Help with dead server

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Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#69165 4-Oct-2010 16:36

Hi

I have a HP Proliant ML350 G5 that isnt powering on.

It was pronounced DOA a while ago by people wioth limited knowledge of the product (yes, me) and I just got it on the bench again, plugged it in and got system lights, that it didnt have last time.

The power light was on so I pressed it to power it up and it was powering up but there was a flashing red light under the power light. Anyone that has one of these will know what it is but I dont.

The picture on the light looks like an ECG screen. This was flashing red.

I powered the machine off and now it wont even show any lights again.

Sorry for the lack of useable info but thats about all I know about it.

The ram is seated properly as are the cards inside, and the HDD's.

Any help is appreciated.

Cheers

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#387761 4-Oct-2010 16:49

Does this server have hot-swap power supplies?
If it does are you connecting a power cable to both as it sounds like a faulty PSU to me?

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#387762 4-Oct-2010 16:53

Yes both the power supplies are swappable and yes I have 2 power cables connected, although I did hear a slight crackling from one as I connected it.

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#387763 4-Oct-2010 16:54

From what I can find online the flashing light was the "internal system health critical" light.

But it also says there should be orange lights on mainboard to show what is wrong but I have no lights and no power at all.

jaymz

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#387764 4-Oct-2010 16:57

Divers: Yes both the power supplies are swappable and yes I have 2 power cables connected, although I did hear a slight crackling from one as I connected it.

The cracking you heard would have been as the power cable made connection with the internal pins of the power supply, this is normal when you plug a "live" cable in. Best practice is to connect all cables, then switch it on using the power switch on the wall.

Back to the issue with the server.

The red light on the front is part of the HP health management stuff. Red lights and no power indicates an issue with the power supply. Is/was the light under the power icon amber?

My suggestion is to try remove one of the power supplies and test each one seperately. From there you will need to source a known working PSU to test. If you don't have one then it is a warranty claim or buy a new one to test.

Soruce - I am HP certified

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#387768 4-Oct-2010 17:00

jaymz:The red light on the front is part of the HP health management stuff. Red lights and no power indicates an issue with the power supply. Is/was the light under the power icon amber?

The light under the power light was flashing red.

At the moment I have no power and no lights. There is no difference in the system between plugged in and not plugged in.

I will try a coup0le of PSU's tomorrow.

Cheers

jaymz

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#387772 4-Oct-2010 17:06

definately sounds like a power supply issue (or possibly an internal power regulator issue) There is an internal component that the PSU's connect into which could be faulty.

Let us know how you get on with the other PSU's tomorrow :)

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#388031 5-Oct-2010 08:34

I plugged the power in this morning and the power lights came on so I hit the startup and the fans burst on for a few seconds.

Then all went quiet again and the "internal system health critical" light started flashing again.

But now there are lights on the motherboard, like I read there should be.

The ones under the ram slots are flashing green, and all others are green except for the one that is situated in between the PPM slot and the processor 2 heatsink fan connector. This one is glowing orange.

Does this indicate a problem with the PPM slot (and what is a PPM slot?) or a problem with the fans? or maybe the power supplies as I see the connectors are near there as well.

I thought I had a couple of spare power supplies to test the old ones but I dont so I cant test them.

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#388034 5-Oct-2010 08:39

Moved this to "IT Pro". There are more people that only look in that forum and work with HP servers that could help.

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#388035 5-Oct-2010 08:42

Ok I have checked the schematic on the cover and think it may be a CPU2 fan failure error light.

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#388036 5-Oct-2010 08:42

Thanks.

jaymz

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#388072 5-Oct-2010 09:43

Divers: I plugged the power in this morning and the power lights came on so I hit the startup and the fans burst on for a few seconds.

Then all went quiet again and the "internal system health critical" light started flashing again.

But now there are lights on the motherboard, like I read there should be.

The ones under the ram slots are flashing green, and all others are green except for the one that is situated in between the PPM slot and the processor 2 heatsink fan connector. This one is glowing orange.

Does this indicate a problem with the PPM slot (and what is a PPM slot?) or a problem with the fans? or maybe the power supplies as I see the connectors are near there as well.

I thought I had a couple of spare power supplies to test the old ones but I dont so I cant test them.

I'm not sure what the slot is either, I don't have a 350G5 near me to compair either.

Your best bet now is to go though the basic troubleshooting steps to try diagnose the issue.

Remove all RAM, CPU and disconnect any add in cards/devices and try power it on. Slowly add the bits back in. If you power on a HP server without the CPU's in you should get beep messages relating to no processors being installed.

From a previous post of yours, you are located in Wellington - correct? I am unfortunately in Hamilton so can't help you out with spare parts for testing.

Is the server still under warranty?

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#388077 5-Oct-2010 09:48

I am in Christchurch. No, the server is an ex lease job so it isnt under warranty.

I will do 2what I can with the troubleshooting.

Thanks for the suggestions

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#388086 5-Oct-2010 10:21

It is weird though, when I get the thing to power up (sort of) I cant get it to power up again until I unplug the power cords for half hour or so?

It may be shorter but I haven't tried shorter time yet.

jaymz

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#388090 5-Oct-2010 10:27

Divers: It is weird though, when I get the thing to power up (sort of) I cant get it to power up again until I unplug the power cords for half hour or so?

It may be shorter but I haven't tried shorter time yet.

When you remove the power from the power supplies, they will reset themselves somewhat.

I have often seen failing power supplies exibit the same symptoms, but they have tended to keep the server up longer before failing again.

My gut feeling is those power supplies are toast. We had a ML350 G4p come in today that both the PSU's are buggered, when we plug them in we get an orange light for the power switch, but as soon as we turn it on the internal hardware health light turns red and we get nothing. Tried replacement PSU's and it fired up no worries at all.

Divers

70 posts

Master Geek

#388106 5-Oct-2010 11:00

jaymz: when we plug them in we get an orange light for the power switch, but as soon as we turn it on the internal hardware health light turns red and we get nothing.

This sounds scarily familiar!

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