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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.

Server does not power on​

Complete the following steps until the problem is resolved:

  1. Make sure that the ac power is applied correctly to the server. Make sure that the ac power cords are correctly connected to the server and to a working electrical outlet.

  2. Check the event log for any events related to the server not powering on.

  3. Check for any LEDs that are flashing amber.

  4. Check the power LED on the system board.

  5. Reseat the power supply.

  6. Replace the power supply.

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

Complete the following steps until the problem is solved.

  1. Check BMC event logs and resolve the errors in the event logs.

  2. Make sure the UEFI firmware and BMC firmware are the latest version.

  3. Revert the system to the minimum configuration.

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

  5. Make sure that the server 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 server, see Lenovo ServerProven website.

  6. (Trained technician only) Make sure that the processor is seated correctly.

  7. Replace the following components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time:

    1. (Trained technician only) Processor

    2. (Trained technician only) System board

Embedded hypervisor is not in the boot list​

Complete the following steps until the problem is solved.

  1. If the server has been installed, moved, or serviced recently, or if this is the first time the embedded hypervisor is being used, make sure that the device is connected properly and that there is no physical damage to the connectors.

  2. See the documentation that comes with the optional embedded hypervisor flash device for setup and configuration information.

  3. Check Lenovo ServerProven website to validate that the embedded hypervisor device is supported for the server.

  4. Make sure that the embedded hypervisor device is listed in the list of available boot options. From the management controller user interface, click Server Configuration > Boot Options.

    For information about accessing the management controller user interface, see the TSM documentation:

    Lenovo ThinkSystem System Manager User Guide

  5. Check Lenovo Data Center Support for any tech tips (service bulletins) related to the embedded hypervisor and the server.

  6. Make sure that other software works on the server to ensure that it is working properly.

Server cannot recognize a hard disk 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 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:

    • 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 F1, the Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager interface is displayed by default. You can perform hard disk 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 the hard disk drive backplane.

    • 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 specified in the on-screen instructions, the Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager interface is displayed by default. You can perform hard disk drive diagnostics from this interface. From the Diagnostic page, click Run Diagnostic > HDD test/Disk Drive Test.

    Based on those tests:

    • If the adapter 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 resolved:
Note
Each time you install or remove a DIMM, you must disconnect the server from the power source; then, wait 10 seconds before restarting the server.
  1. Check and make sure that:

    • No error LEDs are lit on the operator information panel.

    • No DIMM error LEDs are lit on the system board.

    • Memory mirrored channel does not account for the discrepancy.

    • The memory modules are seated correctly.

    • You have installed the correct type of memory.

    • If you changed the memory, you updated the memory configuration in the Setup utility.

    • All banks of memory are enabled. The server might have automatically disabled a memory bank when it detected a problem, or a memory bank might have been manually disabled.

    • There is no memory mismatch when the server is at the minimum memory configuration.

  2. Check memory module event logs and run memory module diagnostics:

    1. Identify the failing memory module, and install the failing memory module in a different slot.

    2. Restart the server and check the memory event logs. If the problem is related to the memory module slot, replace the failing memory module.

  3. Reseat the DIMMs, and then restart the server.

  4. Run memory diagnostics. When you start a server and press the key specified in the on-screen instructions, the Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager interface is displayed by default. You can perform memory diagnostics from this interface. From the Diagnostic page, click Run Diagnostic > Memory test.

  5. Check the POST error log:

    • If a DIMM was disabled by a systems-management interrupt (SMI), replace the DIMM.

    • If a DIMM was disabled by the user or by POST, reseat the DIMM; then, run the Setup utility and enable the DIMM.

  6. Reseat the DIMM.

  7. Restart the server.

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 F1 to display the system setup interface. Whenever memory or any other device is changed, you must update the configuration.

  2. Reseat the device that you just installed.

  3. Replace the device that you just installed.

Voltage system board fault is displayed in the event log​

Complete the following steps until the problem is solved.

  1. Check the BMC event logs and resolve the errors described in the event logs according to ThinkSystem System Manager User Guide. See Lenovo ThinkSystem System Manager User Guide.

  2. Update the UEFI firmware and BMC firmware to the latest version.

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

  4. 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.