IBM 81Y Computer Hardware User Manual


 
14 Hardware Maintenance Manual: xSeries 250
These charts list problem symptoms, along with suggested steps to correct the
problems. See the “Diagnosing errors” on page 35 for more information.
POST
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.
If POST finishes without detecting any problems, a single beep sounds, the first screen
of the operating system or application program appears, and the System POST
Complete (OK) light is illuminated on the operator information panel.
If POST detects a problem, more than one beep sounds and an error message appears
on the screen. See “POST beep codes” and “POST error messages” for more
information.
Notes:
1. If you have a power-on password or administrator password set, you must type
the password and press Enter, when prompted, before POST will continue.
2. A single problem might cause several error messages. When this occurs, work to
correct the cause of the first error message. After you correct the cause of the first
error message, the other error messages usually will not occur the next time you
run the test.
POST beep codes
POST generates beep codes to indicate successful completion or the detection of a
problem.
One beep indicates the successful completion of POST.
More than one beep indicates that POST detected a problem. For more
information, see “Beep symptoms” on page 143.
POST error messages
POST error messages occur during startup when POST finds a problem with the
hardware or detects a change in the hardware configuration. For a list of POST
errors, see “POST error codes” on page 155.
Event/error logs
The POST error log contains the three most recent error codes and messages that the
system generated during POST. The System Event/Error Log contains all error
messages issued during POST and all system status messages from the Advanced
System Management Processor.
To view the contents of the error logs, start the Configuration/Setup Utility program;
then, select Event/Error Logs from the main menu.
Small computer system interface messages
If you receive a SCSI error message, see “SCSI error codes” on page 165.
Note: If the server does not have a hard disk drive, ignore any message that indicates
that the BIOS is not installed.