General Description 2-39

POST Check

POST (power-on self test) is a self-test function stored on the motherboard of NEC Express5800/ft series.

When you power on the server, POST will start automatically to check the motherboard, ECC memory modules, CPU modules, keyboard, mouse, etc. It also shows startup messages for various BIOS setup utilities.

According to the factory default settings, the “NEC” logo appears on the display while POST is being performed. (To view POST’s details, press Esc.)

TIPS:

You can view POST details from the beginning without the need to press Esc when the BIOS menu is displayed: select [System Configuration] - [Advanced], and set [Boot-time Diagnostic Screen] to "Enabled" (see Chapter 4).

You can view the test items and details from a management PC where NEC ESMPRO Manager or NEC MWA is installed.

You do not always need to check POST details. You will need to check messages when: You install a new NEC Express5800/ft series.

A failure is suspected.

You hear several beeps between the time of the power-on and OS start-up. The display unit or the LCD* shows an error message.

*For details, see “Error Messages on the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)” in Chapter 7.

TIPS: Although there is no LCD on the front of NEC Express5800/ft series, you can check error messages using NEC MWA or NEC ESMPRO Manager. For details, see Chapter 7.