rp2450 fault LED, and no console or GSP

[Stan Sieler]

Hi,

Just got a used rp2450 at auction (no, not eBay :) ... when I hit the power
switch, the Fault LED is red (detail
on all LEDs below).

Can't get response of any kind from serial console port (using cable/terminal that tests ok when plugged into an rp2430), nor from console LAN port.
(No SWC card, but there is a 10/100 LAN card in the I/O slot.)

LEDs:

Fault LED: red, solid

Run LED: green, blinking about once per second

Attention LED: yellow, blinking about once per second

Console LAN RJ45 LED on upper right corner: green

10/100 LAN RJ45 LED on upper right corner: green

info A LED: green, solid

info B LED: yellow, solid
(info A/B are by the SCSI connector)

The four internal LEDs (sort of behind the console/UPS DB25 connector):

left most: green, solid (left most when viewed from behind)
2nd: yellow, blinking
3rd: off
right most: off

Computer: rp2450 (A5570-62019; Model A500, Product A5570B), dual CPU. four RAM cards (in proper slots). Sticker on top implies it
had been in working order in fairly recent past.

It might be surplus to some, but it's better
than any PA-RISC computers we have! :)

Any suggestions appreciated ... I've checked
a number of doc.hp.com manuals, but can't
find anything about the four internal LEDs.

The one manual I found with a description
of the Fault/Run/Attn LEDs has slightly
confusing wording on "problem", and seems
to imply that the console/GSP should be working.

thanks!
Stan
sieler@allegro.com

[goldboy]

Stan,
here are my thoughts and questions:

1. when you plug the power to the system, does the GSP information pop's up ? (version, Firmware...)

2. from my experiance usualy if you are trying to get to the GSP, and there is no response it is eighter the GSP or the system board.

3. Since you just recived the system, I would try to re-seat all the components and try again.

Tal

[Stan Sieler]

Hi Tal,

Re: 1. when you plug the power to the system, does the GSP information pop's up ? (version, Firmware...)

As I mentioned, there's no response of any
kind from either the GSP or the console
(tried both LAN port or serial).
I'll try again, using a LAN sniffer to
see if anything is coming out the LAN port
from the GSP.

re: 3. Since you just recived the system, I would try to re-seat all the components and try again.

I'll try that again...maybe I missed something :)

thanks,
Stan

[goldboy]

Also, there is a TOC/reset button on the back of the chasis near the Lan port try to use it and see if it releases the GSP.

Tal

[Stan Sieler]

I should have mentioned that I tried both
the TOC and the GSP reset buttons.

For the GSP reset, I tried it several times,
once holding it down 30 seconds (based on
advice from someone who thought that
might reset it to factory defaults).
Pressing the GSP reset button did temporarily
change the lights in front, but the end
result was the same: no communication
out either the console serial port or (AFAIK)
out the GSP LAN port.

thanks.

[Matti_Kurkela]

If the yellow "Remote" LED is off, there's no use trying the GSP LAN port, as it is disabled by the GSP default settings and must be explicitly enabled if you want to use it.

When you enable the GSP LAN, the "Remote" LED becomes lit.

The solid red Fault LED would suggest that there is a problem that is severe enough to prevent the server from starting... and it just might be severe enough to cause problems to the GSP too.

As you're apparently familiar with a rp2430, I assume you've already tried pressing Ctrl-B on the console terminal.

Are you aware that there is an interlock switch that prevents the server from powering up completely if the cover is open?

Here's the official troubleshooting procedure. Start from here:
http://docs.hp.com/en/rp24xx_Update/ch01s02.html

Just a tip: there's a big connector between the card cage and the system board. It's been my experience that it sometimes pops out slightly when transporting the server. Double-check it: it must be _completely_ seated.

[goldboy]

Matti,


"Are you aware that there is an interlock switch that prevents the server from powering up completely if the cover is open?"

I would like to correct you, The system indication lights on the front (aside for the flashing power green light) will not be lit unless the cover is fully closed and the power is on.

Tal

[Stan Sieler]

re: interlock switch.

Yes, aware of it. BTW, some ball point
pens hold it closed nicely (of course,
per manual, you don't want to run it
with the cover off very long!)

re: Just a tip: there's a big connector between the card cage and the system board.

I'm not sure which connector that is, but
I'll check again. (I looked earlier today,
but have decided to take the rest of the
day off :)

I'll probably swap GSP boards with my rp2430
and see if that has any impact. I'm also
looking around for a SWC card.

BTW, can I use either a GSP A or a GSP B?
(one's A6889-67102 (aka... 69102),
and one's A5570-60002 (aka -69002), but
I forget which is which ...IIRC, my rp2450
has an A5570 in it now).
thanks

Stan
or just the (forget which I have, but
I believe it's "Harmony")
It's been my experience that it sometimes pops out slightly when transporting the server. Double-check it: it must be _completely_ seated

[Andrew Rutter]

stan,

the gsp you need to use is the A5570-6xxxx on erather than the newer one which is for the higher end 650/750mhz RP2470's.

That aside the systems will even run without the board in, so you could try it without it installed first. Also the large connector is the pci card cage connector. This is the bit that comes unseated in transit, had this a few times also? give it a good push down.

then start by reducing the systen to one cpu and minimum memory config and see what happens.

Andy

[Stan Sieler]

System is working now.

For future searchers...

I had no internal disk drives (there are
two slots on an rp2450). Apparently, that's
enough to trigger the LEDs to act as
described. Further, they remain acting
that way after you put in an internal disk
drive ... until you read the error log
via the GSP (that action restores the LEDs
to normal).

(I had no internal drive because I was
intending to use an external (and thicker)
hard drive ... and never saw any docs that
said I had to have one.)

thanks,
Stan