Table of Contents
Advertisement
Intel® 5000 Series Chipsets Server Board Family Datasheet
5.3
Error Messages and Error Codes
The system BIOS displays error messages on the screen. Before video initialization, beep
codes inform the user of errors. POST error codes are logged in the event log. The BIOS
displays POST error codes on the screen.
5.3.1
Diagnostic LEDs
During the system boot process, the BIOS executes several platform configuration processes,
each of which is assigned a specific hex POST code number. As each configuration routine is
started, the BIOS will display the POST code on the POST code diagnostic LEDs on the back
edge of the server board. To assist in troubleshooting a system hang during the POST process,
the diagnostic LEDs can be used to identify the last POST process to be executed.
Each POST code is represented by a combination of colors from four LEDs. The LEDs are each
capable of displaying three colors: green, red, and amber. The POST codes are divided into an
upper nibble and a lower nibble. Each bit in the upper nibble is represented by a red LED and
each bit in the lower nibble is represented by a green LED. If both bits are set in the upper and
lower nibbles then both red and green LEDs are lit, resulting in an amber color. If both bits are
clear, then the LED is off.
In the below example, BIOS sends a value of ACh to the diagnostic LED decoder. The LEDs
are decoded as follows:
Red bits = 1010b = Ah
Green bits = 1100b = Ch
Since the red bits correspond to the upper nibble and the green bits correspond to the lower
nibble, the two are concatenated to be ACh.
LEDs
Red
ACh
1
Result
Amber
MSB
Revision 1.1
Table 48. POST Progress Code LED Example
8h
4h
Green
Red
1
0
Green
Intel order number D38960-004
2h
Green
Red
1
1
0
Red
Error Reporting and Handling
1h
Green
Red
Green
0
0
Off
LSB
145
Advertisement
Table of Contents
