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Troubleshooting

This chapter describes the diagnostic tools and troubleshooting information that are available to help you solve problems that might occur in the server.

If you cannot diagnose and correct a problem by using the information in this chapter, see Getting help and technical assistance for more information.

  • Diagnosing a problem
    Before you contact IBM or an approved warranty service provider, follow these procedures in the order in which they are presented to diagnose a problem with your server.
  • Undocumented problems
    If you have completed the diagnostic procedure and the problem remains, the problem might not have been previously identified by IBM. After you have verified that all code is at the latest level, all hardware and software configurations are valid, and no light path diagnostics LEDs or log entries indicate a hardware component failure, contact IBM or an approved warranty service provider for assistance.
  • How to send DSA data
    You can use the Enhanced Customer Data Repository to send diagnostic data to IBM.
  • Checkout procedure
    The checkout procedure is the sequence of tasks that you should follow to diagnose a problem in the server.
  • Diagnostic tools
    The section introduces available tools to help you diagnose and solve hardware-related problems.
  • Event logs
    Error codes and messages are displayed in the following types of event logs. Some of the error codes and messages in the logs are abbreviated.
  • Error messages
    This section provides the list of error codes and messages for UEFI/POST, IMM, and DSA that are generated when a problem is detected.
  • Troubleshooting tables
    Use the troubleshooting tables to find solutions to problems that have identifiable symptoms.
  • Light path diagnostics
    Light path diagnostics is a system of LEDs on various external and internal components of the server. When an error occurs, LEDs are lit throughout the server. By viewing the LEDs in a particular order, you can often identify the source of the error.
  • Power-supply LEDs
    Use this information to view power-supply LEDs.
  • System pulse LEDs
    The following LEDs are on the system board and monitors the system power-on and power-off sequencing and boot progress.
  • Recovering the server firmware
    Use this information to recover the server firmware.
  • Automated boot recovery (ABR)
    While the server is starting, if the integrated management module II detects problems with the server firmware in the primary bank, the server automatically switches to the backup firmware bank and gives you the opportunity to recover the firmware in the primary bank.
  • Nx boot failure
    Configuration changes, such as added devices or adapter firmware updates, and firmware or application code problems can cause the server to fail POST (the power-on self-test).
  • Solving power problems
    Use this information to solve power problems.
  • Solving Ethernet controller problems
    The method that you use to test the Ethernet controller depends on which operating system you are using. See the operating-system documentation for information about Ethernet controllers, and see the Ethernet controller device-driver readme file.
  • Solving undetermined problems
    If the diagnostic tests did not diagnose the failure or if the server is inoperative, use the information in this section.
  • Problem determination tips
    Because of the variety of hardware and software combinations that can encounter, use the following information to assist you in problem determination. If possible, have this information available when requesting assistance from IBM.