Memory Problems - IBM System x3950 E Installation Manual

Memory problems

v Follow the suggested actions in the order in which they are listed in the Action column until the problem
is solved.
v See the parts listing in the Problem Determination and Service Guide to determine which components are
customer replaceable units (CRU) and which components are field replaceable units (FRU).
v If an action step is preceded by "(Trained service technician only)," that step must be performed only by a
trained service technician.
Symptom
The amount of system memory
that is displayed is less than the
amount of installed physical
memory.
Action
1. Make sure that:
v No error LEDs are lit on the operator information panel or on the memory
card.
v Memory mirroring does not account for the discrepancy.
v The memory modules are seated correctly.
v You have installed the correct type of memory.
v If you changed the memory, you updated the memory configuration in the
Configuration/Setup Utility program.
v All banks of memory are enabled. The server might have automatically
disabled a memory bank when it detected a problem, or a memory bank
might have been manually disabled.
2. Check the POST error log for error message 289:
v If a DIMM was disabled by a system-management interrupt (SMI), replace
the DIMM.
v If a DIMM was disabled by the user or by POST, run the Configuration/Setup
Utility program and enable the DIMM.
3. Run memory diagnostics.
4. Make sure there is no memory mismatch when the server is at the minimum
memory configuration.
5. Add one pair of DIMMs at a time, making sure the DIMMs match for each pair
added.
6. Add one memory card at a time, making sure the memory matches for each
card added.
7. Reseat the following components:
a. DIMM
b. Memory card
8. Replace the components listed in step 7 one at a time, in the order shown,
restarting the server each time.
Chapter 6. Solving problems
65