ProLiant DL380p gen 8 System Power Fault Detected

[Trollkaan]

I am having problems with a ProLiant DL380p gen 8 that I recently aquired. It receives power but will not boot. In the iLO I get the following error that I haven't been able to find or decode.

System Power Fault Detected (XR: 24 00 MID: DF 4D FC CE C0 FF FF 32 32 0C 0C 00 9E 01 00 01 03 47 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00)

Any help decoding this would be greatly appreciated!

Some additional information. System health light is blinking red. Amber power light, attempting to boot it flashes green then goes back to amber. 

Flashing internal led labeled PORT 84(CR8) and two that are solid directly behind rear UID indicator. When attempting to power on two more turn on in the same location then turn off when power goes back to amber.

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

To further diagnose and isolate the issue, the server may be configured with minimum configuration.

Install minimum required DIMM's
Remove PCI cards that are not required for boot.
Disconnect USB or other storage devices that are not required for boot.

Refer to QuickSpecs for knowing minimum configuration, page# 58

Thank You!
I work with HPE but opinions expressed here are mine.
HPE Tech Tips videos on How To and Troubleshooting topics

[Trollkaan]

Unfortunately that didn't change anything. Exact same error code and led patterns.

Everything attached to the main board:
HPE 631679-B21 1GB DDR3 Smart Array FBWC RAID Controller Cache Memory
4 port network card
[REMOVED] PCI riser card

I have one 1tb hdd installed in slot one(no OS installed)
One 4gb stick of memory in cpu 1 slot 1
2 processors installed. Don't know what processors they are.

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

As per your post, there are two processors and one stick of RAM.
Was there any DIMM/CPU configurations done recently, because there are some DIMM population guidelines to be followed.
Please refer to this user guide, on page# 50.

General DIMM slot population guidelines
Observe the following guidelines for all AMP modes:
• Install DIMMs only if the corresponding processor is installed.
• When two processors are installed, balance the DIMMs across the two processors.

Thank You!
I work with HPE but opinions expressed here are mine.
HPE Tech Tips videos on How To and Troubleshooting topics

[Trollkaan]

There have been some DIMM changes recently but no CPU changes. When I aquired the server there were 64gb in 4 slots, 2 for each processor.(slots a and b of each processor) since then, I put in one 4gb stick that I know is good and compatible. (Noted in a previous reply) After reviewing your last reply I put a second stick in slot a for the other processor so now slot a for both processors are filled. Those changes produce the same error with the same error code.

[Trollkaan]

A little more information.

It has Dual Xeon E5-2600 @2.2GH

This machine was functional when pulled from an enterprise production environment. Has not been functional since it was pulled

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

Have you checked if the installed DIMM's are from HPE and are of same part number?
You may also swap power supplies to check the fault.

Thank You!
I work with HPE but opinions expressed here are mine.
HPE Tech Tips videos on How To and Troubleshooting topics

[Trollkaan]

@Suman_1978 

I swapped power supplies to no effect, same issue and code. The DIMM's currently installed do not have an HPE part number. I can confirm that they are functional ad they ran in a ProLiant DL360 G7 without any issue. I have several DIMM's with HPE part numbers that match and tried installing those but again it had no effect.

[Vinky_99]

@Trollkaan 

Good day!

You may give it a try to below instructions:

>> The error might be indicating a problem with the power supply units (PSUs) or power distribution. Ensure that both power supplies are properly seated and provide sufficient power to the system.

>> It's possible that there's a hardware component failure, such as a faulty memory module, CPU, or another internal component. You might want to try reseating or replacing these components.

>> The blinking health light and amber power light could be indicating a system board (motherboard) failure. This can happen due to a variety of reasons, including component damage, overheating, or other issues.

>> Outdated or corrupted firmware/BIOS can lead to booting problems. You might want to try resetting the BIOS settings to defaults, or updating the firmware if possible.

>> Check that all internal connections, cables, and interfaces are properly connected. Loose or improperly connected components can cause power issues.

>> Check for any signs of overheating, such as blocked vents or non-functioning fans. Overheating can trigger system protection mechanisms.

>> The LED patterns you mentioned (flashing PORT 84 LED and solid LEDs near the UID indicator) could potentially correspond to specific hardware diagnostics. Refer to the server's manual or documentation to identify the specific diagnostic LEDs and their meanings.You may find here: https://support.hpe.com/

Hope this helps! Let me know.... 

[Trollkaan]

Thank you for the suggestions @Vinky_99 .

I have been busy but slowly checking everything.

• I verified both power supplies were functioning properly and seated correctly.
• As far as I can tell, all internal components are functioning correctly. DIMMs are verified. CPU's don't seem to be the issue, doesn't seem to be raid card or drives. All the internal components that I can test are working.
• If it is a motherboard issue...this sucks. I cant find any sign of damage or overheating.
• BIOS Updated to the latest version with no effect.
• Performed a full teardown to reseat all connections...no effect.
• All fans are able to spinn with no blockage. (It doesn't happen on power on...boot doesn't get that far)
• Couldn't find anything on the led pattern. I think that it is failing before it can post? Sill had Port 84 LED 7 (CR8) blinking.

Unfortunately, I haven't found a solution with any of your advice. I did notice that one fan (fan 6) starts to spin but only goes for a 1/10th of a second before powering down and coasting to a stop.

All of the system maintenance switches are turned off. ILO still gives the System Power Fault error.

Is there anything else that I could try or is it likely a system board issue and the board needs replaced?

[TwinSpiral]

Aloha dudes and dudettes,

Any updates on this one? I don't have a spare PSU for this sytem, but I've got tons of HP memory and known good parts. Let's see... I've:

1. changed the battery
2. used the "System Maintenance Switch" to reset things
   1. [Reset configuration (position 6)]
      1. Position 6 to "ON", power on, then disconnect power, and put it back to "OFF"
   2. [iLO security (position 1)]
      1. Position 1 to "ON", hoping it was an iLO issue, then disconnect power, and put it back to "OFF"
   3. [BIOS password disabled (position 5)]
      1. Beyond here, there be dragons... When you're just trying to disable everything to default settings, you know you're gabbing for thin air... Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!

I really love this server, but I'm concerned if it's the PSU, it might be cost-effective to troubleshoot, but without a difinitive troublshooting route, I'm concerned I'm going to have to call the time of death. Saavy?

Thoughts, ladies and gents?

Mahalo!

[Vinky_99 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Trollkaan  @TwinSpiral 

Goo day...

The brief spin of fan 6 and then shutting down could be indicative of a power supply or power distribution issue. Here are a few more things to consider:

>> Swap power supplies if possible. If you have spare power supplies, try using those to see if the behavior changes. This helps rule out a faulty power supply.

>> Some servers have a power distribution board or backplane that connects to the power supplies. Ensure that all connections to this board are secure and that there are no visible signs of damage.

>> Inspect the CPU sockets, memory slots, and other connectors on the motherboard for any bent pins or damage. Sometimes a small issue with connectivity can cause such problems.

>> Ensure that there is proper thermal paste between the CPUs and heatsinks. Overheating or thermal issues can cause erratic behavior.

>> Check for any diagnostic LEDs on the system board itself. These LEDs may provide additional information about the nature of the fault.

>> If you have a diagnostic display on the server, check for any codes displayed during the POST process. These codes can provide more detailed information about the failure point.

>> If all else fails and you've ruled out other components, it's possible that there's a fault on the system board. If the server is under warranty or support contract, contacting HPE support for further assistance is recommended.

Hope this helps!

[Trollkaan]

Ended up being a motherboard issue. SOL for me. Thank you for the help diagnosing it!

[Sunitha_Mod]

Hello @Trollkaan,

We are glad to know you were able to find the solution and thank you for keeping us posted.