Chapter 5. Solving problems
This chapter provides basic troubleshooting information to help you solve some
common problems that might occur while you are setting up the server.
If you cannot locate and correct a problem by using the information in this chapter,
see Appendix A, “Getting help and technical assistance,” on page 49, the Problem

Determination and Service Guide on the IBM System x Documentation CD, and the

“Server Support” flowchart in the front of this document.
Diagnostic tools overview
The following tools are available to help you diagnose and solve hardware-related
problems:

v POST beep codes

The power-on self-test beep codes indicate the detection of a problem.

– One beep indicates successful completion of POST, with no errors.

– More than one beep indicates that POST detected a problem. Error messages

also appear during startup if POST detects a hardware-configuration problem.
See “POST beep codes” and the Problem Determination and Service Guide
on the IBM System x Documentation CD for more information.

v

Troubleshooting charts
These charts list problem symptoms and steps to correct the problems. See
“Troubleshooting tables” on page 37 for more information.

v Diagnostic programs and error messages

The system diagnostic programs are provided on the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics
CD. These programs test the major components of the server. See the Problem

Determination and Service Guide on the IBM System x Documentation CD for

more information.

POST beep codes
POST emits one beep to signal successful completion. If POST detects a problem
during startup, other beep codes might occur. Use the following beep code
descriptions to help diagnose and solve problems that are detected during startup.

Note: See the Problem Determination and Service Guide on the IBM System x

Documentation CD for more information about the POST beep codes.

One beep
POST was completed successfully without detecting any errors.
Other beep codes
See the Problem Determination and Service Guide on the IBM System x

Documentation CD for information about other beep codes.

© Copyright IBM Corp. 2007 29