Performing Slow Boot; Confirming Initial Error Code - IBM RS/6000 Enterprise Server M80 Service Manual

Performing Slow Boot

On this system, the error code displayed in the operator panel may not indicate the root cause of the
problem. To fully analyze all of the available information, perform the following steps before doing a
hardware repair or replacement:
1. Record the 8-character error code (and location code if present) in operator panel.
2. Do a slow-mode boot to the SMS menus. This can be specified using the System Power Control Menu
on the service processor main menu. (A fast-mode boot skips much of the built-in diagnostic testing.) A
slow-mode boot may yield a new 8-character error code on the operator panel and new errors in the
service processor error log. If a new error code is reported, use it in subsequent steps to continue
problem analysis. If the system hangs with the same error code, continue with the next step in the
Checkpoint and Error Code Index. If no 8-character error code is displayed on the operator panel, use
the original error code and continue with the next step in the Checkpoint and Error Code Index.
3. A slow boot in service mode should result in the Diagnostic Operating Instructions panel being
displayed.
4. Press Enter to continue to the Function Selection menu.
5. Enter option 5, "Single User Mode."
6. When prompted, enter the root password.
7. At the prompt, issue the shutdown -F command.
8. At this point, the service processor menus should be available to examine the service processor error
log.

Confirming Initial Error Code

The service processor may have recorded one or more symptoms in its error log. If the system has
attempted to boot since an error terminated normal operation, there may be specific fault information in the
service processor error log. Examine this error log before proceeding (see "System Information Menu" on
page 372).
In the service processor error log, the most recent error is at the top of the list and the oldest error is at
the bottom. Examine the time stamp associated with each error. (The time stamps in the service processor
error log reflect coordinated universal time (UTC), which is also referred to as Greenwich mean time.)
On this system, the error code displayed in the operator panel may not be indicative of the root cause of
the problem. This is also true of the most recent error in the service processor error log.
Find the error code in the service processor error log that directed you to this note. (If the error code is not
in the error log, perform the service actions for the error code that was first reported.) Examine the time
stamps to look for a group of failures that happened within minutes prior to this error code. In this group,
start at the error code with the earliest time stamp. To get a list of possible FRUs, select the detail screen
for each error code and perform the listed repair actions. If the repair actions for an error code are
ineffective, continue to work upward through this group of error codes (which is forward in time from the
earliest time stamp to the latest) until the problem is fixed, or you reach the error code that was first
reported. If the system is still not fixed, go to "MAP 1540: Minimum Configuration" on page 110.
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Service Guide