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Resolving installation issues

Use this information to resolve issues that you might have when setting up your system.

Use the information in this section to diagnose and resolve problems that you might encounter during the initial installation and setup of your server.

Single compute node does not power on​

Complete the following steps until the problem is resolved:
  1. If you recently installed, moved, or serviced the compute node, reseat the compute node in the bay. If the compute node was not recently installed, moved, or serviced, perform a virtual reseat through the CMM service command. For more information about the CMM service command, see the "Flex System Chassis Management Module: Command-Line Interface Reference Guide".
  2. Check the event log on the CMM 2 for any events that are related to the compute node and solve them.
  3. Make sure that the CMM 2 can recognize the compute node. Log in to the CMM 2 user interface and verify that the compute node appears in the chassis view. If the CMM 2 cannot recognize the compute node, remove it, and inspect the compute node and the back of the node bay to make sure that there is no physical damage to the connectors.
  4. Make sure that the power policy that is implemented on the CMM 2 is sufficient to enable the compute node node to power on. You can view the power policy using theCMM 2 pmpolicy command or the CMM 2 web interface.
  5. Replace the system-board assembly (see Remove and replace the system-board assembly).
    Note
    Until you are able to replace the system-board assembly, you can attempt to power on the compute node from the CMM 2.

The compute node immediately displays the POST Event Viewer when it is turned on​

Complete the following steps until the problem is solved.

  1. Correct any errors that are indicated by the light path diagnostics LEDs.

  2. Make sure that the compute node supports all the processors and that the processors match in speed and cache size.

    You can view processor details from system setup.

    To determine if the processor is supported for the compute node, see Lenovo ServerProven website.

  3. (Trained technician only) Make sure that processor 1 is seated correctly

  4. (Trained technician only) Remove processor 2 and restart the compute node.

  5. Replace the following components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the compute node each time:

    1. (Trained technician only) Processor

    2. (Trained technician only) System board

Server cannot recognize a hard drive​

Complete the following steps until the problem is solved.

  1. Observe the associated yellow hard disk drive status LED. If the LED is lit, it indicates a drive fault.

  2. If the status LED is lit, remove the drive from the bay, wait 45 seconds, and reinsert the drive, making sure that the drive assembly connects to the hard disk drive backplane.

  3. Observe the associated green hard disk drive activity LED and the yellow status LED and perform corresponding operations in different situations:

    • If the green activity LED is flashing and the yellow status LED is not lit, the drive is recognized by the controller and is working correctly. Run the diagnostics tests for the hard disk drives. When you start a server and press the key according to the on-screen instructions, the LXPM is displayed by default. (For more information, see the “Startup” section in the LXPM documentation compatible with your server at Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager portal page.)You can perform hard drive diagnostics from this interface. From the Diagnostic page, click Run Diagnostic > HDD test/Disk Drive Test.*

    • If the green activity LED is flashing and the yellow status LED is flashing slowly, the drive is recognized by the controller and is rebuilding.

    • If neither LED is lit or flashing, check whether the hard disk drive backplane is correctly seated. For details, go to step 4.

    • If the green activity LED is flashing and the yellow status LED is lit, replace the drive. If the activity of the LEDs remains the same, go to step Hard disk drive problems. If the activity of the LEDs changes, return to step 1.

  4. Make sure that the hard disk drive backplane is correctly seated. When it is correctly seated, the drive assemblies correctly connect to the backplane without bowing or causing movement of the backplane.

  5. Reseat the backplane power cable and repeat steps 1 through 3.

  6. Reseat the backplane signal cable and repeat steps 1 through 3.

  7. Suspect the backplane signal cable or the backplane:

    • Replace the affected backplane signal cable.

    • Replace the affected backplane.

  8. Run the diagnostics tests for the hard disk drives. When you start a server and press the key according to the on-screen instructions, the LXPM is displayed by default. (For more information, see the “Startup” section in the LXPM documentation compatible with your server at Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager portal page.) You can perform hard drive diagnostics from this interface. From the Diagnostic page, click Run Diagnostic > HDD test/Disk Drive Test.*

    Based on those tests:

    • If the backplane passes the test but the drives are not recognized, replace the backplane signal cable and run the tests again.

    • Replace the backplane.

    • If the adapter fails the test, disconnect the backplane signal cable from the adapter and run the tests again.

    • If the adapter fails the test, replace the adapter.

Displayed system memory less than installed physical memory​

Complete the following steps until the problem is solved.
  1. Make sure that:
    1. You have installed the correct type of memory (see Specifications).

    2. Memory mirroring or memory sparing mode does not account for the discrepancy.

      To determine the status of a DIMM, restart the compute node and press the key according to the on-screen instructions to display theLXPM interface. Then, click System settings > Memory.

  2. If new memory has recently been installed, make sure that no configuration events are reported in the event log. If there are any events, resolve them.
    Note
    DIMMs are verified as authentic Lenovo or IBM modules by the UEFI software. If any non-authentic DIMMs are detected, an informational message appears in the system event log and memory performance might be limited. Non-authentic DIMMs are not covered by your Lenovo warranty.
  3. If the compute node was recently installed, moved, or serviced, make sure that the DIMMs are correctly seated in the connectors (see Install a memory module).

  4. Make sure that all DIMMs are enabled. The compute node might have automatically disabled a DIMM when it detected a problem, or a DIMM might have been manually disabled.

    To determine the status of a DIMM, restart the compute node and press the key according to the on-screen instructions to display theLXPM interface. Then, click System settings > Memory.

  5. Run memory diagnostics. When you start a compute node and press the key according to the on-screen instructions, the LXPM interface is displayed by default. You can perform memory diagnostics from this interface. From the Diagnostic page, click Run Diagnostic > Memory test.

  6. Remove DIMMs until the compute node is showing the correct amount of memory. Install one DIMM at a time until you can determine which DIMM is not working properly. Remove that DIMM and replace it with a good DIMM.
    Note
    After you install or remove a DIMM, you must change and save the new configuration information by using the Setup utility. When you turn on the compute node, a message indicates that the memory configuration has changed. Press the key according to the on-screen instructions to display the LXPM interface. Then, save the configuration.
  7. If the problem remains, contact Lenovo Support.

A Lenovo optional device that was just installed does not work.​

  1. Make sure that:

    • The device is supported for the server (see Lenovo ServerProven website).

    • You followed the installation instructions that came with the device and the device is installed correctly.

    • You have not loosened any other installed devices or cables.

    • You updated the configuration information in system setup. When you start a server and press the key according to the on-screen instructions to display the Setup Utility. (For more information, see the “Startup” section in the LXPM documentation compatible with your server at Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager portal page.) Whenever memory or any other device is changed, you must update the configuration.

  2. Reseat the device that you have just installed.

  3. Replace the device that you have just installed.

  4. Reseat the cable connection and check there is no physical damage to the cable.

  5. If there is any cable damages, then replace the cable.

Voltage planar fault is displayed in the event log​

Complete the following steps until the problem is solved.

  1. Revert the system to the minimum configuration. See Specifications for the minimally required number of processors and DIMMs.

  2. Restart the system.

    • If the system restarts, add each of the items that you removed one at a time, restarting the system each time, until the error occurs. Replace the item for which the error occurs.

    • If the system does not restart, suspect the system board.