When installing an HP SmartArray P410 controller in a ProLiant DL320G6 server, the BIOS correctly identifies the controller (visible in BIOS setup) and drive activity LEDs illuminate. However, the system fails to display the expected F8 prompt for ORCA (Option ROM Configuration for Arrays) during POST, proceeding directly to a "No bootable disk" message.

This behavior typically stems from one of these technical scenarios:

• Controller firmware mismatch (P410 requires minimum firmware v5.32 for G6 servers)
• POST sequence interruption from other PCIe devices
• UEFI/legacy BIOS mode conflict
• Damaged RAID battery or cache module

1. Firmware Verification
First check controller firmware using HPSSACLI:

hpssacli ctrl all show detail
# Expected output should include:
# Firmware Version: 6.64 or later
# Controller Status: OK

2. Boot Order Adjustment
Access BIOS Setup (F9) and modify:

Boot Options → Legacy Boot Order → Move SmartArray to top
Advanced Options → PCIe Device Boot Order → Prioritize P410

3. Force ORCA Entry
Attempt manual interrupt during these specific POST phases:

• Immediately after SAS controller initialization message
• During HDD spin-up (approximately 2-3 seconds after controller detection)
• Between BIOS splash screen disappearance and boot attempt

If standard methods fail, consider these technical workarounds:

# For Linux emergency access:
Ctrl+Alt+F2 during boot
modprobe cciss
hpacucli ctrl all show config

# For Windows PE environments:
diskpart → list disk
powershell -command "Get-PhysicalDisk | Where-Object {$_.FriendlyName -like '*SmartArray*'}"

Note: The P410 requires a functional battery/cache module for write caching. Faulty cache modules may prevent ORCA initialization.

Download the latest SPP (Service Pack for ProLiant) from HP and execute:

hpsum -s -f romflash.iso -b -a
# Or for individual component:
hpsetup -i smararray -f sp12345.exe -force

After flashing, reset NVRAM using the maintenance switch (SW1 on motherboard).

When ORCA remains inaccessible, configure arrays through:

1. HP Intelligent Provisioning (F10 during boot)
2. ACU (Array Configuration Utility) in SmartStart CD
3. SSH to iLO and use CLI tools

Example iLO remote configuration:

ssh admin@ilo-ip
hponcfg -f p410_config.xml
# Where XML contains:
<RIBCL VERSION="2.22">
  <LOGIN USER_LOGIN="admin" PASSWORD="password">
    <SERVER_INFO MODE="write">
      <SET_RAID_CONTROLLER_CONFIG>
        <CONTROLLER SLOT="1">
          <CREATE_ARRAY RAID="1">
            <DRIVE BAY="1I:1:1"/>
            <DRIVE BAY="1I:1:2"/>
          </CREATE_ARRAY>
        </CONTROLLER>
      </SET_RAID_CONTROLLER_CONFIG>
    </SERVER_INFO>
  </LOGIN>
</RIBCL>

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When integrating an HP SmartArray P410 controller into a ProLiant DL320G6 server, you might encounter a puzzling situation where:

• The controller appears in BIOS hardware listings
• Drive activity LEDs show physical detection
• But the system completely skips the ORCA (Option ROM Configuration for Arrays) initialization phase

During normal operation, the P410's firmware should:

1. Initialize before OS bootloader
2. Display controller BIOS version (e.g., "Smart Array P410 Controller vX.XX")
3. Present the F8 prompt for ORCA configuration
4. Display detected physical drives

From field experience with DL320G6 systems, these factors frequently cause ORCA invisibility:

Cause	Verification Method
Insufficient firmware power	Check PSU wattage (minimum 500W recommended)
Slot compatibility issues	Try PCIe x8 slot closest to CPU
Cache module problems	Remove BBWC/FBWC module temporarily
BIOS conflicts	Disable "Embedded SATA Controller" in BIOS

When basic checks fail, try these technical procedures:

// Sample IPMI command to check controller status
ipmitool -I lanplus -H  -U  -P  raw 0x30 0x70 0x0c 0x00

// Expected healthy output:
01 00 00 00  // First byte indicates controller presence

If the controller ROM is corrupted, use HP's offline flash utility:

1. Download current P410 firmware from HPE Support
2. Create FreeDOS bootable USB
3. Run: cp024539.exe -s (silent flash mode)
4. Force full ROM rewrite: cp024539.exe -f

When ORCA remains inaccessible, consider:

• Using HP Array Configuration Utility (ACU) in Windows PE
• SSH into iLO and configure via hpssacli commands
• Scripted deployment with example:

# Sample hpssacli array creation
hpssacli controller slot=0 create type=ld drives=1I:1:5 raid=1
hpssacli controller slot=0 array A modify caching=enable
hpssacli controller slot=0 logicaldrive 1 modify boot=enable

The DL320G6 has these unique constraints:

• PCIe Gen1 x8 electrical limitations
• Strict 3.3V auxiliary power requirements
• Incompatibility with certain P410 firmware variants