IBM System x3610, Problem Determination And Service Manual

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Chapter 5. Diagnostics
This chapter describes the diagnostic tools that are available to help you solve
problems that might occur in the 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 113 for more
information.
Diagnostic tools
The following tools are available to help you diagnose and solve hardware-related
problems:
v
POST beep codes, error messages, and error logs
The power-on self-test (POST) generates beep codes and messages to indicate
successful test completion or the detection of a problem. See “POST” for more
information.
v Troubleshooting tables
These tables list problem symptoms and actions to correct the problems. See
“Troubleshooting tables” on page 93.
v Diagnostic programs, messages, and error codes
The diagnostic programs are the primary method of testing the major
components of the server. The diagnostic programs are provided on the
System
Diagnostics CD. See “Diagnostic programs and messages” on page 105 for more
information.
POST
When you turn on the server, it performs a series of tests to check the operation of
the server components and some optional devices in the server. This series of tests
is called the power-on self-test, or POST.
If a user password is set, you must type the password and press Enter, when
prompted, for POST to run.
If POST is completed without detecting any problems, two beeps sound, and the
server startup is completed.
If POST detects a problem, other beeps might sound, or no beeps, or an error
message is displayed. See “POST beep codes” and “POST error codes” on page
88 for more information.
POST beep codes
A beep code is a series of short beeps that sounds either during or after POST. A
beep code other than two beeps indicates that POST has detected a problem. To
determine the meaning of a beep code, see “Beep code descriptions.” If no beep
code sounds, see “Solving undetermined problems” on page 110.
Beep code descriptions
The following table describes the beep codes and suggested actions to correct the
detected problems.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2008
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