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Diagnostic tools

The section introduces available tools to help you diagnose and solve hardware-related problems.

  • LCD system information display panel (available on some models)

    Use LCD system information display panel to diagnose system errors quickly.

  • Event logs

    The event logs list the error codes and messages that are generated when an error is detected for the subsystems IMM2, POST, DSA, and the server baseboard management controller. See Event logs for more information.

  • Integrated management module II (IMM2)

    The IMM2 combines service processor functions, video controller, and remote presence and blue-screen capture features in a single chip. The IMM provides advanced service-processor control, monitoring, and alerting function. If an environmental condition exceeds a threshold or if a system component fails, the IMM lights LEDs to help you diagnose the problem, records the error in the IMM event log, and alerts you to the problem. Optionally, the IMM also provides a virtual presence capability for remote server management capabilities. The IMM provides remote server management through the following industry-standard interfaces:

    • Intelligent Platform Management Protocol (IPMI) version 2.0
    • Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) version 3.0; SNMP Trap version 1.0
    • Common Information Model (CIM)
    • Web browser

    For more information about the IMM2, see Using the integrated management module, Integrated management module II (IMM2) error messages, and the Integrated Management Module II User's Guide at the Integrated Management Module II User’s Guide .

  • Dynamic System Analysis

    DSA Preboot diagnostic program is stored in the integrated USB memory on the server. DSA Preboot collects and analyzes system information to aid in diagnosing server problems, as well as offering a rich set of diagnostic tests of the major components of the server. DSA Preboot collects the following information about the server:

    • Drive health information
    • IMM2 configuration information
    • IMM2 environmental information
    • Event logs for ServeRAID controllers and service processors
    • Installed hardware, including PCI and USB information
    • LCD system information display panel (if available) status
    • Microprocessor, input/output hub, and UEFI error logs
    • Network interfaces and settings
    • Option card driver and firmware information
    • RAID controller configuration
    • Service processor (integrated management module) status and configuration
    • System configuration
    • Vital product data, firmware, and UEFI configuration

    DSA Preboot also provides diagnostics for the following system components (when they are installed):

    1. IMM I2C bus
    2. LCD system information display panel (available on some models)
    3. Memory modules
    4. Microprocessors
    5. SAS or SATA drives
    6. LSI Controller
    7. Broadcom network adapter
    8. FusionIO storage
    9. Intel GPU
    10. Nvidia GPU

    See Running the DSA Preboot diagnostic programs for more information on running the DSA Preboot program on the server.

  • Troubleshooting by symptom

    These tables list problem symptoms and actions to correct the problems. See Troubleshooting by symptom for more information.

  • Power-supply LEDs
    The following minimum configuration is required for the server to start.
  • System pulse LEDs
  • PCI riser-card LEDs
    The following illustration shows the location of the PCI riser-card LEDs.
  • Event logs
    Error codes and messages displayed in POST event log, system-event log, IMM2 event log, and DSA event log.
  • POST
    When you turn on the server, it performs a series of tests to check the operation of the server components. This series of tests is called the power-on self-test, or POST.
  • Dynamic System Analysis
    Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) collects and analyzes system information to aid in diagnosing server problems. Lenovo provides DSA Preboot edition to users.