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Power problems

Use this information to solve power problems.

Table 1. Power problems and actions.

The power problems and actions table with one level of row and column headers.

  • Follow the suggested actions in the order in which they are listed in the Action column until the problem is solved.
  • If an action step is preceded by (Trained technician only), that step must be performed only by a trained technician.
  • Go to the Support Web site at the Lenovo Support Portal to check for technical information, hints, tips, and new device drivers or to submit a request for information.
SymptomAction
The power-control button does not work, and the reset button does not work (the server does not start).
Note
The power-control button will not function until approximately 20 seconds after the server has been connected to power.
  1. Make sure that the power-control button is working correctly:
    1. Disconnect the server power cords.
    2. Reconnect the power cords.
    3. (Trained technician only) Reseat the operator information panel cable, and then repeat steps 1a and 1b.
      • (Trained technician only) If the server starts, reseat the operator information panel. If the problem remains, replace the operator information panel.
      • If the server does not start, bypass the power-control button by using the force power-on jumper (see System-board switches, jumpers, and buttons). If the server starts, reseat the operator information panel. If the problem remains, replace the operator information panel.
  2. Make sure that the reset button is working correctly:
    1. Disconnect the server power cords.
    2. Reconnect the power cords.
    3. (Trained technician only) Reseat the operator information panel cable, and then repeat steps 2a and 2b.
      • (Trained technician only) If the server starts, replace the operator information panel.
      • If the server does not start, go to step 3.
  3. Make sure that both power supplies installed in the server are of the same type. Mixing different ratings of power supplies in the server will cause a system error (CONFIG icon will be shown on the LCD system information display panel).
  4. Make sure that:
    • The power source meets the minimum voltage requirement for the installed power supplies.
    • The type of memory that is installed is correct.
    • The DIMMs are fully seated.
    • The LEDs on the power supply do not indicate a problem.
    • The microprocessors are installed in the correct sequence.
  5. Reseat the following components:
    1. Operator information panel connector
    2. Power supplies
  6. Replace the components listed in step 5 one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time.
  7. If you just installed an optional device, remove it, and restart the server. If the server now starts, you might have installed more devices than the power supply supports.
  8. See Power-supply LEDs.
  9. See Solving undetermined problems.
Pwr rail 1 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. (Trained technician only) remove microprocessor 1 if the Pwr rail 1 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  3. (Trained technician only) replace the system board (see For service technician only: removing the system board and For service technician only: replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the component; then, restarting the server. If the Pwr rail 1 error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
Pwr rail 2 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. (Trained technician only) remove microprocessor 2 if Pwr rail 2 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 2 error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see For service technician only: removing the system board and For service technician only: replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the component; then, restarting the server. If the Pwr Rail 2 error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
Pwr rail 3 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if Pwr rail 3 error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • DIMMs 1 through 12
    • Fan 3
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 3 error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see For service technician only: removing the system board and For service technician only: replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail 3 error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
Pwr rail 4 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail 4 error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Fan 5
    • Fan 6
    • DIMMs 13 through 24
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 4 error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see For service technician only: removing the system board and For service technician only: replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr Rail 4 error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
Pwr rail 5 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail 5 error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Fan 7
    • Fan 8
    • SAS/SATA hard disk drives and USB
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 5 error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see For service technician only: removing the system board and For service technician only: replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr Rail 5 error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
Pwr rail 6 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail 6 error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Optional cable for VGA external power
    • PCI-E x8 and x16 (maximum expansion is 4 adapter cards)
    • PCI-E hard disk drives
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 6 error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see For service technician only: removing the system board and For service technician only: replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr Rail 6 error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
Pwr rail 7 error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail 7 error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Fan 1
    • Fan 2
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 6 error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see For service technician only: removing the system board and For service technician only: replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr Rail 6 error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
The server does not turn off.
  1. Determine whether you are using an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) or a non-ACPI operating system. If you are using a non-ACPI operating system, complete the following steps:
    1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
    2. Turn off the server by pressing the power-control button and hold it down for 5 seconds.
    3. Restart the server.
    4. If the server fails POST and the power-control button does not work, disconnect the power cord for 20 seconds; then, reconnect the power cord and restart the server.
  2. If the problem remains or if you are using an ACPI-aware operating system, suspect the system board.
The server unexpectedly shuts down, and the LEDs on the operator information panel are not lit.See Solving undetermined problems.