How to generate HP Array Diagnostic Report (ADU Report) in Linux

How to generate HP Array Diagnostic Report (ADU Report) in Linux

We need to understand what is an Array, RAID and Array Configuration Utility (ACU). In the case of hardware RAID, multiple hard disk drives are combined to one logical drive and data is distributed across multiple hard drives. You can have RAID levels like RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 etc.

I hope you are familiar with Array Configuration Utility. Using Array Configuration Utility, we can generate Array Diagnostics report (ADU).  ADU report is used for troubleshooting issues related to Hard drives, Smart Array Controller, Array Accelerator and Cache battery etc.

Please be informed that ADU report will not collect data content of logical/Physical drives. It only captures hardware information hence all of your data information is secured. ADU report could not capture File system types, contents, Software RAID information, Partition types, sizes etc.

ADU report can give consolidated view of any error or warning conditions encountered across the Array/RAID. ADU report also provides extensive information about all the storage devices.Information such as Device status, Firmware version number, RAID Configuration, Physical drive errorflags are available in ADU report.

In this article, we will learn how to generate ADU report using Array Configuration Utility (ACU). If you are not sure how to open ACU on your Server, then please read our article “Guide: Configure RAID using HP ACU on your HP Server” before you proceed. ACU can be launched within OS or from HP SmartStart CD. More information is available in above said guide.

Well, generating HP ADU report is quite simple and easy in Windows Operating System. However, when it comes to linux, everything is based on the CLI version, so here’s how to generate HP Array Diagnostic Report in Linux.

The name of the application is HP Array Configuration Utility CLI and executable name is hpacucli, so if not installed, this needs to be downloaded from hp.com download page and installed. (Refer my Note at the bottom on how to download the program). Also note that older versions of HP ACU (Versions older than 8.3) may not have the diagnostic features in it, in this case, you will have to update the utility to a newer version OR use the hpaducli  (HP Array Diagnostic Utility CLI) and NOT hpacucli (HP Array Configuration Utility CLI) which would have already been installed in the system.

Here’s the commands:

Generating Array Diagnostic report using the HPADUCLI:
Type: hpaducli -f OutputFileName.zip in the Linux prompt

Fig: hpaducli command

The “OutputFileName” could be any name you wanted to specify. In the picture above, i used adutestfile as the filename. The output would generally be saved in the /tmp folder. To get the generated txt file, type cd /tmp in the root and type ls to browse the folder.

Generating Array Diagnostic Report using the HPACUCLI

Type: hpacucli ENTER
If the hpacucli program is installed, it will take you inside the hpacucli program
Type: ctrl all diag file=/tmp/ADUReport.zip ENTER

Fig: hpacucli

The above command generate the HP Array Diagnostic report in a .zip format. The contents of the zip file depends on the version of HP ACU version used.You may also use the one line command to generate the report as under:
hpacucli ctrl all diag file=/tmp/ADUReport.zip

That is it, now you have generated the Array Diagnostic report, how do you extract it?

If unzip is installed you can simply type unzip filename.zip which should unzip the file for you.

Note: How to download the HP Array Configuration Utility CLI for Linux

1. Go to hp.com, click support & drivers at the top.

2. On the (green) box where it says Drivers & Software type the name of the Proliant server, eg.DL380 G7.

3. You will get many results out of which select the “HP Prolaint DL380 G7 Server“

4. Choose the Operating System.

5. Next, you are at the actual download page, search for HP Array Configuration Utility CLI

6. Download and install that file