IBM Eserver xSeries 455 Installation guide

xSeries 455 FAQ
Hints and Tips
ERserver


xSeries 455 FAQ
Hints and Tips
ER s e r v e r


Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, be sure to read the general information
in “Notices,” on page 35.
Second Edition (April 2004)
© Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2004. All rights reserved.
US Government Users Restricted Rights – Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract
with IBM Corp.

Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
xSeries 455 documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Before you begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Major components of the xSeries 455 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Features and specifications of the xSeries 455 . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Chapter 2. Hints and tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Device drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Error messages and indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Ethernet controllers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Firmware updates and recovery process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Keyboards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Light path diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Microprocessors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Operating systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
PCI hot-plug expansion slots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
PCI hot-plug features with the Linux operating system . . . . . . . . . .20
Power supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Remote Supervisor Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Resource CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
ServeRAID adapter installation requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Supported options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Support telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Wake on LAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Chapter 3. Getting help and technical assistance . . . . . . . . . . .33
Before you call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Using the documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Getting help and information from the World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . .34
Software service and support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Hardware service and support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Appendix. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Edition notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Trademarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Important notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 iii

iv xSeries 455 FAQ: Hints and Tips

Chapter 1. Introduction
The information provided in this document is based on technical observations, and
it is intended to supplement the IBM
®
Eserver
™
xSeries
®
455 documentation that
comes with the server. The topics are arranged alphabetically to help you find the
information.
The latest versions of the xSeries 455 documentation is available in Portable
Document Format (PDF) from http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/.
xSeries 455 documentation
The xSeries 455 documentation includes the following documents:
v Installation Guide
This printed document contains instructions for setting up your server and basic
instructions for installing some options.
v Option Installation Guide
This document is in PDF on the IBM xSeries Documentation CD. It contains
detailed instructions for installing, removing, and connecting optional devices that
your server supports.
v Safety Information
This document is in PDF on the IBM xSeries Documentation CD. It contains
translated caution and danger statements. Each caution and danger statement
that appears in the documentation has a number that you can use to locate the
corresponding statement in your language in the Safety Information document.
v Rack Installation Instructions
This printed document contains instructions for installing your server in a rack.
v Hardware Maintenance Manual and Troubleshooting Guide
This document is in PDF on the IBM xSeries Documentation CD. It contains
information to help you solve problems yourself, and it contains information for
service technicians.
v IBM Eserver xSeries 455 User’s Guide
This document is in PDF on the IBM xSeries 455 Documentation CD. It contains
general information about the server, including information about features, how to
configure the server, and how to get help.
v IBM Eserver xSeries 455 Planning and Installation Guide
This document is in PDF and is available for download from
http://www.ibm.com/redbooks/.
You can obtain up-to-date information about the xSeries 455 server and other IBM
server products at http://www.ibm.com/eserver/xseries/.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2004 1

Complete the following steps to check for updated documentation and technical
updates:
1. Go to http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/.
2. In the Learn section, click Online publications.
3. On the ″Online publications″ page, in the Brand field, select Servers.
4. In the Family field, select xSeries 455.
5. Click Continue.
Before you begin
Read the following information before you use the hints and tips in this document:
v Review the “Safety information” and “Handling static-sensitive devices” sections
in the documentation that comes with the server. These guidelines will help you
work safely while working with the server or options.
v Back up all important data before you make changes to disk drives.
v For a list of supported options for the xSeries 455, go to
http://www.ibm.com/pc/us/compat/.
v Verify the following server components and connections:
– All adapters, boards, fans, power supplies, and internal devices are fully
seated and connected correctly.
– All cables and cords are connected securely to the server and to any installed
optional devices.
– Each drive bay contains either a drive or a filler panel.
– Each unoccupied PCI-X slot contains an expansion-slot cover.
– Power supplies are installed in both power-supply bays.
– Both power cords are connected to the power supplies and to an ac power
source.
– For redundant and hot-swappable operation, the power supplies are
connected to 200-240 V ac. The power supplies are hot-swappable and
redundant only at 200-240 V ac.
– All microprocessors are the same type and have the same cache size and
clock speed.
v
Verify the server installation:
– There is sufficient space around the server to allow the cooling system to
work properly.
– The top cover is closed during normal operation. For proper cooling, do not
leave the cover open for more than 15 minutes.
– The rack into which you plan to install the server has perforated doors.
v
When you replace a hot-swap drive, wait 15 seconds after removing the
defective drive before you install the new drive.
2 xSeries 455 FAQ: Hints and Tips

Major components of the xSeries 455
The following illustration shows the major components in the xSeries 455 server.
Note: The illustrations in this document might differ slightly from the hardware.
Retention
bracket
DIMM
Microprocessor
Microprocessor
baffle
Hard disk
drive
VRM
DIMM
access
doors
Fan 4
Fan 3
NOTE:FORPROPERAIRFLOW, REPLACEFANWITHIN2MINUTES
FRONTOFBOX
NOTE:FORPROPERAIRFLOW, REPLACEFANWITHIN2MINUTES
FRONTOFBOX
Fan 1Fan 2
Hot-swap
power supply
DVD-ROM
drive
Bezel
Power
module
EMC shield
Thumbscrews
Chapter 1. Introduction 3

Features and specifications of the xSeries 455
The following table provides a summary of the server features and specifications.
Microprocessor:
v Intel
™
Itanium 2 1.3 MHz or higher,
depending on server model
v 3 MB (minimum) Level-3 cache
v 200 MHz front-side bus (FSB), at two
data transfers per cycle, yielding a 400
MHz system bus (minimum)
v Support for up to four microprocessors
v XceL4
™
Server Accelerator Cache: 64
MB
Note:
Use the Configuration/Setup Utility
program to determine the type and speed
of the microprocessors in your server.
Active Memory
™
:
v Minimum: 1 GB
v Maximum: 56 GB
v Type: 2-way interleaved PC2100, ECC
DDR SDRAM, registered DIMMs only
v Supports 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB dual
inline memory modules (DIMMs)
Drives
standard:
DVD/CD-RW: IDE
Expansion bays:
v Two removable media bays (one
DVD/CD-RW preinstalled)
v Supports up to two internal Ultra320
SCSI hard disk drives
Active
™
PCI-X expansion slots:
Six 64-bit Active PCI-X expansion slots:
v Two 66 MHz PCI-X slots
v Two 100 MHZ PCI-X slots
v Two 133 MHZ PCI-X slots
Cooling:
Four hot-swap fans
v Two 150 mm x 51 mm fans
v Two 150 mm x 38 mm fans
Acoustical noise emissions:
v Declared sound power, idle: 6.5 bels
v Declared sound power, operating: 6.5
bels
v Bystander sound pressure, idle: 49 dBa
v Bystander sound pressure, operating: 49
dBa
Power supply:
Two power supplies: 550 watts at
100-127 V ac or 1050 watts at 200-240 V
ac (hot-swappable and redundant at
200-240 V ac only)
Video:
v Integrated ATI RageXL video
v PCI bus interface
v Compatible with SVGA
v 8 MB SDRAM video memory
Size
(4 U):
v Height: 17.5 cm (6.9 inches, 4 U)
v Depth: 71.3 cm (28.1 inches)
v Width: 44 cm (17.3 inches)
v Maximum weight: 54.3 kg (120 lb),
depending on your configuration
Integrated functions:
v Broadcom 5704 10/100/1000 dual port
Ethernet controller
v Light path diagnostics
v One external and one internal Ultra320
SCSI port (dual-channel integrated
controller with RAID capabilities)
v Remote Supervisor Adapter (service
processor)
– ASM interconnect (peer-to-peer)
port
– Ethernet port
– Serial port
v IDE controller
v RXE Management Port
v RXE Expansion Ports
v USB ports
v Serial port
v SMP Expansion Ports
v Wake on LAN
®
Environment:
v Air temperature:
– Server on: 10° to 35°C (50.0° to
95.0°F). Altitude: 0 to 914 m
(2998.7 ft)
– Server on: 10° to 32°C (50.0° to
89.6°F). Altitude: 0 to 2133 m
(6998.0 ft)
– Server off: -40° to 60°C
(-104° to 140°F). Maximum altitude:
2133 m (6998.0 ft)
v Humidity:
– Server on: 8% to 80%
– Server off: 5% to 100%
Heat output:
Approximate heat output in British thermal
units (Btu) per hour
v Minimum configuration: 854 Btu (250
watts)
v Maximum configuration: 2646 Btu (775
watts)
Electrical
input:
v Sine-wave input (50-60 Hz) required
v Input voltage low range:
– Minimum: 100 V ac
– Maximum: 127 V ac
v
Input voltage high range:
– Minimum: 200 V ac
– Maximum: 240 V ac
v
Input kilovolt-amperes (kVA)
approximately:
– Minimum: 0.250 kVA
– Maximum: 1.3 kVA
Notes:
1. Power consumption and heat output
vary depending on the number and
type of optional features installed and
the power-management optional
features in use.
2. These levels were measured in
controlled acoustical environments
according to the procedures specified
by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) S12.10 and ISO 7779
and are reported in accordance with
ISO 9296. Actual sound-pressure
levels in a given location might
exceed the average values stated
because of room reflections and other
nearby noise sources. The declared
sound-power levels indicate an upper
limit, below which a large number of
computers will operate.
4 xSeries 455 FAQ: Hints and Tips