IBM 8688 manual Diagnostic tools overview, Post error codes and messages

Diagnostic tools overview

The following tools are available to help you identify and resolve hardware-related problems:

vPOST error messages

The power-on self-test (POST) generates error messages to indicate the detection of a problem. See “POST error codes and messages” for more information.

vSystem-error logs

The system-error log contains all the error messages that were issued during POST. See “System-error logs” on page 36.

vLight Path Diagnostics feature

Use the Light Path Diagnostics feature to identify system errors quickly (see “Light Path Diagnostics feature” on page 36).

vDiagnostic display

If a problem is detected with system power on or during initialization, an error code might be present in the two-hex character diagnostic display on the midplane board. See “Diagnostic display error codes” on page 181 for more information.

vDiagnostic programs and error messages

The AMIDiag program is the primary method of testing the major components of the server. The AMIDiag program is stored in the EEPROM on the I/O board. You can download the latest version of this program and copy it to a CD so that you can update the AMIDiag program. See “Starting the AMIDiag program” on page 38 for more information.

The diagnostic program for the Ethernet controller is on the Resource CD. For instructions about using this CD, see “Troubleshooting the Ethernet controller” on page 75.

vProduct support page

The IBM Web site has up-to-date information about IBM xSeries products, services, and support at http://www.ibm.com/eserver/xseries/ on the World Wide Web.

You can find service information for your IBM products, including supported options, at http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/.

POST error codes and messages

When you turn on the server, it performs a series of tests to check the operation of server components and some of the options installed in the server. This series of tests is called the power-on self-test, or POST.

Notes:

1.This server does not produce beep codes.

2.Depending on system configuration, POST might run for several minutes before the video console is enabled. During this time, POST operation is indicated by the flashing blue locator LED on the front panel. Diagnostic display error codes track the startup progress until video is enabled.

If POST finishes without detecting any problems, the EFI Boot Manager screen appears. If POST detects a problem, an error message will be sent to either the serial port or the display screen. See “SAL/EFI messages” on page 150 for more information.

Chapter 3. Diagnostics 35