Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

  • Congratulations strongm on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

IP Office R9 Application Server Installation Hangs 4

Status
Not open for further replies.

Fiore5

Technical User
Nov 10, 2013
14
AU
Hi

A while back I asked a question in another thread about whether to go with a UCM or separate Application Server. Everyone was kind enough and pointed me towards installing on it's own server rather than using the UCM.

Since then I purchased a current HP DL320e Gen8 V2 server, which is 64bit and RHEL compliant, provided the server to "our" Avaya Business Partner for them to install and set up and configure. I went away for a couple months in the hope all would be set up well before I got back.

When I purchased the server, I did not get a DVD drive as the technician at the Avaya Business Partner indicated he could install via a USB. Whilst away, I get this message that they have spent a number of hours trying to install the software and that I need a DVD drive. I say FINE, send it back to the office, and I will attempt to install the Application Server software and that they can configure from there.

I get back last week and thought I'd try to install, I tried via a bootable USB that had the ISO image "burned" to it (ISO image provided by Business Partner on USB), it commenced to booting, came to the CentOS 6 installation screen and then failed part way through such that CentOS 6 nor any components were installed (last item on screen [<ffffffff8100b072>] ? system_call_fastpath+0x16/0x1b). I thought maybe it's the drivers on the HP, so installed HP Service Pack and current RHEL6.x Supplement Pack to ensure system was up-to-date. Tried again to boot from USB, did the same thing and failed at the same point.

I then succumbed and purchased the HP DVD drive, installed and configured it. Created a bootable DVD with the ISO image that the Business Partner had provided, booted from the DVD and same thing happened as per USB.

So I downloaded CentOS 6.4 ISO from Centos.org, burnt the ISO to a DVD, booted from DVD and all installed fine, and then fully updated the software to current version 6.5 and all was fine. As such, essentially proves that CentOS installs well from a reliable ISO image.

It would be fantastic if I could just install Avaya software for One-X, Voicemail pro, etc on to the CentOS server created above, rather than boot from Avaya ISO to install CentOS and Avaya applications, but I don't know how and Avaya doesn't provide this option, I have several RPM files, etc but not sure which are the pertinent ones.

Anyway, I think the issue may be the Avaya image file either being corrupt or something else, hence I suppose the question has anyone had a similar issue with the IP Office App Server installation where it does not even complete the CentOS 6 installation, and if so, how did you resolve it (eg possibly altering the installation option [TAB} to edit, or anything else that is helpful), alternatively, any step by step instructions (and file names) on installing the Avaya Apps on to the CentOS server I have created as indicated above.

I think the ISO files provided to me are the original R9 release (17 Sept 13 dated) rather than current one available which I understand may be 10 Dec 13 dated. I am going to try and get a copy of the current ISO from the Business Partner as currently I can't download from Avaya site as I don't have a "sold to" number, even though previously requested from the Business Partner on a few occasions.

I note another post by Qzwsa ( had a similar issue, however, I understand that his issues related to computer being 32 bit rather than 64 bit and not supported by RHEL, whilst the result is the same, my hardware should be correct as indicated above.

Any and all assistance is appreciated.

Regards
Fiore5
 
wow that is almost a novel that you wrote there.
Quite the ordeal.

Did you do the MD5 checksum for the download and test the DVD as I had a faulty download once (or twice :)).

Joe W.

TeleTechs.ca
FHandw, ACSS (SME), ACIS (SME)


“This is the end of the world, make sure to buy your T-shirt before it is too late"
Original expression of my daughter
 
Joe

Probably did write a bit much!

Not sure what file to do MD5 checksum on and then where to get the appropriate checksum from to compare.

Avaya business partner provided a bootable USB which appears to have the contents of the Server Edition Install DVD, the only ISO on the USB was called boot.iso, they did not give me a single ISO with a name similar to what is on the Avaya Support website for the R9 GA for IP Office Server Edition and Application Server, that is abe-9.0.0-829_el6.iso, nor did they give me the original Avaya DVD at present.

The checksum for boot.iso and abe-9.0.0-829_el6.iso are very different.

I have requested the Business Partner to provide me my Sold To numbers, or the Avaya DVD's or a copy of the current ISO for this, which I believe is currently abe-9.0.100-845_el6.iso. They are a pain in the *** and I know they are going to stuff me around hence why I was trying to find a solution of some form which may expedite the process somewhat.

Any assistance is appreciated.

Regards
Fiore5
 
Fiore, i recently installed esxi on a DL320G8 and i needed to use HP software (on the server already) to get the disks recognized.
But you already installed CentOS so i assume this was done already.
After installing esxi5.5(vmware visualization) i then installed the Avaya Linux apps (the abe stuff)
I also tried a bootable USB but that did not work for me either somehow.



BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 
tlpeter

I'm trying to just install without virtualization at present, if everything can be made to work fine, I then may transfer to a virtualized environment later

I think as CentOS can install when not part of Avaya distribution, the HP should be fine, but just in case, the software you refer to on the HP Server, where and what is it so I can make sure this is not causing an issue.

Thanks
Fiore5
 
I think i found that in the BIOS.
It is about the smart array in the server.

BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 
tlpeter

Thanks I had previously setup and configured the smart array.

Regards
Fiore5
 
Any more thoughts out there?

Has anyone actually installed IPO Application Server (Linux version) on a current generation HP Proliant (as indicated above, mine is a Proliant DL320e Gen 8 V2 with P420/1GB Smart Array)?

Did you have any issues, or did you need to install a specific driver(s) or configure the ROM Based Setup (RBSU) of the server in a particular way to make it function?

As an example, below is a part of a log of what is printed during install process when it is first trying to commence the CentOS installation:

Greetings
anaconda installer init version 13.21.176 starting
mounting /proc filesystem… done
creating /dev filesystem… done
starting udev…done
mounting /dev/pts (unix98 pty) filesystem… done
mounting /sys filesystem… done
trying to remount root filesystem read write… done
mounting /tmp as tmpfs… done
running install…
running /sbin/loader
detecting hardware…
waiting for hardware to initialize…
BUG: unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at (null)
IP: [<ffffffffa015c55d>] xhci_hub_control+0x37d/0xd20 (xhci_hcd)
PGD 3fa8da067 PUD 0
Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP



As before, I can installed a copy of CentOS that I download directly from CentOS.org, but when I try to install through the IPO App Server install process (boot from bootable DVD with install ISO burnt to the DVD) it fails, I have tried both the original R9 and also the Service Pack 1.

I could be wrong, but I feel it is either trying to load or find a driver and falls over when it can't, and possibly has something to do with the "xhci..." which I understand may relate to a USB driver. I don't know Linux in any particular way at present and I am probably trashing around trying to find an answer.

Any further help is appreciated

Regards
Fiore5


 
Foire, which version of CentOS did you install?
The IPO version is 6.3 and i noticed on the DL306G8 it gave me an error of not being RedHat compliant.
Perhaps this is also the case for the DL320G8.
But like i said before, try to install esxi on it.
It should install the Linux apps on it as it worked for me fine.


BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 
I installed CentOS 6.4 and it installed within 5 to 10 minutes. It might be interesting to try and install CentOS 6.3 and see what happens. I had been trying to work out what version Avaya used.

I am also downloading esxi right now, I'll see how it goes and let you know. Is there anything I should aware of to install the Linux App Server or is it reasonably straight forward?

Thanks for your assistance

Fiore5
 
Thanks, downloading that one now.

Crossing fingers and hoping :)

Fiore5
 
Let me know if it works for you too.
I am curious if i was lucky or not :)

BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 
Sorry for the delay in getting back.

Here is what I found:

[ul]
[li]When I install CentOS 6.3 downloaded from CentOS.org on HP DL320e Gen8 V2, it fails almost identically to when you try and install Avaya Application Server version of CentOS. This indicates to me that CentOS6.3 is the issue as there is no difficulty with subsequent version of CentOS6.4 and 6.5[/li]
[li]I put up a question on the CentOS.org forum, with the issue, one of the members thought it was the USB3 driver, however, I had disabled it in BIOS with no change, and also subsequently inadvertently disabled all USB in BIOS, which was a bit of a pain to fix, but still no change to the install[/li]
[li]I then downloaded and installed VMWare ESXi as suggested by Tipeter and then created a Virtual Machine and installed the Avaya Application Server to that and it all installed correctly, without issue, presumably when ESXi is installed it installs a suitable USB driver which then allows CentOS6.3 to install and hence all other Avaya software[/li]
[li]It is not fully integrated with my IP500V2 box at present, nor is the Application Server, VM Pro, One-X Portal all set up to actually do anything for me a present, I patiently await for our Avaya Partner to finalize that aspect, although I have thought of reading a bit more and setting up fully myself, with the Partner just tweaking, at preset I haven't wanted to stuff anything up[/li]
[/ul]

In summary, Avaya CentOS6.3 version is outdated and has an issue with HP, they need to upgrade to a later more supported and stable edition of CentOS.

ESXi solution does appear to work and was simple to set up, thanks very much to Tipeter for this solution, I hadn't looked at it before as I thought it was going to cost me more $$$, but thankfully that component was free.

Hopefully the above helps others, and again thanks to Tipeter for his assistance.

Regards
Fiore5

 
Fiore, you are welcome :)
Nice to know this for the future.


BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 
You forgot to * Fiore5 Tlpeter

I think he deserves one for posting those findings

A Maintenance contract is essential, not a Luxury.
Do things on the cheap & it will cost you dear
 
You are right.
I just have him a star.

BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 
We had a similar problem and found that the motherboard we had been using on pre 9.0 app servers would not support 64 bit Redhat Linux that 9.0 was now using. Once we went to a different motherboard and put in a bit more RAM we had no problems.

 
Nortel4Ever, that is a different issue and this is mentioned in the 9.0 GA techbulletin.
Although if you did not read it then yes it is annoying :)

BAZINGA!

I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top