Acer Altos G510 User Manual

Acer Altos G510 series

User’s guide

Copyright © 2003 Acer Incorporated
All Rights Reserved.

Acer Altos G510 series
User’s guide

3rd Issue: July 2003

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation
to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new
editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company makes
no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents
hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose.

Record the model number, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in
the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label
affixed to your computer. All correspondense concerning your unit should include the serial
number, model number, and purchase information.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.

Model Number : _________________________________

Serial Number: ___________________________________

Purchase Date: ___________________________________

Place of Purchase: ________________________________

Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other company’s product
names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their
respective companies.

iii

Notices

FCC notice

Class A devices do not have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Class B devices
have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Once the class of the device is
determined, refer to the following corresponding statement.

Class B equipment

This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This device generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this device does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the device off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

• Increase the separation between the device and receiver

• Connect the device into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help

iv

Notice: Shield cables

All connections to other computing devices must be made using shielded cables
to maintain compliance with FCC regulations.

Notice: Peripheral devices

Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) certified to
comply with the Class A or Class B limits may be attached to this equipment.
Operation with noncertified peripherals is likely to result in interference to
radio and TV reception.

Caution! Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
the manufacturer could void the user’s authority, which is granted
by the Federal Communications Commission, to operate this
server.

Use conditions

This part complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.

Notice: Canadian users

This Class A/Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Laser compliance statement

The CD-ROM drive in this server is a laser product. The CD-ROM drive’s
classification label (shown below) is located on the drive.

CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT
CAUTION: INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO
BEAM.

Limitations of LSI IM

• LSI supports RAID level 1 only, RAID-0 and RAID-10 are not
supported.

• Only one RAID volume can be created.

• The RAID-1 feature only supports 2 hard disk drives (one RAID-1
volume with one spare HDD).

• Currently, synchronization does not perform real-time updating. It
is stronlgly recommended that you exit LSI Logic Configuration
Utility after IM configuration is complete.

• The SAF-TE feature, which enables the HDD fault indicator during
RAID rebuild or initialization is supported at the driver level on
Windows platforms only. Other operating systems, including Red
Hat Linux, Netware, Openserver, and UnixWare do not support the
SAF-TE feature.

• Since the IM utilizes the onboard LSI 53C 1020 SCSI controller only,
there is no cache on the controller itself.

v

vi

Important safety instructions

Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference.

1 Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

2 Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use

liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

3 Do not use this product near water.

4 Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The product

may fall, causing serious damage to the product.

5 Slots and openings on the back or bottom side of the chassis are provided

for ventilation; to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect
it from overheating, these openings must not be blocked or covered. The
openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa,
rug, or other similar surface. This product should never be placed near or
over a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation unless proper
ventilation is provided.

6 This product should be operated from the type of power indicated on the

marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult
your dealer or local power company.

7 Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this

product where persons will walk on the cord.

8 If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total

ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not
exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total
rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the fuse
rating.

9 Never push objects of any kind into this product through chassis slots as

they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could
result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the
product.

10 Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing

covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all
servicing to qualified service personnel.

11 Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified

service personnel under the following conditions:

a When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed

b If liquid has been spilled into the product

c If the product has been exposed to rain or water

d If the product does not operate normally when the operating

instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are covered
by the operating instructions since improper adjustment of other
controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work
by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition.

e If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged

f If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a

need for service.

12 Replace the battery with the same type as the product's battery we

recommend. Use of another battery may present a risk of fire or explosion.
Refer battery replacement to a qualified service technician.

13 Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly. Do not

disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep them away from children and
dispose of used batteries promptly.

14 Use only the proper type of power supply cord set (provided in your

accessories box) for this unit. It should be a detachable type: UL listed/CSA
certified, type SPT-2, rated 7A 125V minimum, VDE approved or its
equivalent. Maximum length is 15 feet (4.6 meters).

vii

viii

Notices iii

FCC notice iii
Laser compliance statement iv
Limitations of LSI IM iv

Important safety instructions vi

1 System tour 1

Features summary 3
External and internal structure 4

Front bezel 4
Front panel 6
Rear panel 9
Internal components 12

System boards 14

Mainboard layout 14
Hot Plug HDD Cage backplane board layout 18

2 System setup 19

Setting up the system 21

Preinstallation requirements 21

Connecting peripherals 22

To connect the PS/2 keyboard 22
To connect the PS/2 mouse 23
To connect the VGA monitor 24
To connect a printer 25
To connect the power cable 26

Turning on the system 27

Power-on problems 28
Operating system configuration 29
Network connection 30
Tower-to-rack option 31
Turning off the system 32

Contents

3 Upgrading the system 33

Upgrading the system 35

Installation precautions 36
Opening the server 38

Before opening the server 39

To open the front bezel 40

To remove the front bezel 41

To remove the inner (front) panel 42

To remove the side panel 43
To remove the air baffle 44

Configuring the Hot Plug HDD cage 45

To remove the Hot Plug HDD cage 46
To install a hard disk into the Hot Plug HDD cage
hard disk carrier 48
To install the Hot Plug HDD cage 50

Configuring the non-Hot Plug HDD cable cage 52

To remove the HDD cable cage 53
To install a hard disk into the HDD cable cage 54
To install the SCSI cable cage 56

Installing and removing storage devices 58

To replace the 3.5-inch floppy drive 59
To install a 5.25-inch storage device 62

Upgrading the CPU 64

To remove a CPU with heatsink 65
Processor Sequence 67
To install a CPU with heatsink 68

Upgrading the system memory 70

To remove a DIMM 71
To install a DIMM 72

Installing an expansion card 73

To install an expansion card 74

Installing a redundant power supply module 76

To install a redundant power supply module 77

4 BIOS setup 79

BIOS setup 82
Entering BIOS setup 83
Main 85
Advanced 87

Super I/O Configuration 88
IDE Configuration 89
Floppy Configuration 93
PCI/PnP Configuration 94
Boot Settings Configuration 96
Event Log Configuration 98

Onboard Devices Configuration 101
Power 102
Boot 104

Boot Device Priority 104

Hard Disk Drives 106

Removable Devices 107

ATAPI CD-ROM Devices 108

Security 109

To set a Supervisor/User password 110
To change the Supervisor/User password 110
To remove the User password 110

Exit 111

Appendix A: ASM Quick Installation Guide 113

Installing ASM 115

System requirements 115
System setup 115

Appendix B: Altos G510 Rack Installation Guide 117

System rack installation 119
Screw types for rack installation 121
Installing the system into the rack 122

Appendix C: Onboard SCSI Integrated Mirroring 133

LSI Integrated Mirroring Setting 135

Windows 2000 Environment 136
Red Hat Linux 7.3/8.0 Environment 139

Index 141

1 System tour

The Acer Altos G510 series server is a
powerful dual-processor system loaded with
a host of new and innovative features. The
system offers a new standard for flexible
productivity ideal for general business
applications, email, web service, file
clustering and print services.

Features summary

Highlighted below are the system’s key features:

®

• Single or dual Intel

• ServerWorks GC-SL core logic chipset consisting of three distinct
components:

• CMIC SL - north/host bridge

• CSB5 - south bridge

• CIOB-X2 - I/O bridge

• Onboard Broadcom BCM5702 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet
controller

®

• LSI

• Six PCI bus slots with three separate bus segments

• ATI Rage XL chipset with 8 MB SDRAM of video memory

• Four DIMM sockets supporting ECC 266 MHz DDR modules for a

• Media storage

• Additional media storage capacity

• External ports

53C 1020 single Channel SCSI controller chipset

• SCSI Channel - one 68-pin Ultra320/m SCSI connector

• Two 64-bit/100 MHz PCI-X bus slots

• Two 64-bit/66 MHz PCI bus slot

• Two 32-bit/33 MHz PCI bus slot

maximum memory capacity of 4 GB

• 3.5-inch, 1.44 MB floppy drive

• IDE CD-ROM drive

• Altos G510 - one Hot Plug HDD cages (6 hard disk capacity)

• Altos G510 Basic - one SCSI cable cage

• PS/2-compatible keyboard and
mouse port

• Two USB ports • Parallel/printer port

• VGA/monitor port • One LAN port

XeonTM processor

• Serial port

3

• Power supply unit (PSU)

• Altos G510 - 450-watts redundant power supply (with power
distribution board)

• Altos G510 Basic - 450-watts standard power supply

4

External and internal structure

Front bezel

Note: One pair of system keys are provided (attached to the rear
panel of the system).

1 System tour

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all front bezel features
indicated on the table below apply to both the Altos G510 and
Altos G510 Basic models.

No. Description

1 Power indicator

2 Hard disk activity indicator

3 System fault indicator

4 Hard disk fault indicator (for Altos G510 model only)

5 Security keylock

6 Front bezel

5

6

Front panel

1 System tour

Altos G510 model

Altos G510 Basic model

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all front panel features
indicated on the table below apply to both the Altos G510 and
Altos G510 Basic models.

No. Description

1 CD-ROM drive Stop/Eject button

2 CD-ROM drive activity indicator

3CD-ROM drive

4 Volume control

5 CD-ROM drive Headphone/Earphone port

6 5.25-inch half-height bay

7 Altos G510 - Hot Plug HDD cage

Altos G510 Basic - non-Hot Plug HDD cable cage

8 HDD carrier (for Hot Plug HDD Cage only)

9 Floppy drive Eject button

7

10 Floppy drive

11 Floppy drive activity indicator

12 Power button

13 Reset button

14 Power indicator

15 Hard disk activity indicator

16 System fault indicator

17 Hard disk fault indicator (for Altos G510 model only)

8

No. Description

1 System tour

18

19

1 This indicator lights up green to indicate HDD power on and lights up in red when a

HDD fault occurs.

2 This indicator lights up green to indicate drive access.

Hot Plug HDD power indicator

Hot Plug HDD access indicator

1

(for Hot Plug HDD cage only)

2

(for Hot Plug HDD cage only)

Note: During Rebuild, lights flash alternately red and green.

Note: Feature 17 only operates when the Hot Plug HDD cage is

installed and RAID configured.

Rear panel

9

Altos G510 model

Altos G510 Basic model

10

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all rear panel features
indicated on the table below apply to both the Altos G510 and
Altos G510 Basic models.

No. Icon Description

1 Altos G510 model - Main power supply unit

Altos G510 Basic model - Standard 450-watts PSU

2 PS/2 keyboard port

3 PS/2 mouse port

4 USB ports

1 System tour

5

RDM LAN port (10 Mbps)

1

This port is not accessible on Altos G510 and G510
Basic models.

6 Serial port

7 Parallel/printer port

8 VGA/monitor port

9 Gigabit LAN port (10/100/1000 Mbps)

10 Expansion slots

11

Main power supply indicator

2

(for Altos G510 model only)

12

Main power supply fail indicator

3

(for Altos G510 model only)

13

Main power supply AC power indicator
(for Altos G510 model only)

14 Main power supply cable socket

4

11

No. Icon Description

15 Rear system fan

16 Ventilation slots

1 N/A on Altos G510 or G510 Basic model. Reserved for future models.
2 This indicator will light up green when the power supply module is functioning properly.
3 This indicator will light up amber when the power supply module or any PSU internal fan

fails.

4 This indicator will light up green when the input voltage is within the AC input voltage

range.

12

Internal components

Altos G510 model

1 System tour

Altos G510 Basic model

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all internal components
indicated on the table below apply to both the Altos G510 and
Altos G510 Basic models.

No. Description

13

1 Altos G510 model - Power supply module bay for redundant

1

PSU
Altos G510 Basic model - Standard 450-watts PSU

2 Rear system fan

3 Rear system fan release latch

4 PCI bus slot

5 Mainboard

6 Air baffle

7 Power distribution board (for Altos G510 model only)

8 Hot-swap HDD SAF-TE board (for Altos G510 model only)

9 Hot-swap HDD backplane board (for Altos G510 model only)

1 Though the system supports two hot-swappable power supply module bays, the

system comes bundled with a single power supply module only. You have the op­tion to purchase an extra power supply module to provide the system with redun­dant power source.

14

1 System tour

System boards

Mainboard layout

The mainboard becomes accessible once you open the system. It
should look like the figure shown below

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all mainboard features
indicated on the table below apply to both the Altos G510 and
Altos G510 Basic models.

Item Description

BT1 Battery

BZ1 Buzzer

CN1 +12V power connector

CN2 ATX power connector

CN3 USB ports

CN4 VGA/monitor port

COM1 Serial port

CPU1 and CPU2 CPU sockets

DM1 - DM4 DIMM slots

15

J2 Front panel connector

J3 Floppy disk drive connector

J4 Primary IDE connector

J5 Secondary IDE connector

J7 Chassis intrusion connector

J9 BMC daughter board connector

J10 MLB Jumper

1-2 Password Enable (Default Setting: Off)
3-4 Clear NVRAM (Default Setting: Off)
5-6 Recovery Mode (Default Setting: Off)

J13 Wake on LAN connector

J14 SCSI RAID card HDD LED connector

16

Item Description

JF1 CPU 1 fan connector

JF4 Front fan connector

JF5 CPU 2 fan connector

JF8 Rear system fan connector

JP2 Power supply mangement cable connector

(connected to PDB board)

JP8 IPMB connector

JP9 SCSI HDD management cable connector

(conneted to Hot Plug HDD cage backplane board)

JP10 Connector for Remote Management Card (RMC)

J15 Power On/Off connector for RMC

J16 Reset Connector for RMC

1 System tour

KM1 Upper: PS/2 mouse port

LAN1 Gigabit LAN port (10/100/1000 Mbps)

LTP1 Parallel/printer port

SLOT1 64-bit/66 MHz PCI bus slot (Zero Channel RAID compli-

SLOT2 64-bit/66 MHz PCI bus slot (White)

SLOT3 and SLOT4 64-bit/100 MHz PCI-X bus slots (Blue)

SLOT5 and SLOT6 32-bit/33 MHz PCI bus slot (5V Support) (White)

SCSI1 SCSI connector

U4 ServerWorks CMIC-SL chipset (north bridge)

U12 System clock

U18 BCM5702 Gigabit LAN chipset

Lower: PS/2 keyboard port

ant) (Green)

Item Description

U19 LSI 53C1020 SCSI Chipset

U27 ServerWorks CIOBx2 chipsets (I/O bridge)

U34 ATI Rage XL VGA chipset

U45 ServerWorks CSB5 chipset (south bridge)

U46 Flash BIOS

U48 PC87414 SIO - Super I/O chipset

U49 Video RAM

USB1 USB connector

VRM9.1 Onboard VRMs (Voltage Regulator Module)

17

18

1 System tour

Hot Plug HDD Cage backplane board layout

Note: The Hot Plug HDD cage board feature is only applicable to
the Altos G510 model.

Label Description

1 122-pin SAF-TE connector

2 80-pin SCSI HDD connector

3 68-pin SCSI HDD connector

4

5 Power connector

SCSI HDD management cable connector (I

2

C bus)

2 System setup

This chapter gives you instructions on how to set
up the system. Procedures on how to connect
peripherals are also explained.

Setting up the system

Preinstallation requirements

Selecting a site

Before unpacking and installing the system, select a suitable site for
the system for maximum efficiency. Consider the following factors
when choosing a site for the system:

• Near a grounded power outlet

• Clean and dust-free

• Stable surface free from vibration

• Well-ventilated and away from sources of heat

• Secluded from electromagnetic fields produced by electrical
devices such as air conditioners, radio and TV transmitters, etc.

Checking the package contents

Check the following items from the package:

• Acer Altos G510 series system

• Acer Altos G510 series User’s guide

TM

• Acer EasyBUILD

• Acer Altos G510 series Accessory box

• System keys (attached to the rear panel of the system)

21

If any of the above items are damaged or missing, contact your dealer
immediately.

Save the boxes and packing materials for future use.

22

2 System setup

Connecting peripherals

The system unit, keyboard, mouse, and monitor constitute the basic
system. Before connecting any other peripherals, connect these basic
peripherals first to test if the system is running properly. Instructions
on how to connect a printer is also described here, refer to page 25.

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all illustrations shown in this
section show the Altos G510 server chassis.

To connect the PS/2 keyboard

Plug the keyboard cable into the PS/2 keyboard port (purple
port) located on the rear panel of the server.

To connect the PS/2 mouse

Plug the PS/2 mouse cable into the PS/2 mouse port (green port)
located on the rear panel of the server.

23

24

2 System setup

To connect the VGA monitor

To connect the VGA monitor, simply plug the monitor cable into the

VGA/monitor port (blue port) located on the rear panel of the
server.

To connect a printer

The system supports both parallel and serial printers.

To connect a parallel printer, plug the printer cable into the parallel/

printer port (burgundy port) located on the rear panel of the
server.

25

Note: If you are using a USB printer, connect the printer cable
into the USB port located on the server’s rear panel.

26

2 System setup

To connect the power cable

Plug the power cable into the power cable socket located on the rear
panel of the server. Then plug the other end of the power cable into a
power outlet. The figure below shows a complete connection of the
whole system.

Altos G510 model

Altos G510 Basic model

Turning on the system

After making sure that you have properly set up the system and
connected all the required cables, you can now power on the system.

To power on the system, press the power button on the front panel.
The system starts up and displays a welcome message. After that, a
series of power-on self-test (POST) messages appears. The POST
messages indicate if the system is running well or not.

Note: The illustration below shows the Altos G510 server chassis.

27

Note: If the system does not turn on or boot after pressing the
power button, go to the next section for the possible causes of the
boot failure.

Aside from the POST messages, you can determine if the system is in
good condition by checking if the following occurred:

• Power indicator on the front panel lights up (green)

• Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock indicators on the keyboard
light up

28

2 System setup

Power-on problems

If the system does not boot after you have applied power, check the
following factors that might have caused the boot failure.

• The external power cable may be loosely connected.

Check the power cable connection from the power source to the
power cable socket on the rear panel. Make sure that the cable is
properly connected to the power source and to the power cable
socket.

• No power comes from the grounded power outlet.

Have an electrician check your power outlet.

• Loose or improperly connected internal power cables.

Check the internal cable connections. If you are not confident to
perform this step, ask a qualified technician to assist you.

Warning! Make sure all power cords are disconnected from
the electrical outlet before performing this task.

Note: If you have gone through the preceding actions and the

system still fails to boot, ask your dealer or a qualified technician
for assistance.

Operating system configuration

29

The Acer Altos G510 series server comes with Acer EasyBUILD

TM

that
allows you to conveniently install your choice of operating system. To
start using EasyBUILD, follow the steps below.

1 Locate the EasyBUILD System CD included in the system package.

2 With your system turn on, gently press the CD-ROM drive Stop/

Eject button.

3 When the disc tray slides open, insert the EasyBUILD System CD

with the label or title side of the disc facing upward.

Note: When handling the disc, hold it by the edges to avoid
smudges or fingerprints.

4 Gently press the disc down to make sure that it is properly

inserted.

Caution! While pressing the disc, be careful not to bend the disc
tray. Make sure that the disc is properly inserted before closing
the disc tray. Improper insertion may damage both the disc and
the CD-ROM drive.

5 Gently press the drive Stop/Eject button again to close the disc

tray.

6 The Acer EasyBUILD sequence begins. Follow all onscreen

instructions.

For more information, refer to the EasyBUILD

TM

Installation guide.

30

2 System setup

Network connection

The server has one 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Etherned LAN port
located on the rear panel for fast network connection.

To connect to the network, simply plug the network cable into the

Gigabit LAN port (gray port).

Note: The illustration below shows the Altos G510 server chassis.

Note: Consult the operating system manual for information on

how to configure the network setup.

31

Tower-to-rack option

Aside from its tower configuration, the Acer Altos G510 series server
can also be mounted in a rack-model position. A rack mount kit is
available for customers who want to convert a tower-mounted system
to rack-model design. To purchase a rack mount kit, contact your local
Acer representative.

The figure below shows the server in a rack-mount position.

Note: The illustration below shows the Altos G510 server chassis.
Rack Mount instructions are provided as an appendix to this
manual.

32

2 System setup

Turning off the system

To turn off the server, on the Windows taskbar click on the Start
button, point to Shut Down..., select Shut down from the
drop-down window then click on OK. You can then turn off all
peripherals connected to your server.

If you are unable to shutdown the server within Windows, press and
hold the power button for at least four seconds to force quit all
applications and shut down.

3 Upgrading

the

system

This chapter discusses the precautionary
measures and installation procedures you
need to know when upgrading the system.

Upgrading the system

Certain components of the server are upgradeable such as the drives,
the CPU, the memory, and the expansion cards. However, for safety
purposes, we do not recommend that you perform these upgrades
yourself. If you want to replace or upgrade any of these components,
contact your dealer or a qualified service technician for assistance.

Important: Observe the installation precautions described in the
subsequent section when installing or removing a server
component.

35

36

3 Upgrading the system

Installation precautions

Before you install any server component, we recommend that you read
the following sections. These sections contain important ESD
precautions along with preinstallation and post-installation
instructions.

ESD precautions

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage the processors, motherboard,
disk drives, expansion boards, or other components. Always observe
the following precautions before you install a server component:

1 Do not remove a component from its protective packaging until

you are ready to install it.

2 Wear a wrist grounding strap and attach it to a metal part of the

server before handling components. If a wrist strap is not
available, maintain contact with the server throughout any
procedure requiring ESD protection.

Preinstallation instructions

Always observe the following before you install any component:

1 Turn off the system and all the peripherals connected to it.

2 Unplug all cables from the power outlets.

3 Open the system according to the instructions on page 38.

4 Follow the ESD precautions described in this section when

handling a server component.

5 Remove any expansion board(s) or peripheral(s) that block access

to the DIMM socket or other component connector.

See the following sections for specific installation instructions on the
component you want to install.

Warning! Failure to properly turn off the server before you
start installing components may cause serious damage. Do
not attempt the procedures described in the following
sections unless you are a qualified service technician.

Post-installation instructions

Observe the following after installing a server component:

1 See to it that all components are installed according to the

described step-by-step instructions.

2 Reinstall any expansion board(s) or peripheral(s) that you have

previously removed.

3 Reinstall the air baffle.

4 Reinstall the chassis panels.

5 Connect the necessary cables.

6 Turn on the system.

37

38

3 Upgrading the system

Opening the server

Caution! Before you proceed, make sure that you have turned
off your system and all peripherals connected to it. Read the
“Preinstallation instructions” on page 36.

You need to open the server before you can install additional
components. The front bezel and left side panel are removable to
allow access to the system’s internal components. Refer to the
following sections for instructions.

Before opening the server

Before opening the server, observe the following precautions:

1 Turn off the system and all the peripherals connected to it.

2 Unplug all cables from the power outlets.

3 Place the system unit on a flat, stable surface.

Note: The illustrations used in this section show the Altos G510
server chassis.

39

40

3 Upgrading the system

To open the front bezel

A security lock secures the front bezel to protect your system unit
against unauthorized access.

To open the front bezel:

1 Insert the key into the lock and turn it clockwise until it points to

the unlocked icon .

2 Open the front bezel.

To remove the front bezel

The front bezel is attached to the chassis by screwless hinges.

To remove the front bezel:

1 Unlock the door with the key (when necessary).

2 Open it to more than a 45° angle.

3 Lift it up a little (1), then move it away from the chassis (2).

41

42

3 Upgrading the system

To remove the inner (front) panel

The inner front panel is attached to the chassis by thumb latches at the
top and screwless hinges at the bottom.

To remove the inner front panel:

1 Simultaneously slide the two thumb catches at the top to release

the latches.

2 Open the panel 90 degrees, until it is perpendicular to the chassis.

3 Gently pull it away from the chassis.

To remove the side panel

The side panel is attached to the server by three (non-removeable)
thumbscrews.

To remove the side panel:

1 Loosen the three thumbscrews located at the end of the left panel

closest to the front panel (1).

2 Slide the left panel slightly forward (2), then upward (3) before

detaching it from the chassis (4).

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3 Upgrading the system

To remove the air baffle

Remove the air baffle to allow easy access to the motherboard and
system components.

Follow the steps below to remove the air baffle:

1 Press the release latches on both ends of the air baffle.

2 Pull out the air baffle to remove it from the chassis.

Caution! After completing the component upgrade/replacement
procedures, do not forget to reinstall the air baffle before
replacing the chassis panels. Failure to do so will reduce the
system’s cooling efficiency which can adversely affect performance
or cause damage due to overheating.

Configuring the Hot Plug HDD cage

This section includes instructions for removing and installing the
Hot Plug HDD cage as well as procedures on how to install a hard disk
into the cage’s hard disk carrier.

Note: The Hot Plug HDD cage feature is only applicable to the
Altos G510 model.

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3 Upgrading the system

To remove the Hot Plug HDD cage

Important: Before detaching the Hot Plug HDD cage from the
chassis, make sure to first remove all hard disks from their carriers.
For instructions, refer to the succeeding section.

1 Remove the front bezel, inner front panel, side panel and air

baffle. Refer to the previous section for detailed intructions.

2 Disconnect the following cables from the cage:

a SCSI cable

b SCSI HDD 6 pin management cable

c SCSI HDD power cable

3 Loosen the four thumbscrews that secure the Hot Plug HDD cage

to the chassis (1).

4 Pull the cage from the chassis (2).

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3 Upgrading the system

To install a hard disk into the Hot Plug HDD cage hard disk carrier

Note: You need not remove the Hot Plut HDD cage from the
chassis to install a hard disk into the cage’s hard disk carrier.

1 Press your finger to the SCSI HDD release lever (1), then pull out

the hard disk carrier from the cage (2).

2 Remove the four screws to open the hard disk carrier. Keep the

screws for later use.

3 When applicable, pull out any previously installed hard disk.

4 Install a hard disk in the hard disk carrier then secure it with the

four screws you removed earlier.

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5 Insert the hard disk carrier into the cage with the lever still

extended.

6 Push the lever back until it clicks into place. Make sure that the

drive is properly inserted before closing the lever.

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3 Upgrading the system

To install the Hot Plug HDD cage

1 Detach the chassis panels and remove the air baffle.

2 Connect the following cables to the SCSI backplane board:

a SCSI cable

b SCSI HDD 6 pin management cable

c SCSI HDD power cable

3 Insert the Hot Plug HDD cage into the housing (1), then tighten

the four thumbscrews to secure it to the chassis (2).

4 Attach the other end of these cables to the corresponding

connectors on the mainboard.

Refer to “Mainboard layout” on page 14 for the location of the
connectors.

5 Reinstall the air baffle and the chassis panels.

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3 Upgrading the system

Configuring the non-Hot Plug HDD cable cage

This section includes instructions for removing and installing the HDD
cable cage as well as procedures on how to install a hard disk into the
cage.

Note: The HDD cable cage feature is only applicable to the Altos
G510 Basic model.

To remove the HDD cable cage

1 Turn off the system and all the peripherals connected to it.

2 Unplug all cables from the power outlets.

3 Place the system on a flat, stable surface.

4 Remove the front bezel, inner front panel, side panel, and air

baffle.

5 Disconnect the SCSI cable and the SCSI HDD power cable from the

hard disk drive.

6 Loosen the four thumbscrews that secure the non-Hot Plug cable

cage to the chassis (1).

53

7 Slightly pull out the cage from the chassis (2).

8 Remove the HDD cable cage from the chassis.

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3 Upgrading the system

To install a hard disk into the HDD cable cage

1 Remove the HDD cable cage from the chassis. Refer to the

instructions in the preceding section.

2 Remove the four screws that secure a previously installed hard disk

to the cage then pull it out.

3 Install a new hard disk into the cage then secure it with the four

screws you removed in the previous step.

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4 Reinstall the HDD cable cage to the chassis. Refer to the

instructions in the subsequent section.

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3 Upgrading the system

To install the SCSI cable cage

1 Turn off the system and all the peripherals connected to it.

2 Unplug all cables from the power outlets.

3 Place the system unit on a flat, stable surface.

4 Remove the front bezel, inner front panel, side panel, and air

baffle.

5 Insert the HDD cable cage into the housing (1), then tighten the

four thumbscrews to secure it to the chassis (2).

6 Connect the SCSI cable and the SCSI HDD power cable to the hard

disk drive.

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7 Reinstall the air baffle and the chassis panels.

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3 Upgrading the system

Installing and removing storage devices

The system supports one 3.5-inch and two 5.25-inch internal storage
devices. The system comes pre-installed with a floppy drive and a CD­ROM drive. The empty 5.25-inch half-height bay allows you to install
additional drives such as another CD-ROM drive or a tape drive.

To replace the 3.5-inch floppy drive

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures

described on page 36.

2 Disconnect the IDE and floppy drive cables from the old drive.

3 Press the release bracket on both sides of the drive carrier (1)

before pulling it out from the chassis (2).

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3 Upgrading the system

4 Remove the four screws that hold the old drive to the drive carrier

then pull it out.

5 Install a new 3.5-inch drive in the drive carrier then secure it with

the four screws you removed in the previous step.

6 Insert the drive carrier with the newly-installed floppy drive into

the drive bay.

7 Connect the floppy drive and 4-pin power cables to the new drive.

8 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 37.

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3 Upgrading the system

To install a 5.25-inch storage device

Note: If you are installing a new drive in an empty drive bay, skip
steps 2 to 4.

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures

described on page 36.

2 Disconnect the power and IDE cables from the old drive.

3 Loosen and remove the two screws from each side of the CD-ROM

drive (1) before pulling it from the chassis (2).

4 Insert the CD-ROM drive into the drive bay and secure it with the

screws you removed in the previous step.

5 Connect the power and IDE cables to the new drive.

6 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 37.

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3 Upgrading the system

Upgrading the CPU

This section includes instructions for removing and installing a CPU.

65

To remove a CPU with heatsink

Before installing a new CPU in a socket, remove first any previously
installed CPU from that socket.

Important: Before removing a CPU from the mainboard, make
sure to create a backup file of all important data.

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures

described on page 36.

2 Locate the CPU socket on the mainboard.

3 To remove the CPU and Heatsink assembly, follow the steps below:

(1) Depress then lift up each of the locking levers to a 90° angle.

(2) Remove the heatsink.

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3 Upgrading the system

4 Follow the steps below to unlock and remove the CPU.

(1) Lift the CPU locking lever until it is fully extended.

(2) Gently unseat and pull the CPU from the socket.

Warning! The heatsink becomes very hot when the system
is on. NEVER touch the heatsink with any metal or with
your hands.

Processor Sequence

If only one CPU is to be installed, it must be installed in the CPU 1
socket; if such is the case, the CPU 2 socket no longer requires a
termination module. When installing multiple processors, install them
in the order shown below.

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3 Upgrading the system

To install a CPU with heatsink

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures

described on page 36.

2 Locate the CPU socket on the mainboard.

3 Align the CPU to its socket, making sure that pin 1 (indicated by

the notched corner) of the CPU connects to hole 1 of the socket
(on the bottom right corner).

4 To install the CPU to its socket, follow the steps below:

(1) Insert the CPU into the socket.

(2) Lower the CPU locking lever to secure the processor.

After locking the CPU in place, follow the two remaining steps to
replace the heatsink and fan.

(1) Replace the heatsink on top of the CPU.

(2) Press down the locking levers to lock the heatsink and CPU in
place.

Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 37.

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3 Upgrading the system

Upgrading the system memory

This section includes instructions for removing and installing a
memory module.

To re m ove a DIMM

Before installing a new DIMM in a socket, remove first any previously
installed DIMM from that socket.

Important: Before removing any DIMM from the mainboard,
make sure to create a backup file of all important data.

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures

described on page 36.

2 Locate the DIMM socket on the mainboard.

3 Press the holding clips on both sides of the socket outward to

release the DIMM (1).

4 Gently pull the DIMM upward to remove it from the socket (2).

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Note: Place your forefingers on the top of the DIMM before
pressing the holding clips to gently disengage the DIMM from the
socket.

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3 Upgrading the system

To install a DIMM

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures

described on page 36.

2 Locate the DIMM socket on the mainboard.

3 Open the clips on the socket.

4 Align then insert the DIMM into the socket (1).

5 Press the holding clips inward to lock the DIMM in place (2).

DIMMs must be installted in the following order: DM1. DM2, DM3 and DM4

Note: The DIMM socket is slotted to ensure proper installation.
If you insert a DIMM but it does not fit easily into the socket, you
may have inserted it incorrectly. Reverse the orientation of the
DIMM and insert it again.

6 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 37.

Reconfiguring the system memory

The system automatically detects the amount of memory installed.
Run the BIOS setup to view the new value for total system memory and
make a note of it.

Installing an expansion card

This section explains how to install an expansion card. The onboard
expansion slots support PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
cards.

Note: The BIOS setup automatically detects and assigns resources
to the new device (applicable only to Plug-and-Play expansion
cards).

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3 Upgrading the system

To install an expansion card

Note: The illustrations used in this section show the Altos G510
server chassis.

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures

described on page 36.

2 Locate an empty expansion slot on the mainboard.

3 Loosen the bracket screw on the rear panel.(1).

4 Pull out the card bracket (2).

5 Remove the expansion card from its protective packaging.

6 Align the card in the empty slot on the mainboard. Make sure that

the card is properly seated.

7 Insert the bracket with the card into the selected slot (1).

8 Secure the card with the bracket screw removed in step 3 above

(2).

9 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 37.

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3 Upgrading the system

Installing a redundant power supply module

The Altos G510 server power subsystem consists of two hot-swappable
power supply module bays that accept standard 450-watts power
supply modules. The system comes bundled with only a single power
supply module leaving one power supply module bay empty. You have
the option to purchase an extra power supply module to provide your
system with redundant power source. This power configuration
enables a fully-configured system to continue running even if one
power supply module fails.

Note: The redundant power source feature is only applicable to
the Altos G510 model.

WARNING! To reduce the risk of personal injury or
damage to the equipment, the installation of power
supply modules should be referred to individuals who are
qualified to service server systems and are trained to deal
with equipment capable of generating hazardous energy
levels.

WARNING! To reduce the risk of personal injury from
hot surfaces, observe the thermal labels on each power
supply module. You can also consider wearing protective
gloves.

WARNING! To reduce the risk of personal injury from
electric shock hazards, do not open the power supply
modules. There are no serviceable parts inside the
module.

Caution! Electrostatic discharge can damage electronic
components. Make sure that you are properly grounded
before handling a power supply module.

77

To install a redundant power supply module

1 Remove the screw securing the cover of the empty optional power

supply module bay, then remove the cover.

2 Slide the redundant power supply module into the empty bay until

you feel resistance.

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3 Upgrading the system

3 Press the module handle to secure the power supply module to the

bay.

4 Verify that the power indicators on both the main power supply

and on the newly installed redundant power supply are
illuminated (green).

4 BIOS setup

This chapter gives information about the
system BIOS and discusses how to configure
the system by changing the settings of the
BIOS parameters.

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BIOS setup

BIOS setup is a hardware configuration program built into your
system's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). Since most systems are
already properly configured and optimized, there is no need to run this
utility. You will need to run this utility under the following conditions:

• When changing the system configuration

• When a configuration error is detected by the system and you are
prompted ("Run Setup" message) to make changes to the BIOS
setup

Note: If you repeatedly receive Run Setup messages, the battery

may be bad. In this case, the system cannot retain configuration
values in CMOS. Ask a qualified technician for assistance.

• When redefining the communication ports to prevent any conflicts

• When making changes to the Power Management configuration

• When changing the password or making other changes to the
security setup

BIOS setup loads the configuration values in a battery-backed
nonvolatile memory called CMOS RAM. This memory area is not part
of the system RAM which allows configuration data to be retained
when power is turned off.

Before you run BIOS setup, make sure that you have saved all open
files. The system reboots immediately after you close the setup.

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4 BIOS setup

Entering BIOS setup

Power on the server to start the system POST (Power On Self Test)
process. During bootup, press Ctrl-Alt-Esc to enter the BIOS setup
screen.

Note: You must press Ctrl-Alt-Esc while the system is booting.
This key combination does not work during any other time.

There are several tabs on the setup screen corresponding to the six
major BIOS menus:

•Main

•Advanced

•Power

• Boot

•Security

• Exit

The parameters on the screens shown in this User’s guide display
default system values. These values may not be the same as those in
your system.

Note the following reminders when moving around the setup screen:

•Use the Left and Right arrow keys to move to the next page or to
return to the previous screen.

• Use the Up and Down arrow keys to select an item.

• Use the + and - keys to select an option.

Note: You can configure a parameter that is enclosed in square

brackets. Grayed-out items have fixed settings and are not
user-configurable.

• Use the Ta b key to select a field.

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• Use the Enter key to display a submenu screen.

Note: When a parameter is preceded by a (>), it means that a

submenu screen is available.

• Press F1 for General Help on using the BIOS setup.

• Press F10 to save changes and close the BIOS setup.

• Press Esc to close the BIOS setup.

In the descriptive table following each of the screen illustrations,
settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.

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4 BIOS setup

Main

The Main menu displays basic and important information about the
system. These information is necessary for troubleshooting and may
be required when asking for technical support.

The last two parameters on the screen lets you define the system’s time
and date settings. The real-time clock keeps the system date and time.
After setting the date and time, you do not need to enter them every
time you turn on the system. As long as the internal battery remains
good and connected, the clock continues to keep the date and time
accurately even when the power is off.

BIOS SETUP UTILITY

Main Advanced Power Boot Security Exit

AMIBIOS Version
BIOS Build Date
BIOS ID

:
:
:

07.00.xx
08/09/02
S531A01

System Time

System Date

[14:21:40]
[Wed 08/09/2002]

> System Information
> Product Information

V02.03 ©Copyright 1985-2000, American Megatrends Inc.

ЧШ
ХЦ

+ - Change Option
Tab Select Field
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit

Select Screen
Select Item

Parameter Description

AMIBIOS Version Version of the BIOS setup

BIOS Build Date Date when the BIOS setup was created

BIOS ID ID number of the BIOS setup

Parameter Description

85

System Time Sets the time following the hour-minute-second

System Date Sets the date following the weekday-month-day-

format. Valid values for hour, minute, and second
are:

Hour: 00 to 23
Minute: 00 to 59
Second: 00 to 59

year format. Valid values for weekday, month, day,
and year are:

Weekday: Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
Month: 1to 12.
Day: 1 to 31
Year: 1980 to 2079

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4 BIOS setup

Advanced

The Advanced menu contains parameter values that define how the
system behaves on startup.

Warning! Be cautious in setting parameter values in the

Advanced menu as any incorrect value may cause the
system to malfunction.

Press Enter to enter the submenu screen of the parameters shown in
the screen below.

BIOS SETUP UTILITY

Main Advanced Power Boot Security Exit

Setup Warning

Setting items on this screen to incorrect values
may cause the system to malfunction!

> SuperIO Configuration

> IDE Configuration
> Floppy Configuration
> PCIPnP Configuration
> Boot Settings Configuration
> Event Log Configuration
> OnBoard Devices Configuration
> Remote Access Configuration

V02.03 ©Copyright 1985-2000, American Megatrends Inc.

Configure SuperIO
Chipset Nat414

Select Screen

ЧШ

Select Item

ХЦ

Enter Go to Sub Screen
F1 General Help
F10 Save and Exit
ESC Exit

Super I/O Configuration

The Super I/O Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter
settings for the system’s parallel and serial ports.

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Parameter Description

Serial Port 1
(Address/IRQ)

Parallel Port
Address

Parallel Port
IRQ

Parallel Port
Mode

Serial port 1 address and IRQ (interrupt request) setting

Sets a logical base address for the parallel port

Assigns an IRQ for the parallel port.
If you install an add-on card that has a parallel port

whose address conflicts with the onboard parallel port, a
warning appears on the screen. Check the parallel port
address of the add-on card and change the address to
one that does not conflict.

Sets the operation mode for the parallel port

88

Parameter Description

4 BIOS setup

ECP Mode DMA
Channel

Assigns a DMA (Direct Memory Access) channel for the
ECP (Extended Capabilities Port) parallel port function.
This parameter is configurable only if you select ECP as
the operation mode.