Chapter 2. Diagnostics; Diagnostic Tools; Post Checkpoint Codes - IBM BladeCenter JS21 Types 8844 Service Manual

Chapter 2. Diagnostics

This chapter describes the diagnostic tools that are available to help you solve
problems that might occur in the blade server.
If you cannot locate and correct the problem using the information in this chapter,
see Appendix A, "Getting help and technical assistance," on page 171 for more
information.

Diagnostic tools

The following tools are available to help you diagnose and solve hardware-related
problems:
v POST checkpoints
v Troubleshooting tables
v Light path diagnostics

POST checkpoint codes

When you turn on the blade server, it performs a series of tests to check the
operation of the blade server components. This series of tests is called the
power-on self-test, or POST. During POST, a series of eight-digit progress codes
(also known as checkpoints) is displayed on the console to indicate that the blade
server is initializing system resources.
Note: You must establish an SOL session with the blade server to view the codes
described in this section; the shared BladeCenter unit video cannot display these
codes.
If the POST is completed without detecting any problems, the firmware displays a
checkpoint indicating that an operating system is being loaded. Location code
information may also display on the operator panel during this time (see "Location
codes" on page 66).
If POST detects a problem, an eight-digit error code will be displayed and logged in
the BladeCenter management module event log. See "Attention codes" on page 34
and "Error codes" on page 37 for more information. A location code might be
displayed at the same time on the second line (see "Location codes" on page 66).
Note: Some POST codes may not display on the operator panel, these codes can
be viewed using the Progress Indicator History option in the SMS utility (see "Using
the SMS utility" on page 166).
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2007
The power-on self-test (POST) in the firmware generates eight-digit checkpoint
codes. If the firmware detects a problem during POST, an eight-digit error code
will be displayed. See "POST checkpoint codes" for more information.
These tables list problem symptoms and actions to correct the problems. See
"Troubleshooting tables" on page 113 for more information.
Use the light path diagnostics to diagnose system errors quickly. See "Light path
diagnostics" on page 124 for more information.
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