Solving power problems

Power problems can be difficult to solve. For example, a short circuit can exist anywhere on any of the power distribution buses. Usually, a short circuit will cause the power subsystem to shut down because of an overcurrent condition.

1. Turn off the server and disconnect all power cords.
2. Check for loose cables in the power subsystem. Also check for short circuits, for example, if a loose screw is causing a short circuit on a circuit board.
3. Check the lit LEDs on the light path diagnostics panel.
4. If the check log LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, check the IMM event log for faulty Pwr rail and complete the following steps. Table 1 identifies the components that are associated with each Pwr rail and the order in which to troubleshoot the components.
   1. Disconnect the cables and power cords to all internal and external devices (see Internal cable routing and connectors). Leave the power-supply cords connected.
   2. For Pwr rail A error, complete the following steps:
      1. (Trained technician only) Replace the system board.
      2. (Trained technician only) Replace the microprocessor.
   3. For other rail errors (Pwr rail A error, see step 4.b), remove each component that is associated with the faulty Pwr rail, one at a time, in the sequence indicated in Table 1, restarting the server each time, until the cause of the overcurrent condition is identified.

      Table 1. Components associated with power rail errors.

      Two column table for documenting the power rail error in the IMM event log and the corresponding components.

      Pwr rail error in the IMM event log	Components
      Pwr rail A error	Microprocessor 1
      Pwr rail B error	DIMMs 1 through 12
      Pwr rail C error	Microprocessor 2
      Pwr rail D error	DIMMs 13 through 24
      Pwr rail E error	Optional DVD drive (if one is installed) Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2 Hard disk drive backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2 LCD monitor connected to front VGA port (if one is present) Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 2 Riser-card assembly 2
      Pwr rail F error	Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 3 Hard disk drive backplane assembly 3 Rear Hard disk drives Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 1 Riser-card assembly 1 PCIe Solid state drives PCIe Solid state drive backplane assembly USB devices SD adapter LCD monitor connected to rear VGA port (if one is present)
      Pwr rail G error	Raid Card in Raid slot Optional adapter (if one is present) in PCIe slot 4 Optional adapter (if one is present) in PCIe slot 5 Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 1 Riser-card assembly 1 Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 2 (or Rear Hard disk Drives in Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit on Riser 2) Riser-card assembly 2 (or Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit on Riser 2) Microprocessor 2 Microprocessor 1
      Pwr rail H error	Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 3 Hard disk drive backplane assembly 3 PCIe Solid state drives PCIe Solid state drive backplane assembly
      Pwr rail I error	Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2 Hard disk drive backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2
      Pwr rail J error	Fans 1 through 6
      Pwr rail K error	Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 1 (or Rear Hard disk Drives in Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit on Riser 1) Riser-card assembly 1 (or Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit on Riser 1) Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCIe slot 4 Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCIe slot 5 Raid Card in Raid slot
      Pwr rail L error	Optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor PCI Riser Card Assembly where the optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor is installed Optional PCI adaptor power cable (if one is present)
      Pwr rail M error	Optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor PCI Riser Card Assembly where the optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor is installed Optional PCI adaptor power cable (if one is present)

   4. Replace the identified component.
5. Remove the adapters and disconnect the cables and power cords to all internal and external devices until the server is at the minimum configuration that is required for the server to start (see Power-supply LEDs for the minimum configuration).
6. Reconnect all ac power cords and turn on the server. If the server starts successfully, reseat the adapters and devices one at a time until the problem is isolated.