Before You Apply Power For The First Time After Shipping; Verify That The Components Are Securely Installed; Clear Cmos Memory - IBM System x3850 X5 Implementation Manual

7.1 Before you apply power for the first time after shipping

Before you begin populating your server with all of its processors, memory, and PCI adapters,
and before you install an operating system (OS), perform the recommendations provided in
this section.

7.1.1 Verify that the components are securely installed

Perform the following tasks to ensure that all of the electrical components of your server have
proper connectivity:
Inspect heat sinks to ensure that they are secure.
Verify that dual inline memory modules (DIMMs) are mounted in the correct locations and
are fully plugged in with their retain clips in the closed position.
Inspect the PCIe adapters to ensure that they are securely plugged into their slots.
Check all of the cable connections on the hard drive backplane, system board, and all
internal disk controllers to ensure that they are properly snapped into place. A cable that
can easily be unplugged from its connector must be plugged back in until it clicks or clips
into place.

7.1.2 Clear CMOS memory

When a server is shipped from one location to another location, you have no idea what the
server was exposed to. For all you know, it might have been parked next to a large magnet or
electric motor, and everything in the server that stores information magnetically has been
altered, including the CMOS memory. IBM does not indicate on the shipping carton that
magnetic material is enclosed because the information is readily recoverable.
Booting the server to the F1 system configuration panel and selecting Load Default Settings
will restore the default values for items that you can change in configuration. It will not change
the setting of internal registers used between the Integrated Management Module (IMM) and
the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). These registers define the system state of
the server. If they become corrupt, the server can experience these problems:
Fail to power on
Fail to complete power-on self test (POST)
Turn on amber light path diagnostic lights that describe conditions that do not exist
Reboot unexpectedly
Fail to detect all of the installed CPU, memory, PCIe adapters, or physical disks
These internal registers cannot be modified or restored to defaults by the F1 system
configuration panel; however, they can be restored to defaults by clearing the CMOS memory.
With ac power removed from the server, CMOS memory can be cleared in one of two ways:
Setting switch 1 on switch bock SW2 to the ON position for 30 seconds:
a. Disconnect the ac power from the server and remove the cover.
b. Locate the switch block SW2 in the back right of the server as you face the front of the
server, as shown in Figure 7-2 on page 303. If the optional PCIe riser card is installed,
it will need to be removed from the server first.
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