Problem Determination Tips - IBM System x3850 X6 Installation And Service Manual

Problem determination tips

This topic provides problem determination tips to help you solve server problems.
Because of the variety of hardware and software combinations that you can
encounter, use the following information to assist you in problem determination.
The model number and machine type are located on the ID label on the front of
the server as shown in the following illustration.
Note: The illustrations in this document might differ slightly from your hardware.
Customer
label space
v Machine type and model
v Microprocessor or hard disk drive upgrades
v Failure symptom
v Diagnostic program type and version level
v Hardware configuration (print screen of the system summary)
v UEFI firmware level
v IMM firmware level
v Operating-system software
You can solve some problems by comparing the configuration and software setups
between working and nonworking servers. When you compare servers to each
other for diagnostic purposes, consider them identical only if all the following
factors are exactly the same in all the servers:
v Machine type and model
200
System x3850 X6 and x3950 X6 Types 3837 and 3839: Installation and Service Guide
Machine type and
model number
Customer
label space
– Does the server fail the Dynamic System Analysis diagnostic tests?
– What occurs? When? Where?
– Does the failure occur on a single server or on multiple servers?
– Is the failure repeatable?
– Has this configuration ever worked?
– What changes, if any, were made before the configuration failed?
– Is this the original reported failure?