Acer Altos G540 Series User manual

Acer Altos G540 Series
User’s Guide
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Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation
to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new
editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes
no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents
hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose.
Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in
the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label
affixed to the unit. All correspondence concerning the unit should include these information.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
Model Name : G540
Part Number: MU.R230E.001
Purchase Date:
Place of Purchase:
Copyright © 2006 Acer Incorporated
All Rights Reserved.
Acer Altos G540 Series
User’s Guide
Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other company’s product
names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their
respective companies.
Acer Altos G540 Series
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iii
Notices
FCC notice
Class A devices do not have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Class B devices
have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Once the class of the device is
determined, refer to the following corresponding statement.
Class A equipment
This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is
likely to cause harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to
correct the interference at personal expense.
Notice: Shielded cables
All connections to other computing devices must be made using shielded cables
to maintain compliance with FCC regulations.
Notice: Peripheral devices
Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) certified to
comply with the Class A limits may be attached to this equipment. Operation
with noncertified peripherals is likely to result in interference to radio and TV
reception.
Caution: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the
manufacturer could void the user’s authority, which is granted by
the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this server.
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iv
Use conditions
This part complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Notice: Canadian users
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian
nterference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Laser compliance statement
The CD-ROM drive in this server is a laser product. The CD-ROM drive’s
classification label (shown below) is located on the drive.
CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT
CAUTION: INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO
BEAM.
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v
Important safety instructions
Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference.
1 Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
2 Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use
liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
3 Do not use this product near water.
4 Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The product
may fall, causing serious damage to the product.
5 Slots and openings on the front and rear side of the chassis are provided
for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect
it from overheating, these openings must not be blocked or covered. The
openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa,
rug, or other similar surface. This product should never be placed near or
over a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation unless proper
ventilation is provided.
6 This product should be operated from the type of power indicated on the
marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult
your dealer or local power company.
7 Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this
product where persons will walk on the cord.
8 If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total
ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not
exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total
rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the fuse
rating.
9 Never push objects of any kind into this product through chassis slots as
they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could
result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the
product.
10 Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing
covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all
servicing to qualified service personnel.
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vi
11 Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified
service personnel under the following conditions:
a When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.
b If liquid has been spilled on the product.
c If the product has been exposed to rain or water.
d If the product does not operate normally when the operating
instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are covered
by the operating instructions since improper adjustment of other
controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work
by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition.
e If the product has been dropped or the chassis has been damaged.
f If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a
need for service.
12 Replace the battery with the same type as the product's battery we
recommend. Use of another battery may present a risk of fire or explosion.
Refer battery replacement to a qualified service technician.
13 Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly. Do not
disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep batteries away from children.
Promptly dispose used batteries according to regulations applicable to
your area.
14 Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided in your
accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA
certified, type SPT-2, rated 7A 125V minimum, VDE approved or its
equivalent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).

Contents
1 System tour 1
System specifications 3
Performance 3
Mechanical 6
Environmental 6
Hardware options 7
External and internal structure 8
Front bezel 8
Front panel 9
Rear panel 11
Internal components 13
System boards 14
Mainboard 14
Backplane board 17
SAS controller board 18
BMC module 19
ARMC/3 module 20
System LED indicators 21
Front panel LED indicators 21
Hot-plug HDD LED indicator 22
LAN port LED indicators 22
Power supply module LED indicators 23
2 System setup 25
Setting up the system 27
Pre-installation requirements 27
Connecting peripherals 28
Turning on the system 29
Power-on problems 30
Configuring the system OS 31
Rack mount configuration 32
Turning off the system 33
3 System upgrade 35
Installation precautions 37
ESD precautions 37
Pre-installation instructions 38
Post-installation instructions 38
Opening the server 39
Removing the side panel 39
Removing the front bezel 40
Configuring the hard drive 41

viii
Installing a HDD cage 41
Removing a HDD cage 44
Installing an additional hard drive 45
Configuring a 5-25 inch storage device 48
Upgrading the processor 50
Upgrading the system memory 55
Installing an expansion card 60
Installing the SAS controller board 62
Installing the BMC module 63
Installing the ARMC/3 module 64
Installing a redundant power supply module 66
4 System BIOS 69
BIOS overview 71
Entering BIOS setup 72
BIOS setup primary menus 72
BIOS setup navigation keys 73
Main menu 74
Advanced menu 75
Advanced Processor Options 76
Memory Configuration 78
Advanced Chipset Control 79
PCI Configuration 80
I/O Device Configuration 81
IDE Configuration 83
Floppy Configuration 85
Boot Configuration 86
DMI Event Logging 87
Security menu 89
Setting a system password 90
Changing a system password 91
Removing a system password 91
Server menu 92
System Management 93
Console Redirection 93
Event Log Configuration 95
Boot menu 96
Exit menu 97

ix
5 System troubleshooting 99
Resetting the system 101
Initial system startup problems 102
Initial troubleshooting checklist 103
Hardware diagnostic testing 104
Checking the boot-up status 104
Verifying the condition of the storage devices 105
Confirming loading of the operating system 105
Specific problems and corrective actions 106
Appendix A: Server management tools 111
Server management overview 113
RAID configuration utilities 114
Onboard SATA RAID Configuration Utility 114
LSI 1068 SAS Configuration Utility 116
LSI MegaRAID SAS RAID Configuration Utility 117
Appendix B: Rack mount configuration 119
Rack installation information 121
Rack installation precautions 121
Rack mount kit 122
Vertical mounting hole pattern 124
Rack installation procedures 125
Preparing the server for rack installation 125
Preparing the rack for server installation 127
Installing the server in the system rack 129
Installing the cable arm option 130
Index 133

x

1 System tour

The Acer Altos G540 server is a fully modular
dual-processor system featuring the latest in
computing technology. It host a range of
powerful and flexible features designed to
meet the needs of various network
environments. From simple networking
functions to computing intensive applications,
the Altos G540 delivers.

3
System specifications
This section lists down the impressive computing features of the
Altos G540 system.
Performance
Processor
• Two Intel LGA771 processor sockets supporting Dual-Core
Intel®Xeon™ processor
• 2x 2 MB or 4 MB external L2 cache
• 1066 or 1333 MHz FSB speed
• Support for the following Intel technologies:1
• Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology
• Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)
• Virtualization Technology
• Demand Based Switching Technology
• Compatibility with the broadest range of 32- and 64-bit
applications
• Execute Disable Bit and reliable RAS security features
Chipset
• North bridge - Intel 5000P Memory Controller Hub (MCH)
• South bridge - Intel 6321ESB I/O Controller Hub (ICH)
Memory
• Eight fully-buffered DIMM (FBD-DIMM) slots supporting 240-pin,
DDR2 667 FBD ECC modules
• 16 GB maximum memory capacity
• Quad channel memory bus
1For more information on these Intel technologies, visit the Intel Xeon web
site at http://www.intel.com/products/processor/xeon/index.htm.

1 System tour
4
PCI interface
• Six PCI bus slots with three separate bus segments
• Three PCI Express x8 bus slots
• Two 64-bit, 66/100 MHz PCI-X bus slots
• One 32-bit/33 MHz PCI bus slot
• One dedicated PCI-X slot for the optional SAS controller board.
Video controller
• Integrated ATI ES1000 chipset
• 16 MB DDR SDRAM
Networking
• Two Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports (RJ-45)
• Intel I/O Acceleration Technology (IOAT) support via Intel ESB2
Media storage
• Two 5.25-inch device bays support:
• CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, DVD combo drive
•DATtapedrive
• AIT tape drive
• LTO-2 half-height tape drive
• 3.5” floppy disk drive (FDD)
• Two hard disk drive (HDD) cage bays support:
• Hot-swap or easy-swap HDD cages
• Up to eight SAS/SATA2 drive support (four drives per HDD
cage)
• Embedded SATA2 controller with six onboard connectors

5
I/O ports
Power supply and system fan
• 610-watts power supply with redundant option
• System fan with redundant option
Hardware monitoring and server management
• Winbond W83792D hardware monitoring IC for voltage,
temperature, and fan speed detection
• LED indicators for constant monitoring of basic system function
• Acer Server Management (ASM) monitors potential problem spots
in the network environment
Operating system
• Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, x64 Edition
•RedHat
®Enterprise Linux®4.0
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0, x86_64
•Novell
®NetWare® 6.5
•SUSE
Linux®Enterprise Server 9.0
•SUSE
Linux Enterprise Server 9.0, EM64T
• Two front USB 2.0 ports
• PS/2 keyboard port
• PS/2 mouse port
• Serial port
• Monitor port
• Parallel port
• Four rear USB 2.0 ports
• Two Gigabit LAN ports
(RJ-45)

1 System tour
6
Mechanical
• Chassis
• Tool-less chassis design for easy hardware access and
configuration
• Tower and rack-mount (5U, tray-less) setup options
• Dimensions
– Height: 445 mm (17.5 in)
– Depth: 212 mm (8.3 in)
– Width: 550 mm (21.6 in)
• Mainboard
• Dimensions (length x width): 304.8 x 330.2 mm (12 x 13 in)
• Platform: Extended ATX (EATX)
Environmental
• Temperature
• Operating: +10° to +35°C with the maximum rate of change
not to exceed 10° per hour.
• Non-operating: -40° to +70°C
• Humidity, non-operating : 90%, non-condensing @ 35°C
• Vibration, operating: Half sine, 2g peak, 11 m/sec
• System cooling: 2081.5 BTU/hour

7
Hardware options
Note: To purchase the any of the following hardware options,
contact your local Acer representative.
• Media storage
• LSI 1068 SAS controller board provides both SAS and SATA2
support
• LSI MegaRAID SAS RAID controller board supports:
– Hardware RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and 50 levels
– Backup battery unit (BBU) option
• Ultra 320 SCSI HBA (for backup devices only)
• Redundant modules
• Hot-swap redundant power supply
• Redundant system fan
• Server management
• BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) module
– IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) 2.0
compliant
– In-band and out-band server management
• ARMC/3 (Acer Remote Management Card/3) module
– High performance KVM redirection
– Includes a dedicated NIC port
– USB mouse, keyboard, and media redirection

1 System tour
8
External and internal structure
Front bezel
No. Component
1 Side panel release button
2 Security keylock
This lock secures the bezel door to protect the server unit from
unauthorized access.
3 LED indicator panel
For more information on the LED indicators description, go to
page 21.
4 Bezel door

9
Front panel
No. Icon Component Description
1 DVD-ROM drive Eject
button
Press this button to open the DVD
drive tray.
2 DVD-ROM drive
activity indicator
When the LED indicator is lit, there
is an ongoing DVD drive activity.
3 DVD-ROM drive
mechanical eject hole
When the DVD drive tray get
stucked, insert a paperclip to this
hole to manually eject the tray.
4 DVD-ROM drive Disk drive for reading CD, VCD, and
DVD contents.
5 5.25-inch drive bay Allows installation of additional
storage devices. Go to page 4 for a
list of supported devices.
6 Power indicator Indicates the system power status
(green).
7 HDD activity
indicator
Indicates the status of a system
hard drive (green/amber).
8 Status/fault indicator Indicates the status of the system
operations (green/amber).

1 System tour
10
9 LAN port 1/2 status
indicators
Indicate the system network
connection status.
10 Hot-plug HDD
activity indicator
Indicates the status of a hot-plug
HDD installed in the system (green
/amber).
11 HDD cage Supports four hot-plug or
easy-swap SAS or SATA2 HDDs.
12 HDD cage bay Supports an optional four-bay HDD
cage (hot-plug or easy-swap).
13 USB 2.0 ports Connects to USB devices.
14 Power button Press to turn the server on/off, or to
put it in standby mode.
15 FDD Eject button Press this button to eject the floppy
disk from the FDD.
16 Floppy disk drive Disk drive for reading floppy disks.
17 FDD activity indicator When the LED indicator is lit, there
is an ongoing FDD activity.
No. Icon Component Description