Service Source
Xserve G5, Xserve G5 (Cluster Node), and Xserve G5 (January 2005)
Updated: 11 March 2005
© 2005 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.
Service Source
Xserve G5
© 2005 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.
Xserve G5 is a server designed to mount into a rack; Apple recommends that you remove the Xserve G5 server from the rack before replacing or installing all parts except hard drives. You can replace hard drives while the server is operating and still in the rack.
To identify versions of the Xserve G5, check the front panel. Xserve G5 and Xserve G5 (January 2005) include a slot-load optical drive and three hard drives. Xserve G5 (Cluster Node) has no optical drive and just one hard drive.
Note: For the most part, the procedures in this chapter apply to all versions of the server. When different procedures are required, the version is specified in the topic heading.
Using 2 Gigabyte Memory Modules
2 gigabyte memory modules became a configurable purchase option for Xserve G5 computers starting in March 2005. Only Xserve G5 version 2 logic boards labeled as shown below accept 2 gigabyte (GB) memory modules (DIMMs). Check for this label before you install memory or change logic boards.
General Information |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 1 |
Important: There are two versions of the Xserve G5 logic board that must be replaced like-for-like. Identify version 2 logic boards by the “DDR 2GB” (Double-Data-Rate, 2 gigabyte memory) label as shown below.
Mounting in a Rack
For information on mounting Xserve G5 in a rack, see the Xserve G5 User’s Guide.
You will need a medium and a small Phillips screwdriver and a small flat-blade screwdriver for some procedures. If the server is locked, you will also need the server’s Allen wrench key.
Note: Many take-apart procedures do not require tools.
Server Identifier Light/Button
The identifier light on the server’s front panel turns on when internal sensors or a systems administrator detects a problem with the server. (The light can also be turned on by pressing the identifier button.) This indicator will help you locate which server in a rack needs servicing. In addition, you can use the identifier button to initiate several firmware commands to the system. See “Entering Firmware Boot Commands From the Front Panel” in the Troubleshooting chapter.
Note: A duplicate identifier light/button is on the server’s back panel.
2 - Xserve G5 Take Apart |
General Information |
Before Opening the Server
Serial Number
Be sure to write down the server’s serial number. If the server’s software must be set up after service is complete, the serial number will be required for login.
Unlocking the Server
If the server is in the locked position (the yellow security LED on the front panel is on), use the Allen key that came with the server to unlock it.
Important: When the lock on the server’s front panel is locked, the software ignores the optical drive, keyboard and mouse, and other peripherals connected to the USB and FireWire ports on the server.
Shutting Down
You must shut down the server before replacing or installing all parts except the hard drives. Before shutting down, be sure to alert users that the server will be unavailable for a period of time.
Warning: After shutting down the server, you must wait a few minutes before servicing it to allow internal components to cool.
Follow these steps to avoid damage from ESD before working inside the server.
1.Shut down the server.
2.If the cable management arm is not in use, unplug all external cables except the power cord.
3.Touch the server’s metal case to discharge static electricity.
4.Unplug the power cord.
5.Slide the server open, remove it from the rack, and place it on a flat surface, preferably covered by an ESD mat.
6.Put on an ESD wrist strap, and to avoid static electricity building back up in your body, do not walk around the room until after you have finished and closed the server.
The top cover is attached to the rack where the server is mounted. If you are replacing the top cover, you must remove it both from the server and from the rack. For detailed information on how the top cover is mounted in the rack, see the User’s Guide.
General Information |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 3 |
Xserve G5 and Xserve G5 (January 2005) include three hard drive bays at the front of the server; Xserve G5 (Cluster Node) includes just one drive bay. Drives come as modules attached to carriers; they are removed from or installed in the server as a unit.
Note: Blank drive carriers, which may fill some of the hard drive bays, follow the same take-apart procedure as hard drives. If you are replacing a blank carrier with a drive module, instruct the server’s administrator to keep the blank for possible future use. Blank carriers must be installed in all empty bays to maintain proper airflow through the server.
No tools are required for this procedure.
Before you begin, make sure the drives are in the unlocked position. No other preliminary steps are required. You can replace or install hard drives while the server is running; you do not need to shut down or open the server first.
Note: There are two LED indicators on the front of each drive.
•The upper LED shows drive status: a green light indicates the drive is good; a yellow or red light indicates the drive should be replaced.
•The lower LED shows drive activity: when the light is blinking, the system is reading from or writing to the drive. To avoid losing data, never remove a drive when the lower LED is blinking.
WARNING: Drives must be in the unlocked position before you attempt to remove a drive. If the drives are locked, pulling on the drive to remove it could damage the drive handle.
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Hard Drive |
1.Make sure the drive being replaced is not in use by any application and is not being shared by the server. (See the Mac OS X Server documentation for information about shared drives.)
2.Unmount the drive (by using the command-line tools or by dragging the disk icon to the Trash).
3.Press the handle on the front of the drive module so that the handle pops out.
4.Wait for the upper LED on the drive to go out. Then grasp the drive handle, and pull the drive module out of the server.
Hard Drive |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 5 |
The server slides open from the front of the rack. The server’s top cover remains in place in the rack; the bottom housing (containing all internal components) should be placed on a sturdy, flat surface.
No tools are required for this procedure. You may, however, find a Phillips screwdriver useful in releasing the thumbscrews in step 1 below.
Before you begin this procedure, write down the server’s serial number located on the back panel. If it is necessary to set up the server’s software after service is complete, the serial number will be required for login.
6 - Xserve G5 Take Apart |
Opening the Server |
1.Release the two thumbscrews at the front of the server.
Note: The thumbscrews are captive and do not separate from the bottom housing.
2.Grasp the thumbscrews and slide the bottom housing forward part way to expose the two chassis levers.
3.While depressing both levers, pull the bottom housing all the way forward and remove it from the rack. Place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface and ESD mat.
Opening the Server |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 7 |
Xserve G5 has eight Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) slots arranged in two banks. The slots accept Double-Data-Rate (DDR) Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (SDRAM) devices.
Depending on your configuration, the computers ship with a pair of DIMMs installed in slot 1 of each DIMM bank. You can add DIMMs, provided they are installed in pairs of equal size, one per bank, from the center outward. Numbers marked on the logic board next to the DIMM slots illustrate how the pairs must be installed.
In addition, DIMMs must fit these specifications:
•PC3200 error-correcting DDR SDRAM, also known as DDR-400
•2.5 volt
•64-bit wide, 184-pin module
•18 memory devices maximum
•Unbuffered (not registered or buffered)
•Maximum height of 1.25 inches
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DIMMs |
Important: Always install DIMMs in pairs of equal size. Memory from older Macintosh computers is not compatible with Xserve G5. Do not use older memory, even if it fits into the DIMM slots.
Caution: Do not install 2 GB DIMMs in Xserve G5 main logic boards that did not previously have 2 GB DIMMs installed. Only Xserve G5 main logic boards labelled “DDR 2GB” accept 2 GB DIMMs. Refer to the Logic Board procedure for more information.
No tools are required for this procedure.
Before you begin, open the server and place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface.
DIMMs |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 9 |
1.Push down the ejectors on the DIMM slot.
2.Holding the DIMM by both top corners, lift it straight up out of the server.
Warning: When removing or installing the DIMM, handle it only by the edges. Do not touch its connectors. Lift the DIMM straight up from the connector to remove it, and insert it straight down into the connector to install it. Do not rock the DIMM from side to side.
Replacement Note: The DIMM is designed to fit into the slot only one way. Be sure to align the notch in the DIMM with the small rib inside the slot.
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DIMMs |
In both Xserve G5/Xserve G5 (January 2005) and Xserve G5 (Cluster Node), there are two slots available for PCI or PCI-X expansion cards. The slots are on a riser card located at the back corner of the logic board.
The server accommodates PCI or PCI-X cards that meet the following requirements:
•32 or 64-bit data width
•33, 66, 100, or 133 MHz frequency (133 MHz is available only when a single card is installed; if two cards are installed, both cards operate at the speed of the slower card.)
•3.3 volt signaling (PCI-X cards must have a 3.3 volt connector or a universal connector to fit into the expansion slots; cards with a 5 volt connector will not work in this server.)
•7 to 12 inches long
Important: Be sure to check the documentation that came with any PCI or PCI-X card to verify that it is compatible with Xserve G5. Some cards may need to be installed in a specific slot in the riser card.
Note: Maximum power consumption for both expansion slots combined should not exceed 30 watts. Check the documentation with each card to be sure the cards don’t exceed this limit.
No tools are required for this procedure. You may, however, find a Phillips screwdriver useful in releasing the thumbscrew in step 1 below.
Before you begin, open the server and place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface.
PCI or PCI-X Card |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 11 |
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PCI or PCI-X Card |
Note: If you are removing a RAID card, refer to the following Take Apart topic “RAID Card.”
1.Release the thumbscrew that secures the card(s) to the back of the server and swing the metal cover open.
Note: The thumbscrew is captive; you cannot remove it.
2.If any 12-inch card is installed, slide the card guide toward the front of the server to release the card.
3.Carefully pull the PCI card back from the connector on the PCI riser. Then tilt the card up so that its port clears the enclosure, and remove the card from the server.
Warning: When removing or installing a PCI card, handle it only by the edges. Do not touch its connectors or any of the components on the card. Lift the card straight out from the connector to remove it, and insert it straight into the connector to install it. Do not rock the card from side to side and don’t force the card into the slot. Once the replacement card is installed, pull on it gently to check that it is properly connected.
PCI or PCI-X Card |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 13 |
No tools are required for this procedure. You may, however, find a Phillips screwdriver useful in releasing the thumbscrew in step 1 below.
Before you begin, open the server and place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface.
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RAID Card and Standoff |
1.Release the thumbscrew that secures the PCI/PCI-X card(s) to the back of the server and swing the metal cover open.
Note: The thumbscrew is captive; you cannot remove it.
2.Carefully pull the RAID card back from the connector on the PCI riser. Then tilt the card so that its cables clear the enclosure, and lift the card a short distance out of the server.
Warning: When removing or installing the RAID card, handle it only by the edges. Do not touch its connectors or any of the components on the card. Lift the card straight out from the connector to remove it, and insert it straight into the connector to install it. Do not rock the card from side to side and don’t force the card into the slot. Once the replacement card is installed, pull on it gently to check that it is properly connected.
Important: Be careful not to lift the card too high or with too much force, because it is attached to the server by the card cables. You’ll detach the cables in the next step.
RAID Card and Standoff |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 15 |
3. Turn the card over and disconnect the three RAID card cables.
Replacement Note: Before installing the RAID card in the PCI riser, do the following: 1) Plug the backup battery cable into the connector on the card. 2) Connect the three RAID card cables to card connectors as illustrated below:
•To port 0 (nearest the fence), connect cable A (longest, may be blue-banded)
•To port 1 (second from fence), connect cable B (middle-length, may be red-banded)
•To port 2 (third from fence), connect cable C (shortest, may be white-banded).
Important: Do not connect any cable to Port 3 on the RAID card.
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RAID Card and Standoff |
Follow these steps to replace a missing RAID card standoff..
1.Mark the postion of the standoff, which will be installed in the hole in the corner of the card where shown above. Using your fingernail ,mark the position of the standoff on the black sheet of mylar insulation beneath the RAID card.
2.Remove the card from the PCI slot and using the square of double-stick tape included with the standoff, tape the black mylar insulation sheet to the bottom of the server. Adhere the double-stick tape to the metal chasis floor directly below the spot you marked.
3.Remove the paper covering from the underside of the standoff’s base. Re-install the card in the bottom PCI slot with the standoff in place, and press the standoff against the mylar sheet.
RAID Card and Standoff |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 17 |
No tools are required for this procedure. You may, however, find a Phillips screwdriver useful in releasing the thumbscrew in step 1 below.
Before you begin, open the server and place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface.
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PCI Riser |
If all cards installed are the standard 7-inch version, you can remove the cards and riser as a unit. However, if a RAID card or a 12-inch card is installed, you must disconnect the card from the riser before removing the riser from the server. (See step 2 below.)
1.Release the thumbscrew that secures the card(s) to the back of the server and swing the metal cover open.
Note: The thumbscrew is captive; you cannot remove it.
2.If any 12-inch card is installed, slide the card guide toward the front of the server to release the card. Then remove the card from the riser.
3.Lift the latches slightly on either side of the riser connector to release it from the logic board.
4.Pull the riser back from the logic board, and remove the riser and PCI card(s) from the server.
PCI Riser |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 19 |
5.If you are replacing the riser, disconnect the PCI card(s) from the original riser and transfer them to the new riser.
Warning: When removing or installing a PCI card, handle it only by the edges. Do not touch its connectors or any of the components on the card. Lift the card straight out from the connector to remove it, and insert it straight into the connector to install it. Do not rock the card from side to side and don’t force the card into the slot. Once the replacement card is installed, pull on it gently to check that it is properly connected.
20 - Xserve G5 Take Apart |
PCI Riser |
The only tool required for this procedure is a small flat-blade screwdriver.
Before you begin, open the server and place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface.
Power Supply Fan Duct |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 21 |
1.Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver under the latch at the right side of the duct and pry the latch forward until it releases the duct from the enclosure.
2.Repeat step 1 for the left latch.
3.Holding the duct at both ends, lift it straight up and remove it from the server.
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Power Supply Fan Duct |
The PCI fan is attached to a plastic duct; you remove the fan and duct as a unit.
The only tool required for this procedure is a small flat-blade screwdriver.
Before you begin, open the server and place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface.
PCI Fan Duct |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 23 |
1.Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver under the latch at the side of the PCI fan duct and pry the latch forward until it releases the duct from the enclosure.
2.Holding the duct at both ends, lift it straight up a short distance.
3. Disconnect the PCI fan cable from the logic board.
4. Remove the PCI fan duct from the enclosure. |
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PCI Fan Duct |
PCI Fan
The PCI fan is located inside the PCI fan duct.
No tools are required for this procedure.
Before you begin, do the following:
•Open the server and place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface.
•Remove the PCI fan duct.
PCI Fan |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 25 |
1.Remove the three screws that mount the PCI fan to the PCI fan duct.
2.Remove the fan from the duct.
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PCI Fan |
Optical Drive,
Xserve G5
Note: The Xserve G5 (Cluster Node) server does not include an optical drive.
The only tool required for this procedure is a jeweler’s Phillips (#0) screwdriver.
Before you begin, open the server and place the bottom housing on a sturdy, flat surface.
Optical Drive, Xserve G5 |
Xserve G5 Take Apart - 27 |