System led blinking

[Bhanudas_Mali]

Hi i am new in Hp forums as well as for HP Server also. i joined new firm before 2 days. In lab I have  HP (RX2600) server. When I power up that server System Led countinuesly blinking with red color and the same time power led stable with green color. At this time Server cant show any output.  As per Hp booklet these are the symptoms of some hardware failure. But there is no any procedure for resolve the problem. Please help me.

Thanks

Bhanudas

[Matti_Kurkela]

Is the System LED amber (orange) or really red?

The booklet is probably just a "Getting Started" guide: the real documentation is available on the HP website.

Go to HP Support Center: http://www.hp.com/go/hpsc

Type in "rx2600" to the product name field and press Enter. Confirm that you want the Integrity rx2600 server.

Then select "Manuals". You'll find the Operations and Maintenance Guide for your server.

Direct link:

h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/action.process/public/psi/manualsDisplay/?sp4ts.oid=447335&javax.portlet.action=true&spf_p.tpst=psiContentDisplay&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&spf_p.prp_psiContentDisplay=wsrp-interactionState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c01868329%257CdocLocale%253Den_US&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

The "Troubleshooting" chapter (starting from page 109) has instructions on interpreting the LEDs. On page 112, it says a blinking System LED is either System Alert 7 or a fatal hardware error.

The next step will depend on if this server has the iLO MP management card installed or not. Refer to pages 41-52 for accessing the iLO MP if it exists: connect a serial terminal (or a laptop with a terminal emulator program) to the MP console connector, and then press Ctrl-B on the terminal to access the iLO MP login prompt. The factory default username/password is Admin/Admin. Once logged in, use the SL command to view the hardware log as instructed on page 112.

If there is no iLO MP, then at least some of the front panel diagnostic LEDs labelled 1-4 should be lit. The table for interpreting these LEDs starts on page 114.

Note that the iLO MP is only accessible using either a serial port connection or the special iLO network port: a VGA display will not be useful for that.

[Bhanudas_Mali]

Very Thanks for reply

As per your suggestion i tryed to connect with MP port for trubleshuting. but i didn't get any output on Hyperterminal. As per manual i use 25 Pin Serial port of server to my personal desktop with 9 pin com port. Iconfigured Hyper terminal with the help of manual then I restart the server but i cant get any output on Hyper terminal.

Then i tryed another option that is LED. When i Switched on Server then, Power led stable with Green and System Led blinking with RED Color (2/Sec.) and all 4 Leds are OFF. As per manual there is fault. But which fault?. 

And lastly i am not able to access MP Port also. i tryed with both 25 pin and 9 pin serial ports of server. But Hyper terminal doesn't show any output.

And Last when i removed RAM from the server then i am not getting any beep from server.

How i can sure that there is no problem with RAM?

Please reply again

I am waiting for your Reply.

[Torsten.]

Bhanu wrote>> As per manual i use 25 Pin Serial port of server to my personal desktop with 9 pin com port.

You need to use the 24pin to 3x 9pin adapter cable delivered with your server. Connect this cable to the 24pin port.  From this adapter cable you need to use the 9pin connector labeld "console".

[Bhanudas_Mali]

Hi thanks for reply

There is no any port at backside of server having 24 Pins. Server having 25 Pin Port.

Just before some time i again go through the manual. Their i read, if you press power button for 3-5 second you got e -beeps. When i did that then i got 3 E-beeps. That beep point for Memory fault. Then i filled all RAM slots with 256mb. I.e 256 x 9.

After that i switched on server. Now System Led blink with orange (1/sec). But then also i am not getting any output on Monitor.

Please Reply

[Matti_Kurkela]

A terminal connection works very differently from a VGA display.

When you connect a VGA display cable to a PC, if the PC is displaying any kind of image, you will see it as soon as you switch the display on: the VGA port is continuously sending the whole current picture. But a serial port sends data only when the "display" is changing: if the MP is already started up and waiting for your input when you connect the serial cable, you will see nothing. In this situation, you should press Enter once or twice after connecting the cable. When the MP detects your input, it will send a "MP login:" prompt to your terminal. Then you can log in to the MP (probably using the default passwords I already mentioned).

You can see the server output only after logging in to the MP and using the CO command to enter the Console mode: just connecting the cable does not allow you to see anything, not even the boot output.

The orange System LED just indicates that you should log in to the MP and use the SL command to read the hardware error log. Once you've read the log, the System LED should automatically turn green unless there is still a problem.

[Bhanudas_Mali]

Hi

Now i got the MP Login and there i can see  Log details. SL Logs 100% full. When i go through that logs i can't understand it. The logs are in some diffrent format, they are not Human readable. I cleared logs and restart server but the problem not solved. I can't got output on Monitor. But when i used Serial cable (9 Pin Both side Server and laptop) then i got booting process is on Hyper terminal. That means Server boot successfully but it not showing any output on Monitor.

please suggest for trubleshoot problem.

[Torsten.]

So you don't have a real problem. The console is set to the serial device and you should NOT change this. You can access the console via serial line or via MP from anywhere on your network. If you want to use VGA as another input device, you should configure it as an X screen like this:

Check /etc/dt/config/Xservers.

If last line is commented out as follows:

# * Local local@console /usr/bin/X11/X :0

remove '# ' and restart dtlogin:

# /sbin/init.d/dtlogin.rc stop

# /sbin/init.d/dtlogin.rc start

[Bhanudas_Mali]

Just before 5 minute. i again gone through the Serial console connection. I mean to say i connect Server to Laptop with 9 pin com port and start monitor Hyper terminal process of my laptop after switched on server. Server Hard disk having Linux OS. After motherboard booting Linux os also start booting. After some time os hault before login terminal.

At this step i can access that server using Open SSH form other Server. That means OS boot successfully, But when i connect Monitor i can't see any display on Monitor.

is there any fault in Display card or any thing else?. Monitor is OK, i checked with other Server.

Please reply

[Bhanudas_Mali]

Where is /etc/dt/config/xserver file?

[Bhanudas_Mali]

Where is /etc/dt/config/Xservers file?

How i can access this file?

And just for information i have SUSE 10 as OS and i cant see motherboard booting process on monitor.

thanks for Long reply.

[Torsten.]

Since we now know you are running LINUX, you may consider to use VGA as console. Remember, you no longer have remote access to the console! Boot to the boot menu, start EFI shell and use "conconfig" to set VGA as primary console.

[Matti_Kurkela]

Torsten seems to have assumed that your system is running HP-UX, so you can disregard his references to /etc/dt/config/Xservers and  /sbin/init.d/dtlogin.rc: these files exist on HP-UX, not on Linux.

It is possible that the VGA monitor has been disabled if it was not necessary: if the system is used as a network server, the previous sysadmin might have thought there is no reason to attach a VGA monitor to the system at all.

(With most PCs, the monitor is the primary method to access the system  for basic troubleshooting and BIOS configuration. With HP rx2600 and other "big Unix" style servers, the MP is the primary access method. The built-in VGA monitor connector exists in rx2600 only because the designers wanted to allow the installation of Windows... and Windows has very limited facilities for installation, basic configuration and troubleshooting using methods other than a monitor.)

Linux tends to use a monitor by default, but it can be configured to use a serial port as a main system console too.

It looks like the previous administrator might have left this configuration incomplete.

Please login to the system using OpenSSH. Then run these commands as root:

dmesg | grep -i console
setserial -g /dev/ttyS*
cat /proc/cmdline

 The first command should identify what the Linux kernel is currently configured to use as a console, if the boot messages are still available in the kernel message buffer.

The second command should list the names of the available serial ports on the system.

The third command will display the kernel boot options.

For proper configuration on a serial-console-based system like rx2600, the kernel should be configured to use a serial port: the bootloader might have to add an option like "console=ttyS0" to the kernel boot options. In addition, the /etc/inittab file should start a "getty" process on the appropriate serial port.

This part of Linux kernel documentation might be useful to you:

http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/ia64/serial.txt

[Bhanudas_Mali]

As per your suggestion i tryed "conconfig" from EFI shell to set VGA Display as Primary. But this command is not working.

Just for your information

Server- rx2600

HP product number A6870B

EFI-: EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

I tryed to set VGA Display using Boot option maintenance menu , But when i select Active Console Output
Devices then i can see only four options those are as follows

Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8

Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit

i can't see Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)  option which is important for Set VGA Display.

I don't know my way is right or wrong. Please suggest.

Thanks

[Bhanudas_Mali]

Please Reply

[S_Logan]

Hi Bhanu,

"Conconfig" command does not work on the rx2600. this command started working on the HP Integrity rx2660 server or any newer servers.

[S_Logan]

Hi Bhanu,

I hope your rx2600 server does not have Managment Card (Optional) which has VGA port or please confirm did you insall any addtional VGA card?

This is for your info:

=================================================

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.60]

Main Menu. Select an Operation

        Boot from a File

        Add a Boot Option

        Delete Boot Option(s)

        Change Boot Order

        Manage BootNext setting

        Set Auto Boot TimeOut

        Select Active Console Output Devices       <- select this one !

        Select Active Console Input Devices        <- select this one !

        Select Active Standard Error Devices

        Cold Reset

        Exit

===========================================

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.60]

Select the Console Output Device(s)<<<<<<<<<<

      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)

      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)

    * Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)     <<<<<<<<<<<<<- on board serial port

      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)

      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)

      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)

    * Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)   <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<- MP-port

      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)

    * Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)                       <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< <- VGA - port

    Save Settings to NVRAM

    Exit

 ============================================

EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.60]

Select the Console Input Device(s)<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)

      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)

    * Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<- on board serial port

      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)

      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)

      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)

    * Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)   <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<- MP-port

      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)

    * Acpi(HWP0002,0)/Pci(1|1)                      <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<- USB - Keyboard

    Save Settings to NVRAM

    Exit

=========================================================================

 If the settings are as like above in EFIShell,  then the EFI-screens are shared between all three ports.

[S_Logan]

Hi Bhanudas,

you can also refer this link:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c02709529

Regards,

Surendar

HPGuided Troubleshooting - www.hp.com/support/hpgt

[Bhanudas_Mali]

HI Sir,

Thanks for reply.

    My rx2600 server have management card which having  VGA Port.

I joined this new firm before 1 month and i am new in rx2600 server. I discussed with some senior regarding VGA display of rx2600 server. They told me before one year we saw the VGA display on rx2600 server. But after some time we can’t. So that we just accessed that server using console (com port).

The disadvantage of using console is that, they can’t  install new OS using graphics and can’t use graphical OS (Linux).

As per mention earlier when tried to set VGA Display using Boot option maintenance menu , But when i select Active Console Output
Devices then i can see only four options those are as follows

 Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
* Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8

Save Settings to NVRAM
Exit

i can't see Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)  option which is important for Set VGA Display.

very thanks

Bhanudas

[S_Logan]

Hi Bhanu,

In this scenerio,  I suspect the Managment card (VGA port)  has the issue. i suggest you to check the system (Management card with VGA)  with  the help of HP Engineer.

Please contact HP Solution Center for further assitance in this Hardware issue.

Regards,

Surendar

Click here to visit “HP Guided Troubleshooting for Business Critical System”.

-          I am an HP Employee