Skip to main content

Power problems

Use this information to diagnose and resolve power problems for the blade server.

IBM updates the support website with the latest tips and techniques that you can use to resolve any problems. Go to the BladeCenter support search website at http://www.ibm.com/supportportal/ to see if any service bulletins have been generated.

Follow the suggested actions in the order in which they are listed in the Action column until the problem is solved.

  • See Parts listing to determine which components are consumable, structural, or CRU parts.
  • If an action step is preceded by "(trained technician only)," that step must be performed only by a trained technician.
SymptomAction
The power button does not work.
  1. Reseat the control-panel connector. See Blade server controls and LEDs.
  2. Replace the bezel assembly. See Removing the bezel assembly and Installing the bezel assembly.
  3. (Trained technician only) Replace the system-board assembly. See Removing the system-board assembly and Installing the system-board assembly.
The blade server does not turn on.
  1. Check the function of the shared BladeCenter unit resources. See Solving shared BladeCenter resource problems.
  2. Make sure that the power LED on the blade server control panel is flashing slowly. See Blade server controls and LEDs.
  3. Check the power-management policies in the operating system for the blade server. See the Advanced Management Module User's Guide for more information.
  4. Check the Advanced-Management-Module log of the corresponding blade server for an error that is preventing the blade server from turning on. See Event logs.
  5. Reseat the blade server. See Removing the blade server from the BladeCenter unit and Installing the blade server in a BladeCenter unit.
  6. If you just installed a device in the blade server, remove it and restart the blade server. If the blade server now starts, you might have installed more devices than the power to that blade server bay supports.
  7. If you tried another blade server in the blade server bay when you check the function of the shared BladeCenter unit resources and the other blade server worked, complete the following tasks on the blade server that you removed:
    1. If an optional expansion unit is installed, reseat it. See Removing an optional expansion unit and Installing an optional expansion unit.
    2. Replace the following components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the blade server each time:
      1. Optional expansion unit (if one is installed). See Removing an optional expansion unit and Installing an optional expansion unit.
      2. (Trained technician only) System-board assembly. See Removing the system-board assembly and Installing the system-board assembly.
  8. See Solving undetermined problems.
The blade server turns off for no apparent reason.
  1. Check the function of the shared BladeCenter unit resources. See Solving shared BladeCenter resource problems.
  2. (Trained technician only) If the microprocessor error LED is lit, replace the microprocessor. See Removing a microprocessor and heat sink and Installing a microprocessor and heat sink.
  3. (Trained technician only) Replace the system-board assembly. See Removing the system-board assembly and Installing the system-board assembly.
The blade server does not turn off.
  1. Verify whether you are using an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) or non-ACPI operating system.
  2. If you are using a non-ACPI operating system, complete the following steps:
    1. Turn off the blade server by pressing the power button for 4 seconds. See Blade server controls and LEDs.
    2. If the blade server fails during POST and the power button does not work, remove the blade server from the bay and reseat it. See Removing the blade server from the BladeCenter unit and Installing the blade server in a BladeCenter unit.
  3. If the problem remains or if you are using an ACPI-aware operating system, complete the following steps:
    1. Check the power-management policies in the operating system for the blade server.
    2. (Trained technician only) Replace the system-board assembly. See Removing the system-board assembly and Installing the system-board assembly.