Acer G901 User Manual
Acer Altos G900
User’s guide
Copyright © 2003 Acer Incorporated
All Rights Reserved.
Acer Altos G900
User’s guide
January 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 server. 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
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 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
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 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
computer.
iv
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 digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Remarque à l’intention des utilisateurs canadiens
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respected toutes les exigences du
Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada
.
Laser compliance statement
The CD-ROM drive in this computer 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 information
Only a technically qualified person shall access, integrate, configure, and service
this product.
Intended application uses
This product was evaluated as an Information Technology Equipment (ITE),
which may be installed in offices, schools, computer rooms, and similar
commercial type locations. The suitability of this product for other Product
Categories and Environments (such as medical, industrial, alarm systems, and
test equipment), other than as an ITE application, may require further
evaluation.
Checking the power cords
Warning! To avoid electrical shock, do not attempt to
modify or use the supplied AC power cord(s), if they are
not the exact type required.
If a power cord(s) supplied is not compatible with the AC wall outlet in your
region, get one that meets the following criteria:
• The power cord must be properly rated for the AC voltage in your region.
• The power cord plug cap must have an electrical current rating that is at
least 125% of the electrical current rating of the product.
• The power cord plug cap that plugs into the wall socket-outlet must have a
grounding-type male plug designed for use in your region.
• The power cord must have safety certifications for your region, and shall
be marked with the certification markings.
• The power cord plug cap that plugs into the AC receptacle on the power
supply must be an IEC 320, sheet C13, type female connector.
• In Europe, the power cord must be less than 4.5 meters (14.76 feet) long,
and it must be flexible <HAR> (harmonized) or VDE certified cordage to
comply with the chassis' safety certifications.
• The power supply cord(s) is the main disconnect device to AC power. The
socket outlet(s) shall be near the equipment and shall be readily accessible
for disconnection.
v
vi
Multiple power cords
Warning! To avoid electrical shock, disconnect all AC power cords before
accessing inside the system.
Earth grounded socket-outlets
Warning! To avoid electrical shock, the system power cord(s) must be plugged
into socket-outlet(s) that is provided with a suitable earth ground.
Precautionary reminders
• Over current protection
The system is designed to operate on a 20A AC voltage source that is
provided with 20A over current protection. If the AC source for the rack
exceeds 20A over current protection, each system must be provided with
20A or less over current supplemental protection. The supplementary over
current protection must have the appropriate regional safety certifications
for the over current application.
• Power supply modules
Power supply modules have double-pole/neutral fusing.
• Ventilation considerations
The equipment rack must provide sufficient airflow to the front of the
system to maintain proper cooling. The rack selected and the ventilation
provided must be suitable to the environment in which the system will be
used.
•Fans
To avoid injury do not touch moving fan blades.
• Cooling and airflow
For proper cooling and airflow, always install all access covers before
turning on the system. Operating the system for longer than five minutes
without the covers in place can cause overheating and damage to system
components.
• Temperature limits
The operating temperature of the system, when installed in the rack, must
not go below 10°C (50°F) or rise above 35°C (95°F). Extreme fluctuations in
temperature may cause a variety of problems in system, and safety limits
may be broken.
• Lifting and Moving
Do not attempt to lift or move the server by the handles on the power
supplies.
Equipment rack precautions
Follow the rack manufacturer's safety and installation instructions for proper
rack installation.
The following additional rack safety installation measures shall be considered:
• Anchor the equipment rack
The equipment rack must be anchored to an unmovable suitable support
to prevent the rack from falling over when one or more systems are fully
extended out of the rack assembly. You must also consider the weight of
any other devices installed in the rack assembly. The equipment rack must
be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Main AC power disconnect
You are responsible for installing an AC power disconnect for the entire
rack unit. This main disconnect must be readily accessible, and it must be
labeled as controlling power to the entire unit, not just to the system(s).
• Grounding the rack installation
To avoid the potential for an electrical shock hazard, the rack assembly
itself must be suitably earth grounded, according to your local regional
electrical codes. This typically will require the rack to have its own separate
earth ground. We recommend you consult your local approved electrician.
vii
viii
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 in the cabinet and the back or bottom 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 cabinet 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 serviceman.
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. Dispose of used batteries according to
manufacturer's instructions.
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).
ix
x
Notices iii
FCC notice iii
Laser compliance statement iv
Important safety information v
Intended application uses v
Checking the power cords v
Precautionary reminders vi
Equipment rack precautions vii
Important safety instructions viii
1 System tour 1
Features overview 3
Altos G900 physical specifications 4
External and internal structure 5
Access covers 5
Main chassis components 6
Electronics bay components 7
Front control panel 8
Rear panel 10
Peripheral device bay 12
Server board set features 13
Mainboard layout 13
System cables 19
System features 22
Processors 22
Memory 22
SCSI controller 22
Onboard video 23
Network interface controllers 23
Hot-swap hard drive bays 24
Power supply 25
System fan 25
ACPI 26
Contents
2 System setup 27
Getting started 29
Checking for damage to the packaging 29
Selecting a site 29
Checking the package contents 30
Setting up your system 32
Setup reminders 32
Pre-setup safety steps 32
xii
Hardware setup 33
Turning on the server and running the Power-On
Self Test (POST) 34
Software setup 36
Network teaming features 37
3 Hardware configuration 39
Installation precautions 41
ESD precautions 41
Preinstallation instructions 42
Post-installation instructions 42
Tools and supplies needed 43
System access panels 44
Before removing the access panels 44
Rear access panel 44
Front access panel 45
Front subchassis and rear
electronics bay 47
Opening the front subchassis and rear
electronics bay 47
Removing the front subchassis and rear
electronics bay 48
Closing the front subchassis and rear
electronics bay 50
Accessing the system boards 51
Access cover to the system boards 51
Memory board 52
53
53
53
Processor board 54
Mainboard 55
Memory 60
DIMM sequence 60
Processors 63
Processor sequence 63
PCI add-in boards 67
PCI add-in board locations 67
Operating system support for hot-plug
add-in boards 68
Checking the status indicators for a hot-plug
add-in board 68
Installing and removing a hot-plug PCI
add-in board 69
Installing and removing a PCI add-in board in
a non-hot-plug slot 72
Hot-swap SCSI drives 75
Checking a hot-swap SCSI drive status indicator 75
Installing and removing a hot-swap drive
in a carrier 76
Removing and installing hot-swap disk drives 78
DC power supplies 81
Checking the power supply LED status indicators 81
Removing and installing a power supply module 82
Cooling system fans 85
Checking a fan status indicator 85
Removing and installing a fan module 86
Backup battery 87
Replacing the battery 87
Front panel board 89
Installing the front panel board 89
Diskette drive 91
Replacing the diskette drive 91
5.25-inch peripheral drives 94
Preliminary considerations 94
Removing and installing a 5.25-inch
peripheral drive 95
Hot-swap drive bays 98
Removing and installing a hot-swap drive bay 98
Power distribution board 101
Replacing the power distribution board 101
Fan distribution board 103
Replacing the fan distribution board 103
Foam fan baffle 105
Removing and installing the foam fan baffle 105
Hot-plug indicator board 107
Replacing the hot-plug indicator board 107
4 BIOS setup 109
BIOS setup 111
Recording BIOS settings 111
Clearing CMOS memory 111
Using BIOS setup 112
Main 114
Primary IDE Master/Slave 116
Processor Settings 118
xiv
Advanced 119
Memory Configuration 121
PCI Configuration 122
I/O Device Configuration 129
Advanced Chipset Control 131
Security 132
Server 136
System Management 138
Console Redirection 139
Boot 140
Exit 141
Appendix A: System rack installation 143
System rack installation 145
Rack-mount kit contents 145
Tools and supplies needed 146
Equipment rack precautions 146
Rack conversion procedures 148
Removing the bottom panel 148
Removing the left panel 149
Removing the original tower bezel 150
Removing the feet 151
Installing the rack bezel 152
Installing the bushings on the chassis 153
Installing the handles and rails 154
Appendix B: System management 159
Software and utilities 161
Integrated hardware system management 162
Baseboard management controller 162
Field replaceable units and sensor data records 163
System event log 163
Platform event management 164
Emergency management port 165
System Setup Utility 166
Creating SSU diskettes 166
Running the SSU 167
Working with the GUI 168
Customizing the SSU interface 168
Setting boot device priority 169
Setting passwords and security options 169
Viewing the system event log 171
Viewing FRU information 172
Viewing Sensor Data Records 173
Updating system firmware and BIOS 174
Saving and restoring the system configuration 174
Alerting for platform events 175
Managing the server remotely 179
Exiting the SSU 182
FRU/SDR load utility 183
When to run the FRU/SDR load utility 183
Running the FRU/SDR load utility 183
SCSISelect 186
Running SCSISelect 186
Software updates 187
Software update packages 188
Individual updates 189
Appendix C: Equipment log and configuration worksheets
193
Equipment log 195
Calculating power consumption 196
Calculating DC power usage 196
Calculating the total combined power used
by the system 198
xv
Appendix D: Troubleshooting 199
Troubleshooting 201
Resetting the system 201
Initial system startup 201
Running new application software 202
After the system has been running correctly 203
Monitoring POST 203
Verifying proper operation of key system lights 204
Confirming loading of an operating system 204
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 205
Appendix E: Codes and error messages 211
Standard BIOS post codes 213
Recovery BIOS POST codes 219
BMC beep codes 221
POST error messages and codes 222
Index 227
xvi
1 System tour
This chapter gives you a tour of the system’s
internal and external components, as well as
a discussion of its many features.
Features overview
The Acer Altos G900 four-way performance server model utilizes a PCI
bus based mainboard built on an ATX form factor. It supports up to
four processors from the Intel
For expandability, the mainboard supports eight full length PCI slots
(4 PCI-X hot plug, 2 PCI-X non-hot plug, 2 PCI non-hot plug). An
impressive 24 GB maximum system memory is achieved through 12
DIMM sockets utilizing DDR-266 (Double Data Rate) modules.
Media drives include one 3.5-inch floppy drive, a CD-ROM drive, plus
two 5.25-inch peripheral bays. The system also supports up to ten
1-inch hot-swap Ultra 320 SCSI hard drives providing an additional
1460 GB of storage space.
For connectivity, the mainboard provides two external USB (Universal
Serial Bus) ports and one internal header providing one additional USB
port, PS/2 interface for both mouse and keyboard, one VGA/monitor
port, one external serial port and one internal serial port header, one
parallel port with Extended Capabilities Port (ECP)/Enhanced Parallel
Port (EPP) support, and for networking, two NIC ports (RJ-45).
Power supply is provided by the three hot-swap power supply modules
in a 2+1 redundant configuration (third module optional).
®
Xeon™ processor family.
3
In terms of serviceability, the system features front access to hot-swap
hard disk drives, rear access to hot-swap power supplies, and side
access to hot-plug PCI boards and hot-swap fans. Serviceable items are
color coded throughout and detailed configuration labels are located
on the system’s side panel. Fault indicators and system UID (Unit ID)
light are also available.
Manageability features include compliance to both IPMI 1.5 and WfM
2.0 standard, extensive system sensors and monitoring, as well as
function for remote management and diagnostics via the serial or LAN
port. External chassis management is done via ICMB.
4
1 System tour
Altos G900 physical specifications
Specification Rack-mount orientation Tower orientation
Height 12.25 inches (311 mm) (7U) 18.09 inches (459 mm)
Width Fits 19-inch rack 12.24 inches (311 mm)
Depth 25.25 inches (641 mm) 25.25 inches (641 mm)
Weight
Minimum
configuration
Maximum
configuration
90 pounds (41 kg)
119 pounds (57 kg)
96 pounds (44 kg)
125 pounds (57 kg)
Required front
clearance
Required rear
clearance
Required side
clearance
Power
requirements
Voltage (110)
Voltage (220)
Frequency
Note: Amperage values indicated on this section is based on
total system power, with two or three power supply modules
installed. For detailed information on calculating power
consumption for specific server configurations, see page 196.
3 inches (76 mm),
inlet airflow <35 °C (95 °F)
4.5 inches (114 mm),
no airflow restriction
0 inch (0 mm) 0 inch (0 mm)
90 Vrms min, 132 Vrms
max, 9 Arms
180 Vrms min, 264 Vrms
max, 4.5 Arms
47 Hz min, 63 Hz max
12 inches (305 mm)
9 inches (229 mm)
90 Vrms min, 132 Vrms
max, 9 Arms
180 Vrms min, 264 Vrms
max, 4.5 Arms
47 Hz min, 63 Hz max
External and internal structure
Access covers
The figure below shows the system’s access panels
5
Label Description
A Bezel
B Front access panel
C Rear access panel
Figure 1 - Access covers
6
1 System tour
Main chassis components
The figure below shows the chassis with the access panels removed.
Figure 2 - Main chassis components
Label Description Label Description
A Hot-plug PCI add-in cards F CD-ROM drive
B Memory board G 5.25-inch peripheral bay
C Electronics bay H 3.5-inch diskette
D Power supply bay I Front control panel
EFan bay
Electronics bay components
The figure below shows the electronics bay with the access cover and
memory board removed.
Figure 3 - Electronics bay components
7
Label Description Label Description
A Hot-plug PCI slots C Mainboard
B Non-hot-plug PCI slots D Processor board
8
1 System tour
Front control panel
The figure below describes the features of the front control panel.
Figure 4 - Front control panel
Label Description Operation
A Power button To turn power on, press the power button
momentarily. If the system is in sleep state,
pressing the power button momentarily brings
the system out of the sleep state.
To turn power off, press and hold the power
button for more than four seconds. This
overrides ACPI mode.
B Sleep button To put a system supporting ACPI into sleep
mode (S1), press the sleep button momentarily.
To wake a system from sleep mode, press the
sleep button momentarily.
C Reset button To reset the system, press the reset button
momentarily.
To clear CMOS, press and hold the reset button
for at least four seconds, and then press the
power button. Release both the reset and
power buttons at the same time. The system
will power on and the CMOS will be reset.
D Chassis ID
button
Illuminates LEDs on both the front and rear of
the chassis, simplifying identification of the
chassis in a rack from the rear.
Label Description Operation
E NMI switch Causes a non-maskable interrupt. Located
behind the bezel door.
F USB connector USB port 3. Located behind the bezel door.
9
G Serial port
connector
H Lock Locks the bezel and front access cover.
I Chassis ID LED Blue indicates chassis ID is active.
J LAN2 LED Green indicates LAN2 activity.
K LAN1 LED Green indicates LAN1 activity.
L Hard drive
activity LED
M Fault LED Red indicates any system fault condition.
N Main power
LED
Serial port B. Located behind the bezel door.
Green indicates system hard drive activity.
Solid green indicates the presence of DC power
in the server.
Flashing green indicates that the system is in
ACPI sleep mode.
10
Rear panel
The figure below describes the features of the rear panel.
1 System tour
Figure 5 - Rear panel
Label Description
A Optional ICMB ports 1 (left) and 2 (right)
B Hot-plug PCI LEDs
C Hot-plug 64-bit, 100 MHz PCI-X add-in card slots
D Non-hot-plug 64-bit, 100 MHz PCI-X add-in card slots
E Non-hot-plug 32-bit, 33 MHz PCI add-in card slots
F Power supply bays
G LAN2 Gbit RJ-45 connector
H USB ports 0 (upper) and 1 (lower)
Label Description
IVideo connector
J Serial port A
K PS/2-compatible mouse port
L PS/2-compatible keyboard port
M Chassis ID LED
N IEEE 1284 Enhanced Parallel Port
O LAN1 100/10 RJ-45 connector
P Knockout for optional serial port B
Q Knockout for optional SCSI connector
R Knockout for optional VHDCI SCSI connector
11
12
1 System tour
Peripheral device bay
Opening the right bezel door provides access to the peripheral bay.
The peripheral bay consists of four bays for removable media:
Figure 6 - Peripheral device bay
Label Description Label Description
A Front bezel door B LED status indicators
Caution! It is not recommended to install a hard disk drive in the
5.25-inch bay, because of potential cooling and electromagnetic
interference (EMI) constraints.
Server board set features
The server board set for Altos G900 consists of a mainboard, memory
board, and processor board.
Mainboard layout
Below illustration identifies the connectors and major components on
the Altos G900 mainboard.
13
Figure 7 - Mainboard layout
Label Description
A 64-bit, 100-MHz, hot-plug PCI-X slots
B 64-bit, 100-MHz, non-hot-plug PCI-X slots
14
Label Description
C 32 bit, 33-MHz, non-hot-plug PCI slots
D Intelligent Chassis Management Bus (ICMB) connector (P24)
E Hot-plug indicator board (HPIB) connector (P23)
F Back panel I/O connectors
1 System tour
G
®
Intel
82550 Ethernet controller
H ATI Rage XL 2D/3D graphics accelerator
J
®
Intel
82544 Ethernet controller
K Video RAM (VRAM) (4 MB total)
L Processor board connectors (P21 and P22)
M ServerWorks south bridge controller (CSB5)
N BMC component
P BIOS Flash component
Q PC87417 Super I/O controller
R BMC Flash component
S Battery
T Reserved
U power control connector (P35)
V power connector (P32)
W Floppy disk drive connector (P25)
X Serial port B connector (P17)
Y USB port 3 header (P18)
Z Front panel header (P19)
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