ProLiant ML350 G6 Server doesn't boot, No any LED lights

[savedlema]

Hi all!

We have been using this HP ProLiant ML350 G6 for several years (long before I moved into this company) it has always been working just nicely.

But yesterday, I attempted to power it on (nowadays we are used into switching it off since we're migrating from the software that runs on it) but to my suprise, it didn't come up. No any responses from it:

1. When I connect the power cable, NO ANY LED light gets on (neither in the rear or front lights)
2. Pressing the power button does NOT bring any LED lights on.
3. When I plug the power cable to the power supply (at the back) I can hear some "tikting" sound inside it.
4. I took the power supply out (you know you can plug it out and insert it back), plugged in the power cable and I hear some "tikting.."  sound from inside the power supply. I will hear the same if I leave the power cord plugged in and switched  power off and then ON in the power/electricity wall outlet.
5. I tried to use other power cords (to figure out whether the current one is damaged) but no success.
6. (The server uses KVM switch to connect to a monitor/display unit), so I decided to connect it to the monitor directly, no success --thought I think there was no point in trying this since there is no even a single LED light ON.
7. Server has always been running on APC UPS power, I tried connecting it to different other power outlets, no succes.

So this is my problem, I get NO ANY LED light ON.

What could be the problem and how can I solve this please?

Thanks in advance for any inputs,

Frank.

[RbBsmn]

Hi Frank,

is this server powered by one power supply only?
In that case there is a fair chance it's just the power supply that is busted.
This would also be the simplest/cheapest to replace and start troubleshooting with.

[savedlema]

Thank you RbBsmn....

I can't see another power supply in my server. (I assume I would see it by an additional power plug in port?), but even after opening the inside, I can't see another power supply. The only one I see is the one you can pull out of the server from the rear/back.

Another problem is I can't find another working power supply of the same to try. Could this be another problem?

Please, how much are they sold?

Thank you!

---

@RbBsmn wrote:
Hi Frank,

is this server powered by one power supply only?
In that case there is a fair chance it's just the power supply that is busted.
This would also be the simplest/cheapest to replace and start troubleshooting with.

---

[Torsten.]

The problem could be the power supply backplane, it is under the system board.

[savedlema]

Hi Torsten,
Thanks for your input.
What could be the problem with the panel? What can be done?

[Torsten.]

AFAIR this board converts voltage from 12V from power supply to all others (5V, 3.3V, ...). If the board is dead, no power at all.

[savedlema]

Thanks again Torsten,

Now I can't be sure whether its the Power Supply or the back plane. Anyway to find out/isolate the problem?

Thanks again.

---

@Torsten. wrote:

AFAIR this board converts voltage from 12V from power supply to all others (5V, 3.3V, ...). If the board is dead, no power at all.

---

[Sajjadmcs]

Hi Frank.

have you fixed the issue, i have exactly the same problem.

kindly guide me how to fix it.

Thanks 

Sajjad

[Ukkonen · Accepted solution]

Hi!

If this happens to somebody, this is how I got an ML350 G6 server to boot.
Server seemed totally dead, no lights anywhere. Only psu fans started to spin when power was plugged in, but psu leds did not light up, no leds on motherboard or front panel either. Tried with one psu, two psu and switching psu slots, no help.
Then I took both PSU:s off and plugged power cord to one psu while it was off from the machine. Then plugged the psu to it's slot, and hey presto, it works! Copying customer's data to safe palce as I write this. Hope this helps.

[saulocb]

Hello Ukkonen,

you sir are a genius!

Same exact problem and to my disbelief your solution worked flawlessly. Unfortunately I found your post after the server was already replaced and the backups restored.

Thank you so much for your solution!

All the best

[alexPTYMX]

Wow!!! that's simply works flawlessly, but when I unplugged my PSU from the electricity again, the problems comes back. Do you recommend to replace the PSU or the backplane board for a permanent solution?

[sukaharijanto]

the same thing with me, I've changed psu,

there is still no influence, the server remains totally dead

any suggestion

[Geoff19]

I have the same issue. Except for the twin power supplies (known to work in another chassis, in this one the fans are turning) server is totally dead. No LEDs lit internally or externally. I have replaced the power distribution board, motherboard (loaded with previous CPU), and on/off switch assembly. So now it appears either:

• One of the replacement compnents is also dead.
• A bad CPU is preventing the server from powering up (can this be true?).

I tried the mentioned fix of plugging in a hot power supply. That didn't work.

If anyone has another suggestion I'd like to hear it. I have a working ML 350 G6 out on loan. When I get it back I can swap parts back and forth until I find out what's going on. In the meantime I'd love to have some voltage test point information, but I can't find any.