Acer Altos G530 Series
User’s Guide
Copyright © 2005 Acer Incorporated
All Rights Reserved.
Acer Altos G530 Series
User’s Guide
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 correspondence 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.
Acer Altos G530 Series
Model Name :
Part 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 A equipment
This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
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. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is
likely to cause harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to
correct the interference at personal expense.
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: Shielded 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.
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 on the product
c If the product has been exposed to rain or water
v
vi
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).
Notices iii
FCC notice iii
Laser compliance statement iv
Important safety instructions v
1 System tour 1
Features summary 3
External and internal structure 6
Front bezel 6
Front panel 7
Rear panel 10
Internal components 13
System boards 14
Mainboard layout 14
Backplane board layout 19
2 System setup 23
Setting up the system 25
Pre-installation requirements 25
Connecting peripherals 26
Turning on the system 27
Power-on problems 29
Configuring the system OS 30
Server setup 31
Turning off the system 32
Contents
3 System upgrade 33
Installation precautions 35
ESD precautions 35
Pre-installation instructions 35
Post-installation instructions 36
Opening the server 37
Removing the left-side panel 37
Opening the bezel door 38
Removing the front bezel 38
Removing the HDD cage bay cover 39
Configuring the four-bay HDD cage 40
Installing the four-bay HDD cage 40
Removing the four-bay HDD cage 52
viii
Installing an additional hard disk into the
HDD cage carrier 53
Replacing the CD-ROM drive 55
Installing 5.25-inch drives 57
Upgrading the processor 59
Installing the CPU 59
Installing the HSF assembly 60
Removing the HSF assembly 61
Removing the CPU 63
Upgrading the system memory 64
Memory module installation guidelines 64
Removing a DIMM 67
Installing a DIMM 68
Installing an expansion card 70
Upgrading the power supply 72
Installing a redundant power supply module 72
Installing a non-redundant power supply module 75
4 BIOS setup 77
BIOS setup 79
Entering BIOS setup 80
Main 82
Advanced 84
Processor Configuration 85
IDE Configuration 88
Floppy Configuration 95
Super I/O Configuration 96
USB Configuration 97
PCI Configuration 99
Memory Configuration 101
Boot 103
Boot Settings Configuration 104
Boot Device Priority 106
Hard Disk Drives 107
Removable Drives 108
CD/DVD Drives 109
Security 110
Setting the Administrator/User password: 111
Server 113
System Management 114
Serial Console Features 115
Event Log Configuration 117
Exit 119
5 Troubleshooting 121
Resetting the system 123
Problems following initial system installation 124
First steps checklist 125
Hardware diagnostic testing 126
Verifying proper operation of key system lights 126
Confirming loading of the OS 127
Specific problems and corrective actions 127
BIOS error messages 132
POST error messages 137
POST beep codes 141
Troubleshooting BIOS beep codes 142
Appendix A: System management utility 143
ASM 146
System requirements 146
System setup 147
RAID configuration 149
SCSI RAID configuration utility 149
SATA RAID configuration utility 149
Appendix B: Acer Altos G530
rack installation guide 151
Setting up the system rack 153
System rack installation 155
Vertical mounting hole pattern 156
Installing the system into the rack 158
ix
Appendix C: SATA RAID configuration 167
Configuring the SATA RAID 169
Enabling the onboard SATA RAID function 169
Using the SATA RAID configuration utility 169
Creating a RAID 1 volume 170
Appendix D: SCSI RAID configuration 173
Configuring the SCSI/SCSI RAID HBA 175
Using the SCSI HBA setup utility 175
Using the SCSI RAID HBA setup utility 175
Using the MegaRAID configuration utility 176
x
Index 179
1 System tour
The Acer Altos G530 server is a powerful dualprocessor system loaded with a host of new
and innovative features. The system offers a
new standard for flexible productivity ideal for
multimedia processing, intensive graphics
applications, general business applications,
email, web service, file clustering and print
services.
Features summary
Listed below are the system’s key features:
Processor
• Single or Dual Intel® Xeon™ processors with 1MB or 2MB L2 cache
and 800 MHz front system bus
®
• Supports Intel
• Supports Intel
Chipset
• North bridge: Intel E7320 MCH (Memory Controller Hub)
• South bridge: Intel 6300ESB ICH I/O controller
Memory
• Supports up to four DIMM sockets for a maximum memory
capacity of 8 GB
• Supports 512 MB, 1GB and 2GB DDR2-400 registered ECC memory
modules
• Supports dual-channel memory bus
• Supports memory sparing technology
• Supports x4 SDDC (Single Device Data Correction)
Hyper-Threading Technology
®
EM64T (Extended Memory 64 technology)
3
Media storage
• Three 5.25-inch device bays supports:
• 3.5-inch, 1.44 MB floppy drive
• DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, DVD combo drive
• DAT72 tape drive
• AIT tape drive
• LTO half-height tape drive
4
1 System tour
Optional media storage
• Hot-plug HDD cage
• Supports up to four 80-pin Ultra320 SCSI hard disk drives
• Supports up to four SATA 150/300 hard disk drives
• Easy-swap HDD cage
• Supports up to four 68-pin SCSI hard disk drives
• Supports up to four SATA 150/300 hard disk drives
Note: The main difference between a hot-plug HDD cage and an
easy-swap HDD cage is the presence of a backplane board on the
rear side of the hot-plug HDD cage
.
SCSI controller
• Onboard SCSI: LSI® Logic 1020A Ultra320 SCSI controller
• Dual channel SCSI, SCSI RAID host bus adapter (optional)
SATA controller
• Onboard SATA: Intel 6300ESB ICH I/O controller supports dual
channel SATA 150 ports
• Eight channel SATA RAID host bus adapter (optional)
RAID
• Software RAID 0, 1 for onboard SATA ports
• Software RAID 1 for onboard SCSI port
Networking
• Intel 82541Pl Gigabit Ethernet controller
• Marvell Yukon 88E8050 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller
PCI I/O
• Five PCI bus slots with three separate bus segments:
• Two 32-bit/33 MHz PCI bus slots
• Two 64-bit/66 MHz PCI-X bus slots
• One x8 PCI Express bus slots (with x4 connectors)
Graphic interface
•ATI Rage® XL chipset with 8MB SDRAM
I/O ports
• Front panel
• Two USB 2.0 ports
•Rear panel
• PS/2 keyboard and mouse port
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• VGA/monitor port
• Serial port
• Two LAN ports (RJ-45)
Operating system and software
• Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003, X64 edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server (SP4)
•Novell
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0, EMT 64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0
•SCO Openserver
• SCO Unixware
•SUSE
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0 X86_64
• ASM (Acer Server Manager)
• EasyBUILD (includes SATA/SCSI RAID Configuration Utility)
®
NetWare® 6.5
™
5.0.7
®
7.1.4
®
Linux Enterprise Server 9.0
5
Power supply
• 600-watt single standard (non-redundant) power supply
• 610-watt (1+1) redundant power supply (optional)
6
External and internal structure
Front bezel
1 System tour
No. Component
1 Side panel release button
2 Security keylock
3 Front panel LED indicator
4 Bezel door
Front panel
No. Icon Component Description
7
1DVD/CD-ROM drive
Stop/Eject button
2DVD/CD-ROM drive
activity indicator
3 DVD/CD-ROM drive Disk drive for reading CD-ROMs.
4 Volume control Adjusts the volume of the CD drive.
5DVD/CD-ROM drive
6 5.25-inch drive bays Two empty 5.25-inch drive bays
7
Headphone/
Earphone port
Power indicator
1
Press this button to open the CD
drive tray.
When the LED indicator is lit, there
is activity in the CD drive.
Connects to microphones or
earphones.
allow installation of additional
devices.
Indicates AC power is present or
system is turned on or off (green).
8
No. Icon Component Description
1 System tour
8 Hard disk activity
indicator
2
9 LAN activity
indicator
3
LAN activity
indicator
4
10 Hot-plug HDD power
indicator
5
11 Four-bay hot-plug
HDD cage
Indicates the status of the system
hard drive.
Indicates an active link on the LAN1
port (green).
Indicates an active link on the LAN2
port (green).
Indicates drive activity (green).
Houses four hot-plug or easy swap
SCSI/SATA drives.
12 HDD cage bay For additional storage options.
Supports a four-bay hot-plug HDD
cage.
13 USB ports Connects to USB devices.
14 Power button Press to turn on the system.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 For more information about the status of the LED indicators, see
Front panel LED indicators table on page 9.
Front panel LED indicators
Below table lists the LED states on the front panel.
LED Color Status Description
Power Green On Power on
Blinking System in ACPI sleep mode.
HDD Green Blinking HDD activity
Off No HDD activity
LAN1 and 2 Green On Network is established.
Blinking • Network activity.
• Network is established and
running at its supported
speed.
Off Network link is not established.
Hot-plug HDD LED indicators
9
Below table lists the possible disk drive status.
HDD Status Green Amber Description
HDD access Blinking — HDD activity
10
Rear panel
No. Icon Component Description
1 System tour
1Power supply
module bay
2 USB ports Connects to USB devices.
3 PS/2 mouse port Connects to a PS/2 mouse.
Allows installation of a redundant
and non-redundant redundant
power supply module. The hot-swap
redundant power supply module
may include three LEDs that will
indicate its operating status.
Note: If the system comes bundled
with only a single redundant power
supply module, you have the option
to separately purchase an extra
power supply module to provide the
system with redundant power
source.
No. Icon Component Description
11
4 PS/2 keyboard
port
5 VGA/monitor
port
6 Serial port Connects to serial devices.
7 Gigabit LAN
ports (10/100/
1000 Mbps)
8 Expansion slots For installing expansion cards.
9 PCI slot lock
lever
10 Rear system fan Optimizes system airflow.
Connects to a PS/2 keyboard.
Connects to monitors.
Connects to network cables.
Secures the PCI card to the system.
12
1 System tour
Rear panel LED indicators
Below table lists the LED states on the LAN port.
LED Green Yel lo w Status
Link On — • Indicates 100MBps Ethernet
operation.
• Network link is established.
Blinking — Indicates transmission or reception
of data in the network.
Off — • Indicates 10 MBps Ethernet
operation.
• Network link is not established.
• The LAN cable is not working.
Activity — On Indicates 1000 MBps Ethernet
operation.
— Off Network is idle.
Internal components
No. Component
13
1
Power supply module (600 or 610-watts)
2 Rear system fan
3 Mainboard, CPU and heat sink fan assembly
4 PCI bus slot
5 Four-bay hot-plug HDD cage
1 The system supports a redundant or non-redundant power supply module. If the system
comes bundled with a single 610-w redundant power supply module, you have the option
to purchase an extra power supply module to provide the system with a redundant power
source.
1
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.
No. Code Description
1 USB_1~2 USB ports
2 MS/KB Top: PS/2 mouse port
Bottom: PS/2 keyboard port
3 SERIAL A Serial A port
4 VGA VGA/monitor port
5 JA2 NIC_1 Gigabit LAN 1 port (RJ-45)
JA1 NIC_2 Gigabit LAN 2 port (RJ-45)
6 SYS_FAN_1 System fan 1 connector
7 P/S AUX SIG Auxillary power supply signal connector
8 SYS_FAN_2 System fan 2 connector
9 MAIN PWR Power supply connector
10 DIMM_1B - 1A DIMM 1B to 1A sockets
15
11 DIMM_2B - 2A DIMM 2B to 2A sockets
12 CPU PWR CPU power supply connector
13 CPU_1 CPU 1 socket
14 CPU_2 CPU 2 socket
15 CPU_1 FAN CPU 1 fan connector
16 CPU_2 FAN CPU 2 fan connector
17 J17 Clear CMOS, Clear password and Recovery boot
jumper
18 PRIMARY IDE Primary IDE connector
19 FLOPPY FDD connector
20 LVD SCSI CH A SCSI channel connector
16
No. Code Description
21 SATA_A1- A2 SATA connectors
22 HSBP_B Hot-plug backplane connector
23 J38 Front panel LED connector
1 System tour
24
2
I
CI
2
C connector (reserved for ARMC/2)
25 BATTERY CMOS Battery
26 USB3~4 USB 3 and 4 connector
27 J19 Chassis intrusion connector
28 SERIAL B Serial B connector
29 J26 SCSI LED connector
30 SLOT_1 and 2 PCI-X slots (64-bit/66 MHz)
31 SLOT_3 and 5 PCI slots (32-bit/33 MHz)
32 SLOT_4 x8 PCI-Express slot (with x4 throughput)
Jumper settings
J17 jumper
The J17 jumper provides a total of 3-pin blocks that are used to
configure several system recovery and update options.
The table below lists each jumper option
Pin no. Pin function Description
17
1-2
2-3
5-6
6-7
9-10
10-11
Normal boot (default)
Force erase
Protect (default)
Erase
Normal boot (default)
Recovery boot
Clear CMOS settings
Clear password settings
Recovery boot settings
J38 jumper
The J38 jumper is a standard SSI 34-pin header that supports the system
front panel.
18
The following below lists the pin-out of the J38 header.
Pin no. Signal name Pin no. Signal name
1 ACPI LED gm 2 SB5V
1 System tour
3 Key 4 Fan fault LED*
5 ACPI LED amber 6 Fan fault LED*
7 HDD LED 8 System fault LED*
9 NMI button 10 System fault LED*
11 ACPI switch 12 LAN 1 Activity LED
13 ACPI switch (GND) 14 LAN 1 Activity LED#
15 Reset switch 16 SMB SDA
17 Reset switch (GND) 18 SMB SCL
19 Sleep switch* (no support) 20 Intruder*
21 Sleep switch (GND) 22 LAN 2 Activity LED
23 NMI switch# 24 LAN 2 Activity LED#
25 Key 26 Key
27 NC 28 NC
29 NC 30 NC
(no support)
(no support)
31 NC 32 NC
33 NC 34 NC
* and NC = No connection
Backplane board layout
The backplane board attached to the four-bay hot-plug HDD cage
provides a convenient interface between the SCSI or SATA drives and
the mainboard.
SCSI backplane board layout
19
Front
No. Code Description
1 SCSI HDD connectors
2 W83792D_ID1 792D_ID1 ADDR select jumper
Jumper setting:
Short 1-2 — 5EH (default)
Short 2-3 — 5AH
3 3-pin fan connector
4 4-pin power cable connector
5 68-pin SCSI data cable connector
Rear
20
No. Code Description
6 J3 LED indicator jumper
Jumper setting:
Short 1-2 — Link LED on
Short 2-3 — Link LED dark
7 SAF-TE ID SAF-TE ID jumper
Jumper setting:
Short 1-2 — ID8 (default)
Short 2-3 — ID6
1 System tour
SATA backplane board layout
21
Front
No. Code Description
1 SATA HDD connectors
2 SAF-TE heartbeat LED and
Manufacturing function jumper
3 JP2 Debug connector
4 J1 Backplane no. jumper
Jumper setting:
Short 1-2 — 1st BPB (backplane board)
Short 2-3 — 2nd BPB
5 JP1 ICMB (Intelligent Chassis Management Bus)
connector
6 FAN1 and
FAN2
Fan connectors
Rear
22
1 System tour
No. Code Description
7 792D_ID1 792D_ID1 ADDR select jumper
Jumper setting:
Short 1-2 — 5EH (default)
Short 2-3 — 5AH
8 J3 IPMB (Intelligent Platform Management Bus)
connector (reserved for SATA RAID card)
9 CN1 and CN2 4-pin power cable connector
10 SATA_CON0 to
SATA data cable connectors
SATA CON3
11 J4 Cascade connector
12 J5
2
I
C bus interface connector
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
Pre-installation 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 G530 system
•Acer EasyBUILD
• Acer Altos G530 accessory box
•System keys
TM
25
If any of the above items are damaged or missing, contact your dealer
immediately.
Save the boxes and packing materials for future use.
26
2 System setup
Connecting peripherals
Refer to the illustration below for specific connection instructions on
the peripherals you want to connect to the system.
Note: Consult the operating system manual for information on
how to configure the network setup.
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:
1 Open the bezel door.
27
2 Press the power button.
28
2 System setup
The system starts up and displays a welcome message on the
monitor. 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: 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
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.
29
30
Configuring the system OS
2 System setup
The Altos G530 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 the system turned 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 Installation guide.
Note: EasyBUILD System CD supports Windows 2000, Windows
Server 2003 and Red Hat Linux operating system only.
Windows or Linux OS CD is needed when you install the OS with
the EasyBUILD System CD.
31
Server setup
Aside from its tower configuration, the Altos G530 server system 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 rackmodel design. To purchase a rack mount kit, contact your local Acer
representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/
The figure below shows the Altos G530 server in a rack-mount position.
.
For instructions on tower-to-rack configuration, refer to “Appendix B:
Acer Altos G530 rack installation guide” on page 151.
32
2 System setup
Turning off the system
There are two ways by which you can turn off the server. These include:
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 cannot shut down the server, press the power button for at least
four seconds. Quickly pressing the button may put the server in a
Suspend mode only.
3 System upgrade
This chapter discusses the precautionary
measures and installation procedures you
need to know when 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 pre-installation and post-installation
instructions.
ESD precautions
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage the processor, disk drives,
expansion boards, motherboard, memory modules and other server
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.
35
Pre-installation instructions
Perform the steps below before you open the server or before your
remove or replace any component:
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 Open the system according to the instructions on page 37.
5 Follow the ESD precautions described in this section when
handling a server component.
6 Remove any expansion board(s) or peripheral(s) that block access
to the DIMM slots or other component connector.
See the following sections for specific installation instructions on the
component you want to install.
36
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.
3 System upgrade
Post-installation instructions
Perform the steps below 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 chassis panels.
4 Connect the necessary cables.
5 Turn on the system.
Opening the server
Caution! Before you proceed, make sure that you have turned
off the system and all peripherals connected to it. Read the “Preinstallation instructions” on page 35.
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.
Removing the left-side panel
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Remove the left-side panel.
(1) Remove the two screws located on the rear edge of the left-
side panel (1).
(2) Press the left-side panel release button (2).
(3) Slide the left-side panel toward the rear of the chassis (3).
37
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3 System upgrade
Opening the bezel door
A security lock secures the bezel door to protect the system unit from
unauthorized access.
To open the bezel door:
1 Insert the key into the lock and turn it clockwise until it points to
the unlock icon .
2 Pull open the bezel door.
Removing the front bezel
1 Remove the left-side panel. See page 37.
2 Slightly bend the plastic retention tabs to release the latches (1).
3 Gently detach the bezel from the chassis (2).
Removing the HDD cage bay cover
1 Open the bezel door.
2 Push down the HDD cage bay cover (1).
3 Detach the HDD cage bay cover from the front bezel (2).
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3 System upgrade
Configuring the four-bay HDD cage
This section explains how to install a four-bay hot-plug HDD cage as
well as procedures on how to install a hard disk into the cage’s hard
disk carrier.
Installing the four-bay HDD cage
The Altos G530 has two HDD cage bays that accept the following HDD
cages:
• Hot-plug SCSI HDD cage
• Easy-swap SCSI HDD cage
• Hot-plug SATA HDD cage
• Easy-swap SATA HDD cage
The main difference between a hot-plug HDD cage and an easy-swap
HDD cage is the presence of a backplane board on the rear side of the
hot-plug HDD cage.
The system ships out with only a single four-bay SCSI or SATA HDD cage
leaving one bay empty. You have the option to purchase an extra cage
to provide the system with additional storage capacity and scalability.
Contact your local Acer representative for more information.
Note: When installing a hot-plug or easy-swap SCSI or SATA HDD
cage in the system, you can use either the onboard SCSI channel
(LVD SCSI CH A) or SATA (SATA_A1 or A2) connectors, or you can
install a SCSI/SATA RAID card. The SCSI/SATA RAID card should be
Acer-qualified, compatible with the system and include
appropriate drivers. Refer to page 70 for intructions on how to
install a RAID card.
Refer to the “Mainboard layout” on page 14 for the location of
the SCSI channel or SATA connectors.
To purchase a SCSI or SATA RAID card, contact your local Acer
representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/
.
To install the hot-plug SCSI HDD cage:
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Remove the HDD cage bay cover. See page 39.
3 Remove the screw that secures the cover to the empty HDD bay
(1), then detach the cover (2).
4 Install the hot-plug cage.
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3 System upgrade
(1) Slide the cage into the chassis with the backplane board
facing the rear of the chassis. The cage is locked to the chassis
with an audible click.
(2) Locate and attach the following cables clamped on the side of
the chassis to their corresponding connectors on the
backplane board:
Important: If a four-bay hot-plug SCSI HDD cage is already
installed in the top HDD bay, you must block the W83792D_ID1
jumper. Set pins 2 and 3 to short.
(1) SCSI data cable
(2) SCSI HDD power cables
5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
Important: When you are detaching the hot-plug HDD cage
from the chassis, make sure to first remove all hard disks from
their carriers. For instructions, see “Installing an additional hard
disk into the HDD cage carrier” on page 53.
43
6 Change the RAID configuration of your hard disk. For details on
how to change the RAID configuration of your hard disk, go to
“Appendix D: SCSI RAID configuration” on page 173.
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3 System upgrade
To install the easy-swap SCSI HDD cage:
The easy-swap SCSI HDD cage is an optional four-bay internal HDD
enclosure without a SCSI backplane board.
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Remove the HDD cage bay cover. See page 39.
3 Remove the screw that secures the cover to the empty HDD bay,
then detach the cover.
4 Install the easy-swap cage.
(1) Slide the cage into the chassis. The cage is locked to the chassis
with an audible click.
(2) Locate and attach the following cables to their corresponding
connectors on the SCSI hard drive and SCSI RAID card. For
instructions on how to install a SCSI RAID card see page 70.
(1) SCSI data cable
(2) SCSI HDD power cables
5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
Important: When you are detaching the easy-swap cage from
the chassis, make sure to first remove all cables attached to the
hard disks.
45
6 Change the RAID configuration of your hard disk. For details on
how to change the RAID configuration of your hard disk, go to
“Appendix D: SCSI RAID configuration” on page 173.
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3 System upgrade
To install the hot-plug SATA HDD cage:
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Remove the HDD cage bay cover. See page 39.
3 Remove the screw that secure the cover of the empty HDD bay,
then detach the cover.
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4 Install the hot-plug cage.
(1) Slide the cage into the chassis. The cage is locked to the chassis
with an audible click.
5 Connect the following cables to their corresponding connectors on
the SATA RAID backplane board, mainboard and adapter:
Important: If a four-bay hot-plug SATA HDD cage is already
installed in the top HDD bay, you must block the J1 jumper. Set
pins 2 and 3 to short.
(1) Attach the SATA data cable to the SATA HDD connector on the
backplane board (1), then connect the other end of the cable
to the SATA connector on the SATA RAID card.
Note: SATA connectors on the controller are keyed. Make sure
the SATA data cables are properly connected to its corresponding
connectors on the SATA RAID card.
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3 System upgrade
(2) Attach the system’s power cable to the SATA power cable
connector on the backplane board (2).
Note: The SATA RAID data cables must be installed and removed
in the following order: SATA0, SATA1, SATA2, then SATA3.
6 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
Important: When you are removing the hot-plug cage from the
chassis, make sure to first remove all hard disks from their carriers.
For instructions, see “Installing an additional hard disk into the
HDD cage carrier” on page 53.
7 Change the RAID configuration of your hard disk. For details on
how to change the RAID configuration of your hard disk, go to
“Appendix C: SATA RAID configuration” on page 167.
To install the easy-swap SATA HDD cage:
The easy-swap SATA HDD cage is an optional four-bay internal HDD
enclosure without a SATA backplane board.
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Remove the HDD cage bay cover. See page 39.
3 Remove the screw that secures the cover to the empty HDD bay,
then detach the cover.
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4 Install the easy-swap cage.
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3 System upgrade
(1) Slide the cage into the chassis. The cage is locked to the chassis
with an audible click.
(2) Locate and attach the power (1) and SATA (2) cables to their
corresponding connectors on the hard drives and SATA RAID
card.
5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
Important: When you are removing the easy-swap cage from
the chassis, make sure to first remove all cables attached to the
hard disks.
6 Change the RAID configuration of your hard disk. For details on
how to change the RAID configuration of your hard disk, go to
“Appendix C: SATA RAID configuration” on page 167.
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3 System upgrade
Removing the four-bay HDD cage
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Disconnect the data and power cables from the backplane board.
3 Move the release slider all the way up to eject the hot-plug or easy
swap HDD cage (1).
4 Remove the cage from the HDD bay (2).
5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
Installing an additional hard disk into the HDD cage carrier
Note: To purchase a hard disk carrier, contact your local Acer
representative.
Important: You need not remove the four-bay hot-plug HDD
cage from the chassis to install a hard disk into its carrier.
1 Carefully pull out the hard disk carrier cover (1).
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3 System upgrade
2 Install a hard disk on the hard disk carrier (1), then secure it with
the four screws that came with the hard disk carrier (2).
3 Insert the new hard disk carrier into the cage with the lever still
extended (1).
4 Make sure that the drive is properly inserted before closing the
lever, then push the lever back until it clicks into place (2). .
Replacing the CD-ROM drive
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Disconnect the power and IDE cables from the old drive.
3 Push the lever in the direction of the unlock icon (1), then pull
the drive out of the chassis (2).
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3 System upgrade
4 Install a new 5.25-inch drive into the drive bay (1), then push the
lever in the direction of the lock icon (2).
5 Connect the power and IDE cables to the new drive.
6 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
Installing 5.25-inch drives
The two empty 5.25-inch drive bays allow you to install additional
drives such as another backup hard drive, CD-ROM drive, or a tape
drive. These options provide the system with additional storage
capacity.
To install a 5.25-inch tape drive:
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Remove the two screws that secure the cover to the empty
5.25-inch drive bay (1), then detach the cover (2).
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3 System upgrade
3 Install a tape drive into the drive bay (1), then push the lever in
the direction of the lock icon (2).
4 Connect the power and IDE cables to the tape drive.
5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
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Upgrading the processor
This section includes instructions for installing and removing a
processor and heat sink fan (HSF) assembly.
Installing the CPU
The mainboard has two 604-pin processor socket that support Intel
Xeon processors. The system ships out with only a single Intel Xeon
processor installed leaving one CPU socket empty. You have the option
to purchase an extra CPU for the system.
Important: When installing an additional CPU, make sure the
CPU has the same stepping and running values at the same
frequency specifications as the default CPU.
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Locate an empty CPU socket on the mainboard.
3 Pull the CPU socket retainer lever to a fully open, upright position.
4 Remove the CPU from its protective packaging.
5 Align the CPU with the 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), then insert the CPU into the socket
(1).
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6 Press the retainer lever down to lock the CPU in place (2).
3 System upgrade
Installing the HSF assembly
1 Apply thermal grease.
Apply approximately 0.1ml of the thermal grease compound on it’s
top side.
2 Install the heat sink fan assembly
(1) Align the heat sink fan assembly to the CPU (1).
(2) Using a screwdriver, tighten the heatsink’s four screws to
secure it to the mainboard (2).
(3) Connect the CPU fan cable to its mainboard connector. Refer
to “Mainboard layout” on page 14 for the location of the CPU
fan connector.
3 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
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Removing the HSF assembly
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 instructions
described on page 35.
Warning! The heat sink becomes very hot when the system
is on. NEVER touch the heat sink with any metal or with
your hands.
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3 System upgrade
2 Disconnect the CPU fan cable from its mainboard connector.
3 Loosen the four screws that hold the HSF assembly to the
mainboard (1).
4 Pull the HSF assembly away from the CPU (2).
5 Place the HSF assembly upside down on a flat surface.
Note: Wipe off the thermal grease from both the HSF assembly
and CPU using an alcohol pad.
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Removing the CPU
1 Pull the CPU socket retainer lever to a fully open, upright position
(1).
2 Pull out the CPU from the socket (2).
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3 System upgrade
Upgrading the system memory
This section includes instructions for removing and installing a memory
module.
Altos G530 has four DDR2-400 DIMM slots. Each slot supports 512 MB,
1GB or 2GB memory modules. The maximum memory capacity is 8GB.
Memory module installation guidelines
• The minimum memory configuration is one DIMM, installed in the
DIMM 1B socket (the socket farthest from the CPU sockets).
However, for optimum performance and dual-channel interleave
operation, a minimum of two DIMMs should be installed. DIMMs
on channel A (DIMM 1A and 2A) are paired with DIMMs on
channel B (DIMM 1B and 2B) to enable 2-way interleaving.
Note: Dual-channel memory requires symmetrical memory
modules using the same density (e.g. 512 MB), bus width (e.g. x8,
x16) and granule technology (e.g. 512M-bit).
• Populate both DIMMs in bank 1 (DIMM 1B and 1A) first, before
populating DIMMs in bank 2 (DIMM 2B and 2A). Bank 2 must be
populated in pairs.
Note: Refer to the “Mainboard layout” on page 14 for the
location of the DIMM slots.
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• Both DIMMs in a bank must be identical (same manufacturer, CAS
latency, number of rows, columns and devices, timing parameters,
etc.). Although DIMMs within a bank must be identical, the BIOS
supports various DIMM sizes and configurations allowing the
banks of memory to be different.
Warning! For the system to function, DIMM modules must
be installed or removed in matched pairs, following the
socket sequence : DIMM 1B and 1A first, then DIMM 2B and
2A. DIMM modules of the same type, banking, stacking
technology, and manufacturer must be installed in the
Altos G530 system.
Note: Refer to “Mainboard layout” on page 14 for the location
of the DIMM sockets for each processor.
The table below lists the supported memory installation based on the
memory interleave configuration:
Bank 1 Bank 2
DIMM 1B DIMM 1A DIMM 2B DIMM 2A
512 MB 1-way
1 GB 1-way
2 GB 1-way
512 MB 512 MB 2-way
1 GB 1 GB 2-way
2 GB 2 GB 2-way
512 MB 512 MB 512 MB 512 MB 2-way
1 GB 1 GB 1 GB 1 GB 2-way
2 GB 2 GB 2 GB 2 GB 2-way
Memory Interleave
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3 System upgrade
Altos G530 supports memory sparing function. To provide a more fault
tolerant system, Altos G530 includes special hardware to support failover to a spare DIMM device in the event that a primary DIMM in use
exceeds a specified threshold of runtime errors. One of the DIMMs
installed per channel will not be used, but kept in reserve. In the event
of significant failures in a particular DIMM, it and its corresponding
partner in the other channel (if applicable), will, over time, have its
data copied over to the spare DIMM held in reserve. When all the data
has been copied, the reserved DIMM will be put into service and the
failed DIMM will be removed from service. Only one sparing cycle is
supported. If the memory sparing feature is not enabled, then all
DIMMs will be visible in normal address space.
Refer to “Memory Configuration” on page 101 for more information
about configuring the memory spare parameter in the BIOS Setup
Utility.
Removing a DIMM
Before you can install 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 instructions
described on page 35.
2 Locate the DIMM sockets on the mainboard.
3 Press the holding clips on both sides of the socket outward to
release the DIMM.
4 Gently pull the DIMM upward to remove it from the socket .
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3 System upgrade
Installing a DIMM
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Locate the DIMM sockets on the mainboard.
Note: DIMM modules must be installed in matched pairs,
following the socket sequence: DIMM 1B and 1A first, then DIMM
2B and 2A.
3 Open the clips on the socket.
4 Align then insert the DIMM into the socket.
5 Press the holding clips inward to lock the DIMM in place.
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 36.
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To reconfigure 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.
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3 System upgrade
Installing an expansion card
This section explains how to install an expansion card. The onboard
expansion slots supports PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect),
PCI-X, and PCI Express cards. PCI Express slot is a new type of interface
and differs in length than the conventional PCI/PCI-X slots. You should
always install the correct type of plug-in expansion cards in the x4 PCI
Express slot. Contact your dealer for qualified PCI Express card vendors.
To install an expansion card:
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Locate an empty expansion slot on the mainboard.
Note: The SCSI RAID card shown below is for your reference only.
To purchase a SCSI RAID card, contact your local Acer
representative.
3 Press the slot release latch outward (1).
4 Pull out the slot cover (2). Store it for reassembly later.
5 Remove the expansion card from its protective packaging.
6 Align the card in the empty slot.
7 Insert the card into the selected slot (3). Make sure that the card is
properly seated.
8 Press the PCI slot release latch on the rear panel of the server (4).
9 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
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Note: When you turn on the system, 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 System upgrade
Upgrading the power supply
The Altos G530 system may ship out with a redundant or nonredundant power supply module.
Installing a redundant power supply module
The Altos G530 power subsystem consists of two redundant power
supply module bays that accept 610-watt hot-swap redundant power
supply modules. The system ships out 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 the
system with a redundant power source. A redundant power
configuration enables a fully-configured system to continue running
even if one power supply module fails.
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.
1 Remove the cover of the empty power supply module bay.
Note: If the system ships out with a screw on the cover, remove
the screw first then detach the cover.
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3 System upgrade
2 Hold the handle on front of the power supply module while
pressing your thumb on the release latch. Slide the power supply
module into the empty bay until you feel resistance.
3 Press the module handle to secure the power supply module to its
bay.
4 Verify that the power indicators on the main power supply and on
the newly installed redundant power supply are illuminated
green.
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Installing a non-redundant power supply module
The Altos G530 power subsystem accepts a 600-watt non-redundant
power supply module. If you are replacing a previously installed power
supply module, turn it off and unplug it.
1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions
described on page 35.
2 Detach the power and power supply cable from their connectors.
3 Remove the four screws on the cover of the power supply module
bay, then detach the cover.
4 Slide the power supply module toward the front of the system,
then lift the power supply module out of the chassis.
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3 System upgrade
5 Slide the new power supply module into the bay, then secure it to
the chassis with the four screws removed earlier.
6 Attach the power cable to the power cable socket.
7 Attach the power supply cable to the mainboard connector.
Note: If a four-bay hot-plug HDD cage is already installed in your
chassis, attach the power cable to the hard drive’s power cable
connector.
8 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
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 the 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 process. During bootup,
press F2 to enter the BIOS setup screen.
Note: You must press F2 while the system is booting. This key
does not work during any other time.
There are several tabs on the setup screen corresponding to the six
major BIOS menus:
• Main
•Advanced
•Boot
•Security
•Server
•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
the 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.
• Use the Enter key to display a submenu screen.
Note: When a parameter is preceeded by a >, it means that a
submenu screen is available.
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•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.
Note: The BIOS screens shown in the following pages may vary
depending on the system configuration.
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4 BIOS setup
Main
The Main menu displays basic and important information about the
system. These information are necessary for troubleshooting and may
be required when asking for technical support. These entries are for
your reference only and are not user-configurable.
The last two parameters on the screen lets you define the sytem’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.
Parameter Description
AMIBIOS Version Version of the BIOS setup utility.
Build Date Date when the BIOS setup was created.
Processor Type Type of processor currently installed in the server.
Parameter Description
Processor Speed The processor speed is the speed at which a
microprocessor executes instructions. Clock speeds
are expressed in megahertz (MHz), with 1 MHz
being equal to 1 million cycles per second. The
faster the clock, the more instructions the CPU can
execute per second.
Processor Count Indicates the number of processors currently
installed in the server.
System Memory Size Indicates the total amount of onboard memory. The
memory size is automatically detected by BIOS
during the POST. If you install additional memory,
the system automatically adjusts this parameter to
display the new memory size.
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Server Board MCH
Stepping
System Time Sets the time following the hour-minute-second
System Date Sets the date following the weekday-month-day-
Indicates the stepping revision of the memory
controller
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: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep,
Oct, Nov, Dec
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.
Processor Configuration
The Processor Configuration submenu displays CPU settings such as
type, actual speed, cache size and other CPU related settings.
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Parameter Description Option
Manufacturer Processor manufacturer
Brand String Processor brand identification number
Frequency Indicates the calculated processor
speed.
FSB Speed Indicates the processor front side bus
speed.
CPU 1 CPUID ID number of CPU 1.
CPU 1 Cache L1 Indicates CPU 1 cache L1 size.
CPU 1 Cache L2 Indicates CPU1 cache L2 size.
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Parameter Description Option
CPU 2 CPUID ID number of the CPU 2.
CPU 2 Cache L1 Indicates CPU 2 cache L1 size.
CPU 2 Cache L2 Indicates CPU 2 cache L2 size.
4 BIOS setup
Max CPUID Value
Limit
Execute Disable
Bit
C1E Support When Enabled, the CPU power
Hardware
Prefetcher
Adjacent Cache
Line Prefetch
Enable to boot legacy operating
systems.
When Enabled, the processor disables
code execution when a worm
attempts to insert a code in the buffer,
preventing damage and worm propagation.
When Disabled, the processor forces
the Execute Disable Bit feature flag to
always return to 0.
Note: This feature is hidden if the
procesor does not support this
function.
consumption will be lower when the
system is idle.
Note: This feature is hidden if the
procesor does not support this
function.
Enables or disables the processor
Hardware Prefetch feature.
Enables or disables the processor
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch feature.
Disabled
Ensabled
Disabled
Ensabled
Disabled
Ensabled
Disabled
Ensabled
Disabled
Ensabled
Hyper-Threading
Tec hnol ogy
Enables or disables the
Hyper-Threading function of the
processor.
The Hyper-Threading Technology
controls Hyper-Threading state.
Primarily used to support older OS
that do not support Hyper Threading.
Enabled
Disabled
Parameter Description Option
87
HT Technology in
MPS
Intel SpeedStep
Technology
®
When Enabled, adds secondary
processor threads to the MPS
(multiprocessor) table for the pre-ACPI
(pre- Advanced Configuration and
Power Interface) operating systems.
When set to Auto, this feature allows
the operating system to reduce power
consumption.
When set to Disabled, the system
operates at maximum CPU speed.
Note: This parameter will be hidden
when the processor does not support
this function.
Disabled
Enabled
Disabled
Auto
88
4 BIOS setup
IDE Configuration
The IDE Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings
related to the hard disk/s.
Parameter Description Option
Onboard P-ATA
Channels
Onboard S-ATA
Channels
When set to Both, the system can
support both Primary and Secondary
PATA Controllers.
When set to Disabled, it disables the
integrated PATA Controller.
When set to Primary, it enables support
for Primary PATA Controller.
When set to Secondary, it enables
support for Secondary PATA Controller.
Enables or disables the integrated
SATA Controller.
Both
Disabled
Primary
Secondary
Enabled
Disabled
Parameter Description Option
89
Configure S-ATA
as RAID
S-ATA Ports
Definition
Mixed P-ATA/
S-ATA
Primary IDE
Master
Primary IDE
Slave
Secondary IDE
Master
When set to Enabled, the SATA
channels are reserved to be used as
RAID.
Defines priority between SATA
channels.
Lets you remove a PATA and replace it
by SATA in a given channel. Only one
channel can be designated as SATA.
Press Enter to access the Mixed PATA/
SATA submenu.
Specifies the current configuration of
the IDE device connected to the master
port of the primary IDE channel.
Press Enter to access the Primary
Master submenu.
Specifies the current configuration of
the the IDE device connected to the
slave port of the primary IDE channel.
Press Enter to access the Primary Slave
submenu.
Specifies the current configuration of
the IDE device connected to the master
port of the secondary IDE channel.
Press Enter to access the Secondary
Master submenu.
Disabled
Enabled
A 1-3rd M/A
2-4th M
A 1-4th M/ A
2-3rd M
Secondary IDE
Slave
Third IDE
Master
Specifies the current configuration of
the IDE device connected to the slave
port of the secondary IDE channel.
Press Enter to access the Secondary
Slave submenu.
Specifies the current configuration of
the IDE device connected to the master
port of the third IDE channel.
Press Enter to access the Third Master
submenu.
90
Parameter Description Option
4 BIOS setup
Fourth IDE
Master
Hard Disk Write
Protect
IDE Detect Time
Out (Sec)
ATA(PI) 80-pin
Cable
Detection
Specifies the current configuration of
the IDE device connected to the master
port of the fourth IDE channel.
Press Enter to access the Fourth Master
submenu.
Enables or disables write protection to
system hard drives.
Select the time out value for detecting
ATA/ATAP I de v ice s.
Used with older IDE devices with longer
spin up times.
Select the mechanism for detecting 80pin ATA(PI) cable.
Disabled
Enabled
0
5
15
20
25
30
35
Host &
Device
Host
Device
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