Checkout Procedure; About The Checkout Procedure - IBM x3690 X5 Service Manual

Checkout procedure

The checkout procedure is the sequence of tasks that you should follow to
diagnose a problem in the server.

About the checkout procedure

Before you perform the checkout procedure for diagnosing hardware problems,
review the following information:
v Read the safety information that begins on page "Safety" on page vii.
v IBM Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) provides the primary methods of testing
v When you run DSA, a single problem might cause more than one error message.
v Before you run diagnostic programs, you must determine whether the failing
v If the server is halted and a POST error code is displayed, see "POST error
v For information about power-supply problems, see "Solving power problems"
v For intermittent problems, check the event log; see "Event logs" on page 35 and
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System x3690 X5 Types 7147, 7148, 7149, and 7192: Problem Determination and Service Guide
the major components of the server, such as the system board, Ethernet
controller, keyboard, mouse (pointing device), serial ports, and hard disk drives.
You can also use them to test some external devices. If you are not sure whether
a problem is caused by the hardware or by the software, you can use the
diagnostic programs to confirm that the hardware is working correctly.
When this happens, correct the cause of the first error message. The other error
messages usually will not occur the next time you run DSA.
Exception: If multiple error codes or light path diagnostics LEDs indicate a
microprocessor error, the error might be in the microprocessor or in the
microprocessor socket. See "Microprocessor problems" on page 58 for
information about diagnosing microprocessor problems.
server is part of a shared hard disk drive cluster (two or more servers sharing
external storage devices). If it is part of a cluster, you can run all diagnostic
programs except the ones that test the storage unit (that is, a hard disk drive in
the storage unit) or the storage adapter that is attached to the storage unit. The
failing server might be part of a cluster if any of the following conditions is true:
– You have identified the failing server as part of a cluster (two or more servers
sharing external storage devices).
– One or more external storage units are attached to the failing server and at
least one of the attached storage units is also attached to another server or
unidentifiable device.
– One or more servers are located near the failing server.
Important: If the server is part of a shared hard disk drive cluster, run one test
at a time. Do not run any suite of tests, such as "quick" or "normal" tests,
because this might enable the hard disk drive diagnostic tests.
codes" on page 38. If the server is halted and no error message is displayed, see
"Troubleshooting tables" on page 50 and "Solving undetermined problems" on
page 245.
on page 244 and "Power-supply LEDs" on page 78.
"DSA messages" on page 82.