HP Z2 Workstation Mini G9

[Jools86]

We have purchased scores of HP z2 Mini G9 Workstations and these are in our DataCentre. We use Intel EMA to be able to connect to the machines when the OS fails via vPro/AMT chip.

We recently have had a z2 machine become uncontactable via its IP Address: 

Reply from x.x.x.x: Destination Host Unreachable

We tried to connect via AMT, but Intel EMA said device was offline.

When the DC support engineer checked the machine, the network lights and lights of system were on, however we could not remotely reboot the system as we could not connect via AMT and he had to do a manual power cycle.

When we checked the OS it reported that the system was shut down the night before 

My question is, when OS crashes, AMT is supposed to still work, so we can remotely connect to the machine and give it a reboot.

Is there a known issue on the HP Z2 where AMT becomes unresponsive when the machine crashes, but lights are still on?

[DGroves]

"AMT" is a remote protocol in your case it's run from the mini cpu core that resides in all current retail  Intel cpu's 

this special cpu within the main intel cpu is always active when the power supply is connected to the mains due to modern motherboards still being on even when you shutdown the system

this mini cpu/OS cannot be corrupted by the installed OS and the "AMT" protocol it runs is also not affected when everything is working normally

you can have issues if the power supply is defective or the motherboard is incorrectly configured in the bios or has a physical fault on the board or the network port on the motherboard is damaged

bad cat 5 cables/wiring or improper network configuration on your router/server can also cause issues

try taking a working system and connect it to the network cable of a non working system and connect the non working system to where the working one was connected, and note the results this will rule out cabling and most network issues

leaving bios/OS/physical fault to check

[Jools86]

Thanks D. 

A Powercycle brought it into life. 

It is an enterprise build, so configuration is identical to all other HP Z2 machines BIOS wise.

My issue was lights were flickering so Power looked fine, we understood OS not responding and were perturbed that AMT could not be contacted.

After power cycle it is back and working. Will keep an eye on it. Maybe a HW fauilt.