downloading HP Scripting Toolkit and executing the SoftPaq self-extracting file.

This issue is currently being investigated by HP. When a permanent solution is made available, this CA will be updated accordingly.

RECEIVE PROACTIVE UPDATES : Receive support alerts (such as Customer Advisories), as well as updates on drivers, software, firmware, and customer replaceable components, proactively via e-mail through HP Subscriber's Choice. Sign up for Subscriber's Choice at the following URL: http://www.hp.com/go/myadvisory

NAVIGATION TIP : For hints on navigating HP.com to locate the latest drivers, patches, and other support software downloads for ProLiant servers and Options, refer to the Navigation Tips document .

SEARCH TIP : For hints on locating similar documents on HP.com, refer to the Search Tips document .

Operating Systems Affected: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (Itanium), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (Itanium) SW(Standard HP Product), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (x86), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (x86-64), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (x86), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (x86) SW(Standard HP Product), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (x86-64) SW(Standard HP Product), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (AMD64/EM64T), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (IA64)(Standard HP Product), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (IA64), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (x86), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (AMD64/EM64T)(Standard HP Product), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (AMD64/EM64T), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (IA64)(Standard HP Product), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (IA64), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (Itanium), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (Itanium)(Standard HP Product), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (x86)

Hewlett-Packard Company shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. The information provided is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. To the extent permitted by law, neither HP or its affiliates, subcontractors or suppliers will be liable for incidental,special or consequential damages including downtime cost; lost profits;damages relating to the procurement of substitute products or services; or damages for loss of data, or software restoration. The information in this document is subject to change without notice. Hewlett-Packard Company and the names of Hewlett-Packard products referenced herein are trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company in the United States and other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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