Acer R910 User Manual

Acer Altos R910 Series

User’s Guide

Copyright © 2006 Acer Incorporated
All Rights Reserved.

Acer Altos R910 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 server. 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 R910

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 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.

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: 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 limits may be attached to this equipment. Operation
with noncertified peripherals is likely to result in interference to radio and TV
reception.

iv

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 device does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus set out in the interference-causing equipment standard
entitled “Digital Apparatus” ICES-003 of the Canadian Deparmment of
Communications.

Laser compliance statement

The DVD-ROM drive in this server is a laser product. The optical 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 the 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 chassis 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 type 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 meet the following criteria:

• An IEC 320 C13 connector to plug into the power supply on the server.

• For North America or similar electrical distribution systems: UL listed/
CSA certified, 16/3 type SJT/SO, with NEMA 6-15P SPT-2, or equivalent
attachment plug.

• For Europe or similar electrical distribution systems: VDE certified or
HAR rated 250V, 3 x 1.0mm2 minimum conductor size, rather for no
less than the product ratings.

• Maximum length is 14.76 feet (4.5 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 7

Front bezel 7
Front panel 8
Rear panel 13
Internal components 16

System boards 17

Mainboard 17
SCSI backplane board 19
Hot-plug memory board 20

System jumpers 22

2 System setup 23

Setting up the system 25

Pre-installation requirements 25
Connecting peripherals 26
Turning on the system 27

Power-on problems 28
Configuring the system OS 29
Turning off the system 30

Contents

3 System upgrade 31

Installation precautions 33

ESD precautions 33

Pre-installation instructions 33

Post-installation instructions 34
Opening the server 35

Removing the front bezel 35

Installing the front bezel 36

Removing the top cover 36

Installing the top cover 37

Removing the CPU air baffle 38

Installing the CPU air baffle 39

Removing the center brace 40

Installing the center brace 41

viii

Removing a memory board air baffle 42
Installing a memory board air baffle 43

Configuring hot-pluggable components 44

Hard disk drives 45
Installing a HDD 46
System fan assembly 47
Power supply 49
Memory board 51
PCI card 55

Configuring cold-pluggable components 57

DVD drive 58

5.25-inch drive 60
Processor 62
Processor core VRMs 66
Memory board 69
DIMM modules 72
PCI card 76
ARMC/3 (optional) or BMC module 77

Configuring integrated SCSI hardware RAID components 79

RAID activation key 80
RAID cache 81
RAID BBU 83

4 BIOS setup 87

Introduction 89
System options menu 90
BIOS setup 96
Using the BIOS menus 98

Main 98
Processor 100
Memory 103
Devices 109
Server Management 117
Security 122
Save, Restore & Exit 124

Upgrading the BIOS 125

5 Troubleshooting 127

Troubleshooting 129

Resetting the system 129
Problems following initial system installation 129
First steps checklist 130
Hardware diagnostic testing 131

Verifying proper operation of key system lights 131
Specific problems and corrective actions 132

Appendix A: Acer Altos R910 rack

installation guide 141

Setting up the system rack 143

System rack installation 145
Vertical mounting hole pattern 146

Installing the system into the rack 147

Appendix B: Memory configuration options 155

Introduction 157
Installation and population order 158

Memory board installation order 158
DIMM module installation order 158
DIMM module population order 159

Memory modes 163

Maximum compatibility 164
Maximum performance 166
Memory sparing 168
Memory RAID 170
Memory mirroring 172

ix

Appendix C: Integrated SCSI hardware RAID

configuration 175

Configuring the integrated SCSI hardware RAID 177

Index 179

x

1 System tour

The Acer Altos R910 is a rack optimized 64-bit
Intel Xeon MP processor-based server system.
The system features redundant memory,
networking, hot-plug PCI slots, standard-based
server management, and server-oriented
embedded I/O. Remote monitoring and
management functions are also included,
providing a new level of user tools for server
administration.

This chapter provides a brief overview of the
system hardware, including illustrations and
component identification.

Features summary

Listed below are the system’s key features:

Processor

• Supports one to four physical processors

• Dual-core Intel

• 64-bit Intel Xeon processors MP with 1 MB L2 cache

• 667 or 800 MHz front side bus

• Hyper-Threading Technology

• Extended Memory 64-bit Technology

• Demand-Based Switching for power savings

• Execute -Disable Bit for hardware support of security features

Chipset

• Intel E8501 chipset (north bridge)

• Support dual front side bus

• Support for hot-plug memory

• Intel IOP332 storage I/O processor

• Includes Intel XScale Technology works in conjunction with
the LSI Logic 53C1030 Ultra320 SCSI controller to support
optional integrated SCSI hardware RAID

• Intel 81801EB I/O Controller Hub 5 (south bridge)

®

Xeon™ processors 7000 sequence

3

Memory subsystem

• Supports up to 64GB of DDR2-400 MHz (PC2-3200) registered ECC
memory modules

• Supports one to four hot-plug memory boards

• Each memory board supports:

- Four DIMM slots

- DDR2 channels with two DIMMs per channel

- Connection through x16 PCI-Express slots

4

1 System tour

• Memory reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features

• Memory mirroring

• Memory RAID

•Memory sparing

• Memory hot-plug

• x8 SDDC (Single Device Data Correction) for memory error
detection and correction

Media storage

• One 5.25-inch device bay supports:

• AIT2 tape drive

• LTO-2 half-height tape drive

• Up to five hot-plug Ultra320 SCSI hard disk drives

SCSI controller

• LSI Logic 53C1030 LVD SCSI controller

• Dual independent Ultra320 SCSI interfaces (internal)

Integrated hardware RAID (optional)

• Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 10

• Requires RAID activation key (iButton)

• Requires DDR2-400 registered ECC DIMM for RAID cache

• Supports RAID BBU (Battery Backup Unit). Available as an upgrade
option.

Note: After installing the iButton and RAID cache DIMM, the
system BIOS setup allows you to enable the hardware RAID
solution. For detailed installation instructions, see “Configuring
integrated SCSI hardware RAID components” on page 79.

You can also install a RAID BBU to improve fault tolerance by
enhance by protecting data in the RAID cache in the event of
power failure. For more information on how to install a RAID BBU,
see “Installing the RAID BBU” on page 85.

Serial ATA port

• One SATA port (reserved for slim-type DVD drive)

Networking

• Broadcom BCM5704C Gigabit Ethernet Controller with dual ports

PCI I/O

• One hot-plug x8 PCI Express slot

• Three hot-plug x8 PCI Express slots (with x4 throughput)

• One hot-plug 133 MHz, 64-bit PCI-X slot

• Two non hot-plug 100 MHz, 64-bit PCI-X slots

Note: The PCI hot-plug function allows the removal of a standard
PCI adapter from the system without stopping the software or
powering down the unit.

Graphic interface

• ATI Radeon® 7000 video controller with 16MB SDRAM

Baseboard Management Controller

• Integrated Acer BMC module

• IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) 2.0 compliant

• Supports ARMC/3 (Acer Remote Management Card/3) (optional)

5

I/O ports

• Front

• VGA/monitor port

• Three USB 2.0 ports

•Rear

• Serial port

• External SCSI connector (optional)

• VGA/monitor port

• Two USB 2.0 ports

6

1 System tour

• Two Gigabit LAN ports (RJ-45)

• Server management port (RJ-45)

1

Operating system and software

• Operating system options:

• Microsoft

®

Windows® Server 2003, x64 Edition

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0, EM64T

•SUSE

®

Linux Enterprise Server 9.0

• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0, EM64T

• ASM (Acer Server Manager)

• Easy Build (includes SCSI RAID Configuration Utility)

2

2

Power supply

• Two 220-volts, 1470-watt hot-swap (1+1) redundant power supply
modules

System fan

• Two hot-swap redundant system fan modules

• Two redundant (1+1) fans in each system fan module

1 Reserved for remote management of server. This requires installation of an ARMC/3.
2 For more information on how to install and use ASM and Easy Build utilities, refer

to the manual on the EasyBUILD DVD.

External and internal structure

Front bezel

The front bezel provides an interface for system management via
status LED indicators. The status LEDs on the bezel mirrors the LEDs on
the front panel, indicating HDD activity, LAN1 and LAN2, system status/
fault, power, and ID status. The bezel is detachable to allow access to
the external drive bays, serial and USB connectors, LED indicators, and
the power, reset, and system ID buttons. A summary of the indicators
and components behind the bezel is given in the succeeding section.

7

Item Icon Component Item Icon Component

A HDD (hard disk

drive) activity
indicator

B LAN 1 status

indicator

C LAN2 status

indicator

For details on how to remove the front bezel, see “Removing the front
bezel” on page 35.

D Status/fault

indicator

EPower indicator

F System ID indicator

8

Front panel

Item Icon Component Item Icon Component

A DVD drive bay F6 Reset button

1 System tour

B 5.25-inch drive

bays

C VGA/monitor

port

D NMI button G Hot-swap system fan

E USB 2.0 ports H Hot-swap system fan

F1 HDD (hard disk

drive) activity
indicator

F7 Power button

F8 System ID button

assembly eject
button

modules

I Hot-swap system fan

assembly indicator *

Item Icon Component Item Icon Component

9

F2 LAN1 and LAN2

status indicator

F3 Status/fault

indicator

F4 Power indicator L Hot-plug HDD

F5 System ID

indicator

* The hot-swap system fan assembly indicator lights up amber when a fan module fails.

J Hot-plug HDDs

K Hot-plug HDD

activity indicator

carrier latch

Front panel control button functions

Below table lists the functions of the front panel control buttons.

Item Function

NMI button Puts the server in a halt-state for diagnostic purposes.

Reset button Press to reset the system.

Power button Press to turn the system power on and off.

System ID button Press to turn the system ID LED on and off.

Hot-plug HDD
carrier latch

Hot-swap system
fan eject button

Press to release the hot-plug HDD carrier lever.

Press to release the hot-swap system fan lever.

10

Front panel LED indicators

Below table lists the LED states on the front panel.

1 System tour

Item

A HDD

BLAN1,

LED
indicator

activity
indicator

LAN2
status
indicator

Color Status Description

Green, on HDD is being initialized.

Green,
blinking

Amber, on HDD or HDD slot failure.

Amber,
slow
blinking
(~1 Hz)

Amber,
fast
blinking
(~2.5 Hz)

Green, on Inactive No network access

Green, off Idle

Green,
blinking

Active Network access

HDD is active.

A predictive HDD or HDD
slot failure or rebuild is
in process.

HDD rebuild is
interrupted or rebuild on
empty slot.

11

Item

C Status/

DPower

LED
indicator

fault
indicator

indicator

Color Status Description

Green, on Ready System booted and ready.

Green,
blinking

Amber, on Critical

Amber,
blinking

Green, off Power off System is not powered

Green, on Power on System has power

Green, off S4/S5 System in ACPI S4 or S5

Green,
blinking

Degraded CPU or DIMM disabled

Critical power supply,

condition

Non­critical
condition

S1 System in ACPI S1 state

blower, voltage, or
temperature failure.

• Redundant power
supply or blower
failure.

• Non-critical blower,
voltage, and
temperature failure.

on.

applied to it.

state (power off).

(sleep mode).

E System ID

indicator

F Hot-swap

system fan
module
status
indicator

Green, on S0 System in ACPI S0 state

(legacy power on).

Blue, on System identification is

active.

Blue, off System identification is

Amber, on Non-

critical
condition

Amber, off Fan normal operation.

disabled.

Fan failure

12

1 System tour

Item

GHot-plug

LED
indicator

HDD
activity
indicator

Color Status Description

Amber,
flashing

Amber +
Green,
alternate
flashing

Amber,
flashing

Unlit • No HDD is installed.

HDD is active.

• HDD is powered on
and rebuilding RAID.

• HDD is powered on
and has a fault
condition.

HDD is not powered on
and has a fault condition.

• HDD is initiated but
has no current activity.

Rear panel

Item Component Item Component

A Serial port G1, G2Hot-swap power supply

module status indicators

13

B1 - B7B1 Hot-plug PCI Express x8 slot

B2 Hot-plug PCI-X 133MHz slot
B3 Hot-plug PCI Express x8 slot

(with x4 throughput)
B4 Hot-plug PCI Express x8 slot

(with x4 throughput)
B5 Hot-plug PCI Express x8 slot

(with x4 throughput)
B6 PCI-X 100MHz slot
B7 PCI-X 100MHz slot

C External SCSI connector

(optional)

D VGA/monitor port J System ID indicator

E USB 2.0 ports K Server management port

F Gigabit LAN ports (10/100/1000

Mbps)

* Reserved for remote management of server. This requires installation of an ARMC/3 (Acer
remote management card/3).

H1, H2Hot-swap power supply

module DC input power
connectors

I Sytem ID button

*

(RJ-45)

14

Rear panel LED indicators

Below table lists the LED states on the rear panel.

1 System tour

Item

A1 Hot-swap

A2 Fault

A3 DC OK

B System ID

LED
indicator

power
supply
module
status
indicator

indicator

Function Color Description

Power
good
indicator

indicator

indicator

Green, on System has power

applied to it.

Amber, on • Power rail failure.

• Power supply is in a
latched state.

Amber, off • Power supply module

failure, +3.3 VSB is
lost.

• System is not powered
on.

Green, on DC power cord is plugged

into an active DC power
source.

Blue, on System identification is

active.

Blue, off System identification is

disabled.

15

Item

C LAN port

LED
indicator

indicators

Function Color Description

Status Green, on Network link is detected.

Green, off No network connection.

Green,
blinking

Speed Green/

Amber, off

Green, on 100 Mbps connection

Amber, on 1000 Mbps connection

Network connection in
place.

10 Mbps connection

16

1 System tour

Internal components

Item Component Item Component

A DVD drive bay D Plastic PCI slot divider and

PCI bus slots

B CPU air baffle E Memory board

C Memory board air baffle F Mainboard

17

System boards

Mainboard

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

Item Description Item Description

A Server management port

(RJ-45) *

B Integrated SCSI hardware

RAID activation key
(iButton) connector

C PCI-X 100MHz (Slot 7) S DC power connectors

Q BMC or ARMC/3 module

connector (optional)

R Memory board slot B

18

1 System tour

Item Description Item Description

D PCI-X 100MHz (Slot 6) T Power distribution board

(PDB) signal connector

E Hot-plug PCI Express x8

U CPU socket 1
(with x4 throughput) –
(Slot 5)

F Hot-plug PCI Express x8

V CPU socket 2
(with x4 throughput) –
(Slot 4)

G Hot-plug PCI Express x8

W CPU socket 4
(with x4 throughput) –
(Slot 3)

H Hot-plug PCI-X 133MHz –

X VRM 10.2 connector (CPU 4)
(Slot 2)

I Hot-plug PCI Express x8 –

Y CPU socket 3
(Slot 1)

J Gigabit LAN 1 (top),

LAN 2 (bottom)

Z SCSI connector channel A

(connects to the SCSI
backplane board)

K Dual USB 2.0 ports AA VRM 10.2 connector (CPU 3)

L Serial (top),

VGA port (bottom)

BB Integrated SCSI hardware

RAID BBU connector

M Memory board slot A CC SCSI connector channel B

(for internal or external SCSI
connector)

N RTC battery DD Integrated SCSI hardware

RAID cache memory (DDR-2)
slot

O SATA connector EE Memory board slot D

P Front panel board

FF Memory board slot C
connector

* Reserved for remote management of server. This requires installation of an ARMC/3 (Acer
remote management card/3)

SCSI backplane board

Item Description Item Description

19

A Front panel board

connector

B Power distribution board

connector

C SCSI cable connector F Hot-plug HDD connectors

D Power cable connector to

DVD and 5.25” drives

E Hot-swap system fan

module connectors (two on
reverse side)

(two on reverse side)

20

Hot-plug memory board

Item Description Item Description

1 System tour

A Mirror mode indicator F Memory board handle

B RAID mode indicator G DIMM 1B error indicator

C Hot-plug attention

indicator

D Attention button * I DIMM 2B error indicator

E Power indicator J DIMM 2A error indicator

* Press this button to perform a hot-insertion or hot-removal of a memory board.

H DIMM 1A error indicator

21

Memory board LED indicators

The hot-plug memory board has LEDs indicating the configuration and
status of the DIMMs installed on it.

Feature Color Description

Mirror mode
indicator

RAID mode
indicator

Hot-plug
attention
indicator

Power
indicator

DIMM 1A, 1B,
2A, and 2B
error indicator

Green, onSystem is in memory mirror configuration. The

memory board mirrors another memory
board in the system.

Green,
off

Green, onSystem uses RAID memory configuration.

Green,
off

Amber, onMemory hot-plug transition event.

Amber,
off

Green, onPower is detected. The memory board is

Green,
off

Green,
flashing

Amber, onDIMM installed in DIMM slots 1A (J3A2), 1B

System is not configured for memory
mirroring it.

System is not in a RAID configuration.

Normal operation

powered on.

Power is not detected on all boards.

Memory board is in hot-plug event.

(J3A1), 2A (J3B2), and 2B (J3B1) is
malfunctioning and needs to be replaced.

Amber,
off

DIMM is functioning properly.

22

System jumpers

1 System tour

Jumper name Settings Function

JA41
Password clear

JA42
BIOS write protect

J4A3
BIOS recovery

J4A4
BIOS clear CMOS/

NVRAM

1-2 (default)
2-3

1-2 (default)
2-3

1-2 (default)
2-3

1-2 (default)
2-3

Password enabled
Password disabled/cleared

BIOS unprotected
BIOS write protected

Normal boot
BIOS recovery

BIOS clear CMOS
Forced CMOS clear

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 R910 system

•Acer EasyBUILD

• Acer Altos R910 accessory box

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

Caution! The server operates on 220 VDC only. Do not connect
the system to an incorrect voltage source.

Refer to the illustration below for specific connection instructions on
the peripherals you want to connect to the system.

220 V

Note: Consult the operating system manual for information on
how to configure the network setup.

220 V

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 control
panel.

27

The system starts up and displays a welcome message on the monitor.
After that, a series of power-on self-test (POST) messages appears. At
the BIOS splash screen, the System Options menu can be accessed by
pressing a key on the keyboard. For more information on how to use
the System Options menu, see “System options menu” on page 90.

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.

The POST messages indicate if the system is running well or not. If the
POST finds any problems, the system will emit a beep code followed by
an error message displayed on the monitor. 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.

• The ARMC/3 or BMC module is not installed in the server, or not
properly seated.

Check the ARMC/3 or BMC module connection. Make sure the
ARMC/3 or BMC module is properly connected to the mainboard.
For more information on how to install the ARMC/3 or BMC
module, see “Installing the ARMC/3 or BMC module” on page 77.

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.

Configuring the system OS

29

The Altos R910 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 DVD 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 DVD 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 DVD supports 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 DVD.

30

2 System setup

Turning off the system

There are two ways by which you can turn off the server. These include:

• If you are using a Windows OS on your server, you can turn off the
server by clicking the Start button on the Windows taskbar, 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 using another OS, refer to the OS documentation for
instructions on how to shut down the OS.

• 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 to upgrade 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.

33

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 35.

5 Follow the ESD precautions described in this section when

handling a server component.

6 Remove any hardware structure or cable that block access to the

component you must replace or upgrade.

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

34

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 all hardware structure or cable that have been previously

removed.

3 Reinstall the top cover.

4 Reinstall the front bezel.

5 Connect the necessary cables.

6 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 33.

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

Removing the front bezel

Grasp the front bezel at outer edge and pull straight out.

35

36

3 System upgrade

Installing the front bezel

Slide the front bezel onto the chassis.

Removing the top cover

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Loosen the two captive screws located on the faceplate of the

chassis (A). See illustration on page 37.

3 Slide the top cover toward the back of the chassis until the tabs on

the cover disengage with the slots on the chassis.

4 Lift the top cover away from the server and put it aside for

reinstallation later (B).

Installing the top cover

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Place the top cover on the chassis so that the tabs on the cover

align with the slots on the chassis (A).

3 Slide the top cover toward the front of the chassis until it is fully

closed.

4 Tighten the captive screws on the faceplate of the chassis (B).

37

38

3 System upgrade

Removing the CPU air baffle

You will need to remove the CPU air baffle to perform the following
procedures:

• Removing and installing a heat sink

• Removing and installing a CPU

• Removing and installing a DVD drive

To remove the CPU air baffle

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Insert your fingers into the holes on the top of the baffle (A).

3 Pull the baffle up and back to disengage the baffle from the two

sheet-metal tabs on the front of the baffle.

4 Lift the baffle from the chassis (B).

39

Installing the CPU air baffle

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Insert the front of the CPU air baffle under the two metal tabs at

the front of the baffle, just below the SCSI backplane board. One
tab is located on each side of the chassis.

3 Lower the rear of the baffle into place, making sure the guides on

each side of the air baffle will correctly engage in the left and
right chassis slots.

4 Push down the air baffle to the two locations where the word

Memory is printed on the air baffle.

5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

40

3 System upgrade

Removing the center brace

You will need to remove the center brace to remove and install an
optional processor core VRM.

To remove the center brace

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Slide the chassis at each side of the chassis to the unlock position

(A).

3 Lift the center brace from the chassis (B).

Installing the center brace

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Slide the center brace into position in the chassis (A).

3 Slide the latches at each side of the chassis to the locked position

(B).

41

4 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

42

3 System upgrade

Removing a memory board air baffle

You will need to remove the memory board air baffle to perform the
following procedures:

• Removing and installing a memory board

• Removing and installing a PCI card

To remove the memory board air baffle

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Insert your fingers into the two holes on the top of the memory

board air baffle, then push the tab (A).

3 Lift the memory board air baffle from the server (B).

Installing a memory board air baffle

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Insert the memory board air baffle into the memory board slot

with arrow on the tab pointing to the right. The memory air baffle
will lock into the memory board slot.

43

3 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

44

3 System upgrade

Configuring hot-pluggable components

Hot-pluggable components are the components that can be removed
and replaced while the system is powered on. For this server model, it
refers to the following:

• Hard disk drives

• System fan assembly

• Power supply

• Memory board

• PCI cards with OS hot-plug interface

45

Hard disk drives

The server’s hard disk drive bay supports five hot-plug SCSI drives. Use
only Acer-qualified HDDs. To purchase an HDD, contact your local Acer
representative.

Caution! To ensure proper airflow and server cooling, all drive
bays must contain either a carrier with a hard drive installed in it
or a hard disk carrier cover.

Determining drive status

Each HDD carrier features a dual-color LED indicator to display the
hard drive status. If you are replacing a failed HDD, determine which
drive has failed by checking the drive status LED. For more information
on how to determine the drive status, refer to “Front panel LED
indicators” on page 10.

Removing a HDD

1 Observe the ESD precautions described on page 33.

2 If you are removing a failed HDD, determine which drive has failed

by checking the drive status LED.

3 Press the green HDD carrier latch (A).

4 Pull the lever to remove the HDD carrier from the chassis (B).

5 Place the HDD carrier on a clean, static-free work surface.

6 If you are replacing a hard disk, remove the four screws that secure

the hard disk to the HDD carrier, then remove the disk from the
HDD carrier.
Keep the screws for later HDD installation.

46

3 System upgrade

Installing a HDD

Note: To puchase a HDD carrier, contact your local Acer
representative.

1 Perform steps 1 to 4 of the “Removing a HDD” on page 45.

2 Remove the four screws that secure the air baffle to the HDD

carrier (A).

3 Remove the air baffle from the HDD carrier (B).

4 Save the air baffle and screws for later use.

5 Install a hard disk on the HDD carrier, then secure it with the four

screws (A) that came with the HDD carrier (B).

6 With the lever still extended, slide the HDD carrier all the way into

the drive bay.

47

7 Use the lever to push the HDD carrier until it docks into place (A),

then close the HDD carrier lever (B).

System fan assembly

The system has two cooling fan assemblies — two fan modules each —
located on the front panel. Each assembly has an amber LED to
indicate a failed fan condition. If the amber LED is on, the fan assembly
needs to be replaced. The LED remains off during normal operation.

Removing the system fan assembly

Caution: System fan assembly hot-swap operations should be
performed only if a failure occurs in the system fan assembly.

1 Observe the ESD precautions described on page 33.

2 Locate the fan assembly you are replacing. If a fan in the assembly

has failed the amber LED will be lit (A).

3 Press the green button on the front of the fan assembly to release

the handle (B).

4 Use the handle to pull the fan from the system (C).

48

3 System upgrade

Installing the system fan assembly

Warning! To ensure proper system cooling, the replacement
of a failed system fan module should be completed within
one minute.

1 If a system fan assembly is installed in the fan bay, perform steps 1

to 3 of the “Removing the system fan assembly” section.

2 Slide the new fan into the fan bay (A).

3 Push the handle closed until it clicks into place (B).

Power supply

The server has two hot-swap power supply module bays on the rear
panel that accept hot-swap redundant power supply modules. The
system ships out with two power supply modules installed. 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.

49

Caution! Due to chassis airflow disruption, a power supply
bay should never be vacant for more than two minutes when
the server is powered on. Exceeding five minutes might cause
the system to exceed the maximum acceptable temperature
and possibly damage the system components.

Caution! The system does not support running with only one
power supply. To prevent chassis airflow disruption, a power
supply bay should never be vacant for more than two minutes.
Exceeding the time may cause the system to exceed the
maximum acceptable temperature and possibly damage
system components.

Caution! The system operating voltage range is 200 to 240
VDC. Do not plug the power cord into an incorrect voltage
voltage source.

50

3 System upgrade

Removing a power supply

Caution: Power suppy hot-swap operations should be performed
only if a failure occurs in the power supply.

1 Observe the ESD precautions described on page 33.

2 Remove the DC power cord from the power supply.

3 Loosen the thumbscrew on the latch to unlock the power supply

handle (A).

4 Open the handle on the power supply (B).

5 Pull the power supply from the chassis and set it on a clean, static-

free surface (C).

6 Install a filler panel.

Installing a power supply

Caution! To ensure proper system cooling, the replacement of
failed power supply shoule be completed within two minutes.

1 Observe the ESD precautions described on page 33.

2 Remove the filler panel from the empty power supply bay, if

installed.

3 With the handle in the open position, push the power supply in

the bay fully (A).

51

4 Rotate the handle to the closed position (B).

5 Tighten the thumbscrew to secure the power supply (C).

6 Plug the power cord into the DC receptacle on the power supply.

7 Verify that the LEDs on the power supply are functioning. Refer to

the “Rear panel LED indicators” on page 14 for more information.

Memory board

The memory boards in the server connect to the mainboard through
the x16 PCI Express slots or memory board slots A, B, C, and D. Refer to
“Mainboard” on page 17 for the location of the memory board slot.
Up to four memory boards can be installed in the server. Each memory
board has four DIMM slots that support two DDR2 channels, with two
DIMMs per channel. The memory boards support both single-rank and
double-rank, registered ECC DIMMs.

The memory boards can be configured in a redundant or non­redundant configuration. Memory boards configured using RAID or
mirroring are in redundant configuration. If a memory board that is
configured in a redundant configuration has a DIMM or memory board
fault, the memory board and/or DIMM containing the fault can be
removed and replaced while the system is powered on. Memory boards
that are configured in a non-redundant configuration (including
memory boards configured with spare memory) must not be removed
while the system is powered on.

52

Caution! Do not attempt to hot-remove or hot-add a memory
board in a non-redundant configuration. If your server is not
configured in the BIOS setup utility for maximum compatibility,
memory RAID, or memory mirroring, you must power down your
server before removing or installing any memory board or DIMMs.
For instructions, see “Cold removal of memory board instructions”
described on page 70 and “Cold insertion of a memory board
instructions” described on page 71.

3 System upgrade

Memory board replacement options

The server include the following memory board replacement options:

• Memory hot-replace - While the system is in operation and
configured with a RAID or mirroring configuration, you can
replace a failed memory board. The replacement board must
include identical memory capacity. The system will test, initialize,
and rebuild the data on the memory board and then include this
board in the system memory configuration. The activity is
transparent to the OS. For instructions on how to hot-replace the
memory board, see “Removing a hot-plug memory board” on
page 53.

• Memory hot-add - You can increase the memory capacity of the
system while the OS is active and if it is in a RAID or mirror
configuration. If your server is in a RAID configuration, you can
remove only one memory board at a time to upgrade the memory
or replace the memory board. In a mirror configuration, you can
add an additional two mirrored memory boards. In a maximum
compatibility configuration, a new memory board can be added to
an empty slot. When the initialization is complete, the operating
system is informed of the new memory. For instructions on how to
hot-add the memory board, see “Installing a hot-plug memory
board” on page 54.

• Memory cold-plug operation - If your server is not in a RAID or
mirror configuration, you must turn off the server to add or
replace the memory board. To replace or remove a memory board
using cold-plug operation, see “Installing a memory board” on
page 71 and “Removing a memory board” on page 70.

Removing a hot-plug memory board

Note: If you remove a memory board from the server, you must
either replace it with a new memory board or install a memory
board air baffle.

1 Observe the ESD precautions described on page 33.

2 Press the attention button on the memory board. The power LED

will begin to flash. Refer to “Memory board LED indicators” on
page 21 for the location of the power LED.

3 After the hot-plug attention LED stops flashing, make sure the

power LED for the memory board is also off.

Caution! Do not attempt to remove any memory board while any
of the LEDs are either on or blinking. If the attention LEDs do not
turn off, your configuration may not support hot-plug memory
board activity. For instructions on non-hot-plug memory board
maintenance, see “Cold removal of memory board” and “Cold
insertion of a memory board”.

4 Once all the board LEDs are off, press the latch on the memory

board handle to release the handle (A) and lift the handle up (B).

5 Lift the memory board from the server (C).

53

54

6 Install a memory board or memory board air baffle. For

instructions on how to install a memory board, refer to section
below. For instructions to install a memory board air baffle, refer
to “Installing a memory board air baffle” on page 43.

7 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

3 System upgrade

Installing a hot-plug memory board

1 Observe the ESD precautions described on page 33.

2 Locate an empty memory board slot.

3 If necessary, remove the memory board air baffle. Perform

instructions described in “Removing a memory board air baffle”
on page 42.

4 Add or replace memory DIMMs as needed. For instructions, see

“Installing DIMMs” on page 73 and “Removing DIMMs” on
page 75.

5 Ensure the handle on the memory board is in the open position.

6 Align the board edges with the card guides and slide the memory

board into the memory board slot (A).

7 Push the handle down until it is in the locked position (B).

8 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

55

The BIOS setup utility executes a memory test prior to configuring
the memory in POST and when a memory board is inserted into
the system during a memory hot-removal or hot-add operation.

If a DIMM fails the memory test, an LED will light on the memory
board to identify the location of the bad DIMM and the DIMM
bank will be disabled. The failed DIMM is logged onto the System
Event Log (SEL). BIOS setup utility will disable the DIMM and/or the
memory board. Upon subsequent reboots, this memory is not
initialized unless the BIOS setup option “Reset all system memory”
or “Retest board memory” is selected. Refer to “4 BIOS setup” on
page 87 for more information.

PCI card

Caution! Only PCI add-in cards in PCI slots 1 through 5 are
hot-pluggable. If you are installing or removing a PCI card from
PCI slot 6 or 7, see page 76 for more information.

Cards can be hot-plugged in PCI slots 1 through 5. You can remove and
replace a PCI card with OS hot-plug interface.

Removing hot-plug PCI card

To remove a hot-plug PCI card with OS hot-plug interface:

1 Observe the ESD precautions described on page 33.

2 If you are using a Microsoft Windows operating system, double-

click the Unplug/Eject icon in the taskbar to open the Unplug or
Eject Hardware menu.

3 Select the device to be removed and click Stop.

4 Make sure that the power LED on the rear of the PCI slot is turned

off before disconnecting any cables attached to the card.

5 Rotate the slot retention latch on the rear of the card slot upward

(A).

6 Pull up the card to remove it (B).

7 Store the card in an antistatic protective wrapper.

56

8 Install the slot cover over the empty slot, then rotate the retention

latch downward (C).

9 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

3 System upgrade

Installing a hot-plug PCI card

1 If your server is operating, use your OS to power down the PCI slot.

2 Observe the ESD precautions described on page 33.

3 Locate an empty expansion slot on the mainboard.

4 Rotate the slot retention latch on the rear of the card slot upward.

5 Pull up the slot cover.

6 Remove the PCI add-in board from its protective packaging.

7 Align the card in the empty slot.

8 Insert the card into the selected slot. Make sure that the card is

properly seated.

9 Rotate the retention latch downward.

10 Connect any required cable to the card.

11 When using the hot-plug PCI card with OS hot-plug interface:

• Wait for the software user interface to appear on your

monitor and then confirm the device to be enabled.

• Wait for the power LED to turn on.

Configuring cold-pluggable components

Cold-pluggable components are the components that require the
system to be powered down before you can remove or replace them.
The cold-pluggable components installed in the server include:

• DVD drive

• 5.25-inch drive

• Processor

• Processor core VRMs

• Memory board

• DIMM modules

•PCI card

• ARMC/3 or BMC module

57

58

3 System upgrade

DVD drive

Removing the DVD drive

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Disconnect the power and SATA cables from the SATA-to-IDE

converter board on the rear of the media device (A).

3 Press the blue release latch on the media device carrier (B).

4 Slide the media device from the front opening in the faceplate of

the system (C).

Installing the DVD drive

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 If necessary, remove the old DVD drive. See previous section.

59

3 Lift the rear right corner of the media device to remove it from the

carrier (A) and (B).

4 Remove the SATA-to-IDE converter board (C).

5 Remove the new drive from its protective packaging.

6 Attach the SATA-to-IDE converter board to the media device.

7 Install a new media device into the carrier.

8 Slide the carrier into the front opening in the chassis.

9 Plug the SATA and power cables into the converter board.

10 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

60

3 System upgrade

5.25-inch drive

The 5.25-inch drive bay allows 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.

Installing a 5.25-inch drive

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Push the tabs on both sides of the carrier filler panel (A).

3 Hold the tabs in while pulling the carrier filler panel from the bay

(B).

4 Remove the screws that attach the slide rails to the filler panel.

5 Attach the slide rails to the device, then secure it with screws you

removed earlier.

6 Attach the Y-power cable to the rear of the device.

7 Slide the 5.25-inch peripheral device into the server until it clicks

into place.

8 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

61

62

3 System upgrade

Processor

The server supports up to four processors, the following models are
supported:

• dual-core Intel Xeon processor 7000 sequence

• 64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP with 1 MB L2 cache

CPU upgrading guidelines

When installing CPUs the following must be observed:

• Use only Acer-qualified CPUs.

• Each CPU socket include a CPU and heat sink combination.

• CPUs should have identical FSB, cache, and speed.

• CPUs must be installed in sequential order beginning with the
CPU_1 socket.

• If you are installing an additional CPU, read the information on
“Processor core VRM requirements” on page 66 to determine if
you need to add any VRMs and follow the instructions listed on
the requirements.

• If you are removing a CPU, but not installing replacement
processor, read the information on “Processor core VRM
requirements” on page 66 to determine if you need to remove any
VRMs and follow the instructions listed on the requirements.

Removing a CPU

The system may have from one to four CPUs installed on the
mainboard. If you are replacing a CPU on the system, the heat sink
must be removed.

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 33.

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

2 If necessary, remove the CPU air baffle. Perform instructions

described in “Removing the CPU air baffle” on page 38.

3 Locate the CPU you want to remove.

4 Loosen the four screws on the heat sink.

63

5 Lift the heat sink to remove it.

6 Place the heat sink upside down on a flat surface.

Note: Wipe off the thermal grease from both the heat sink and
processor using an alcohol pad.

7 Pull the CPU socket retainer lever to the fully open, upright

position.

64

8 Pull out the CPU from the socket.

Store it in an anti-static bag.

3 System upgrade

Installing a CPU

1 Perform steps 1 to 3 of the “Removing a CPU” section.

2 If a heat sink is installed, remove it.

3 Pull the CPU socket retainer lever to a fully open position.

4 Remove the CPU from its protective packaging.

5 Position the CPU over the socket, matching the two triangle

markers (A) and lining up the CPU pins with the socket (B).

6 Press the retainer lever down to lock the CPU in place.

65

7 If the heat sink does not have thermal grease on the bottom, apply

thermal grease to the heat sink base.

8 Set the heat sink on the processor, aligning the four screws in the

heat sink with the screw sockets in the chassis.

9 Tighten the screws approximately one full turn at a time until each

is evenly tightened. Do not fully tighten one screw at a time.

10 Install the processor VRMs and processor core VRMs as necessary.

To determine requirements, see “Processor core VRM
requirements” on page 66.

11 Reinstall the CPU air baffle. See “Installing the CPU air baffle” on

page 39.

12 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

66

3 System upgrade

Processor core VRMs

Use processor core 10.2 VRMs with processors installed in CPU sockets 3
and 4.

Processor core VRM requirements

This server requires the installation of VRMs when upgrading the CPU
in CPU sockets 3 and 4.

10.2 VRM
for CPU3

10.2 VRM
for CPU4

CPU3

CPU4

CPU2

CPU1

Refer to the configuration label on the inside of the chassis top cover
for the locations of these VRMs. Contact your local Acer representative
for specific VRM requirements. As an overview, the following generic
VRM rules apply:

No. of processors Processor core 10.2 VRM requirement

One None

Two None

Three One core 10.2 VRM

Four Two core 10.2 VRMs

Removing the processor core VRM

Note: The two processor core VRMs are located under the center
brace.

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 Remove the fourth processor core VRM.

Warning! The processor 4 VRM baffle must be installed to
maintain proper system airflow, even though you may not
have installed a VRM.

(1) Push down at the top of the baffle to unlatch it (A).

(2) Pull the cover out at an angle (B).

67

4 Press the holding clips on both sides of the VRM connector (A).

68

3 System upgrade

5 Gently pull the VRM upward to remove it from the socket (B).

Processor 3 VRM

Processor 4 VRM

6 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

Installing a processor core VRM

Caution! The processor core VRM connector is slotted to ensure
proper installation. Make sure that you are inserting the correct
VRM to the connector. Forcing the wrong VRM into a connector
can damage the VRM and/or connector.

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 Verify that the connector of the VRM matches the type installed

on the mainboard.

4 Press the holding clips on both sides of the VRM connector (A).

5 Slide the VRM under the center brace and position it on its socket.

6 Insert the VRM into the correct VRM connector and press down

firmly (B).

69

Processor 3 VRM

7 Press the holding clips inward to lock the VRM in place.

8 Install the VRM baffle over the processor 4 core VRM, if installed.

9 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

Processor 4 VRM

Memory board

The memory boards that are configured in a non-redundant
configuration (including memory boards configured with spare
memory) must not be removed while the system is powered on.

Note: If you remove a memory board from the server, you must
replace it with a replacement memory board or a memory board
air baffle.

Important: Refer to the memory board installation order table
on page 158 when installing and removing memory boards.

70

3 System upgrade

Removing a memory board

Caution! Damage to the system occurs if power is not removed
from the system prior to removal or installation of memory
boards.

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Press the latch on the memory board handle to release the handle

(A) and lift the handle up (B).

3 Lift the memory board from the server (C).

4 Install a memory board or memory board air baffle. For

instructions to install a memory board, refer to section below. For
instructions to install a memory board air baffle, refer to
“Installing a memory board air baffle” on page 43.

5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

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Installing a memory board

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Locate an empty memory board slot.

3 If necessary, remove the memory board air baffle. Perform the

instructions described in “Removing a memory board air baffle”
on page 42.

4 Add or replace memory DIMMs as needed. For instructions, see

“Installing and Removing DIMMs”.

5 Make sure the memory board handle is in the open position.

6 Align the board edges with the card guides and slide the memory

board into the memory board slot (A).

7 Push the handle down until it is in the locked position (B).

8 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

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3 System upgrade

DIMM modules

Each memory board on the server has four DIMM slots. Within the
memory board, the four DIMM slots are organized into two groups.
Each groups is referred to as a bank. You must install the correct type
of memory in each bank. Each slot supports 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB, and
4GB DDR2-400 (PC2-3200), ECC registered, 240-pin memory modules.
The maximum memory capacity is 64 GB.

DIMM module installation guidelines

The following rules apply when adding DIMMs to the memory boards:

• DIMMs must be populated in pairs, referred to as a bank. The two
banks of DIMMs are defined on each memory board as:

• Bank 1: DIMM slots 1A and 1B

• Bank 2: DIMM slots 2A and 2B

When only using two DIMMs, populate DIMM 1A and 1B slots first
to ensure dual-channel operating mode.
Refer to the table below for suggested DIMM population.

DIMM label Bank Population order

DIMM 1A

DIMM 1B

DIMM 2A

DIMM 2B

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22

• Within a single bank, both DIMMs must be identical. Identical
DIMM size and identical number of devices on the DIMM.

• The system does not support mixed-sized DIMMs or DIMMs from
different vendors within the same bank.

Warning! Functionality issues may be encountered if mixed
memory types are installed on the memory board.

• The system does not support combination of single-channel with
dual-channel memory.

• Use only DDR2 DIMMs. Other DIMMs will not fit into the socket.
Attempts to force a non-DDR2 DIMM into a socket will damage
and/or the socket or the DIMM.

• Hold DIMMs only by the edges. Do not touch the components or
gold edge connectors.

• Install DIMMs with gold-plated edge connectors only.

Important: Follow the DIMM module “Installation and
population order” on page 158 when installing and removing
DIMMs.

Installing DIMMs

Caution! Use extreme care when installing a DIMM. Applying too
much pressure can damage the connector. DIMMs are keyed and
can be inserted in only one way.

Note: DIMM slots on the memory module must be installed only
in certain configurations. Numbers next to DIMM slots correspond
to installation sequence. DIMMs must be installed in pairs.

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1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory board. For instructions, see “Hot-removal of a

memory board” on page 53 or “Cold-removal of a memory board”
on page 70, depending on your server configuration.

3 Remove the memory board DIMM cover from the memory board:

(1) Pull out the latch on the memory board DIMM cover (A).

(2) Press the left and right DIMM cover tabs (B).

(3) Press the retainer tab, on the lower right of the cover (C).

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3 System upgrade

(4) Lift the cover from the memory board (D).

4 Locate the DIMM slots on the memory board.

5 Open the clips on the DIMM slot(s) (A).

6 Align (B) then insert the DIMM into the socket (C).

7 Press the holding clips inward to lock the DIMM in place (D).

Note: The DIMM slot 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.

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8 Install the memory board DIMM cover on the memory board:

(1) Align the DIMM cover tabs with the top of the memory board

(A).

(2) Press the retainer tab inward (B).

(3) Press the DIMM cover down until it clicks into place.

9 Install the memory board. For instructions, see “Hot-insertion of a

Memory Board” on page 54 or “Cold Insertion of a Memory
Board”on page 71, depending on your server configuration.

10 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

Removing DIMMs

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.

Caution! Use extreme care when removing DIMMs. Too much
pressure can damage the connector. Apply only enough pressure
on the plastic levers to release the DIMM.

1 Perform steps 1 to 5 described in the “Installing DIMMs” section.

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

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3 Install the memory board. For instructions, see “Hot-insertion of a

Memory Board” on page 54 or “Cold Insertion of a Memory
Board”on page 71, depending on your server configuration.

4 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

3 System upgrade

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.

PCI card

PCI cards installed in slots 1 to 5 are hot-pluggable. If you are adding or
removing a card from one of these slots, you can do so without
powering down the server.

Removing a non-hot-plug PCI card

Caution! Damage to the system occurs if power is not removed
from the system prior to removal or installation of non-hot-plug
boards.

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Disconnect any cables attached to the PCI card.

3 Perform steps 5 to 9 described in the “To remove a hot-plug PCI

card with OS hot-plug interface:” on page 55.

Installing a non-hot-plug PCI card

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Perform steps 3 to 10 described in the “Installing a hot-plug PCI

card” on page 56.

3 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

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ARMC/3 (optional) or BMC module

The ARMC/3 or BMC module provides server management firmware
and functionality for the system.

Removing the ARMC/3 or BMC module

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 Hold the module both by the loop finger grip and by the opposite

corner (A).

Caution: Do not bend or twist the module.

4 Pull up the module to remove it from the connector (B).

5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

Installing the ARMC/3 or BMC module

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

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3 System upgrade

3 Insert the standoff into the hole in the ARMC/3 or BMC module

connector (A). The standoff installs on the bottom side of the
module.

4 Attach the module to the connector and snap the standoff into

the matching hole on the mainboard (B).

5 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

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Configuring integrated SCSI hardware RAID components

The system supports hardware RAID through the storage I/O processor
in conjunction with the LSI SCSI controller. The server platform
supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations. Functionality for
hardware RAID is enabled by using the following components:

• RAID activation key (iButton)

• RAID cache

There is also an option to install the RAID BBU (battery backup unit). If
power to the storage I/O processor drops below specifications, the
RAID BBU maintains the contents of the DIMM by keeping the DIMM
in self-refresh mode until power is restored. After power is restored,
data can be safely written to drives, maintaining the integrity of the
disk array.

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3 System upgrade

RAID activation key

Removing the RAID activation key

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 If a PCI card is installed in PCI-X Slot 7, remove the card. For

instructions on removing a PCI card, see page 76.

4 Insert the tip of a small flat-bladed screwdriver under the plastic

tab on the retainer holding the activation key to the mainboard.

5 Gently push down to detach the activation key.

6 Store the activation key in an anti-static bag.

7 Replace the memory board air baffle.

8 Replace the PCI card.

9 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

Installing the RAID activation key

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 If a PCI card is installed in PCI-X Slot 7, remove the card. For

instructions on removing a PCI card, see page 76.

4 Remove the RAID activation key from its protective packaging.

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5 Align then insert the activation key into the RAID activation key

connector on the mainboard. .

6 Replace the memory board air baffle.

7 Replace the PCI card.

8 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

RAID cache

The RAID cache serves as memory for the storage I/O processor and as a
disk cache to store write data to drives.

Removing the RAID cache

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 Press the holding clips on both sides of the slot outward to release

the RAID cache (A).

4 Gently pull the RAID cache upward to remove it from the slot (B).

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5 Close the clips.

6 Replace the memory boards and memory air baffles.

7 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

3 System upgrade

Installing the RAID cache

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 Locate the RAID cache memory (DDR-2) slot on the mainboard.

4 Open the clips on the slot.

5 Align then insert the RAID cache into the slot (A).

6 Press the holding clips inward to lock the RAID cache in place (B).

Note: RAID activation key and RAID cache is required to activate
integrated hardware RAID. For instructions on installing RAID
activation key, see page 80.

7 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

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RAID BBU

Removing the RAID BBU

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 If a memory board is installed in memory board slot D, remove the

board. For instructions on removing a memory board, see page 70.

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3 System upgrade

4 Disconnect the battery cable from the mainboard (A) and detach

it from its chassis holder (B).

5 Remove the battery holder from the chassis.

6 Open the battery holder by pinching the top and bottom covers of

the holder (A), then detach the cable inside the battery pack (B).

7 Remove the RAID BBU from the chassis.

8 Replace the memory boards and memory air baffles.

9 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

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Installing the RAID BBU

1 Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation instructions

described on page 33.

2 Remove the memory boards or memory air baffles from DIMM

slots C and D. See “Cold Removal of Memory Board” on page 70
and “Removing a memory board air baffle” on page 42.

3 If a memory board is installed in memory board slot D connector,

remove the board. For instructions on removing a memory board,
see page 70.

4 Open the battery holder by pinching the top and bottom covers of

the holder (A).

5 Connect the cable inside the battery pack (B).

6 Secure the battery cable to its chassis holder (A).

7 Attach the cable to the RAID BBU connector on the mainboard (B).

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3 System upgrade

8 Engage the hooks on the back of the battery into the matching

slots on the chassis.

9 Replace the memory boards and memory air baffles.

10 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 34.

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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Introduction

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.

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

System options menu

During the boot process, the system will display the boot progress on
the monitor. The SCSI BIOS scan is displayed followed by the BIOS
splash screen. Press any key on the keyboard to access the System
options menu.

The System options menu, the BIOS version, copyright information and
the following options are displayed:

• Continue Booting

• Boot Manager

• Boot Maintenance Manager

• BIOS Setup Utility

• Error Manager

Note the following reminders when moving around the System options
screen:

• Use the Up and Down arrow keys to highlight an option.

• Use the Enter key to select an option.

• Press F9 to load the default configuration.

• Press Esc to close the System Options menu.