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Power problems

Use this information to solve power problems.

  • 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 website at Lenovo Data Center Support 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 5 to 10 seconds after the server has been connected to power.
  1. Verify that input power is applied to the server and that the power supplies are functioning:

    1. Make sure that both power supplies installed in the server are of the same type. Mixing different power supplies in the server will cause a system error (the system-error LED on the front panel turns on and the PS and CONFIG LEDs on the operator information panel are lit).

    2. Make sure that the power cords are correctly connected to the server and to a working electrical outlet. The power source meets the input power requirements for the installed power supplies (see the power supply labels).

    3. Make sure that the LEDs on the power supplies do not indicate a problem. See Power-supply LEDs.

  2. Make sure that the power-control button and the reset button are 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 a and b.
    4. (Trained technician only) If the problem remains, reseat the operator information panel.
    5. (Trained technician only) If the problem still remains, replace the operator information panel.
  3. Make sure that:
    • The type of memory that is installed is correct.
    • The DIMMs are fully seated.
    • The processors are installed in the correct sequence.
    • The minimum number of DIMMs are installed and functional for your processor configuration.
  4. 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.
  5. If the problem still remains, see Solving undetermined problems.
  6. If everything is done but the issue still cannot be resolved, please collect the failure information with system logs captured to Lenovo support.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail 1 error has been recorded in the IMM 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 IMM event log.
  3. (Trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the component; then, restarting the server. If the Pwr rail 1 error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail 2 error has been recorded in the IMM 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 IMM 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 Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the component; then, restarting the server. If the Pwr Rail 2 error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail 3 error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if Pwr rail 3 error has been recorded in the IMM2 event log:
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCI riser-card assembly 1
    • PCI riser-card assembly 1
    • ServeRAID SAS/SATA adapter (if one is present)
    • DIMMs 1 through 6
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 3 error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and 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 IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail 4 error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail 4 error has been recorded in the IMM event log:
    • Optional PCI adapter power cable (if one is present)
    • Fan 1
    • Fan 2
    • Hard disk drives
    • DIMMs 7 through 12
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 4 error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and 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 IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail 5 error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail 5 error has been recorded in the IMM event log:
    • DVD drive (if one is installed)
    • Fan 3
    • Fan 4
    • Hard disk drives
    • DIMMs 13 through 18
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 5 error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and 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 IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail 6 error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail 6 error has been recorded in the IMM event log:
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCI riser-card assembly 2
    • PCI riser-card assembly 2
    • Dual-port network adapter (if one is present)
    • Fan 5
    • Fan 6
    • DIMMs 19 through 24
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail 6 error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and 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 IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
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.