Dell PowerEdge 2400 User Manual

™

Dell™ PowerEdge™ 2400 Systems

INSTALLATION AND

TROUBLESHOOTING

GUIDE

www.dell.com

___________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 1999 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, PowerE dge , Dimension, Inspiron, OptiPlex, Latitude, Dell OpenManage, and DellWare
are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation; MMX is a trademark of Intel Corporation; OS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation;
VESA is a registered trademark of Video Electronics Standards Association.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their
products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own

October 1999 P/N 9437P Rev. A01

Safety Instructions

Use the following safety guidelines to ensure your own personal safety and to help
protect your computer or storage system from potential damage.

Notes, Notices, Cautions, and Warnings

Throughout this guide, blocks of text may be accompanied by an icon and printed in
bold type or in italic type. These blocks are notes, notices, cautions, and warnings,
and they are used as follows:

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer system.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of
data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.

WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, could result in death or serious bodily injury

Safety Caution and Warnings

Observe the following caution and warnings while servicing this system:

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly
installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recom
mended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.

WARNING: This system may have more than one power supply cable. To
reduce the risk of electrical shock, disconnect all power supply cables
before servicing the system.

DÙLEITÉ UPOZORNÌNÍ: Tento systém mùe mít více napájecích kabelù. Ke
sníení rizika úrazu elektrickým proudem je nutné, aby školený servisní technik
pøed provádìním servisu systému odpojil všechny napájecí kabely.

-

v

ADVARSEL: Dette system kan have mere end et strømforsyningskabel. For
at reducere risikoen for elektrisk stød, bør en professionel servicetekniker
frakoble alle strømforsyningskabler, før systemet serviceres.

VAROITUS: Tässä järjestelmässä voi olla useampi kuin yksi virtajohto. Säh­köiskuvaaran pienentämiseksi ammattitaitoisen huoltohenkilön on
irrotettava kaikki virtajohdot ennen järjestelmän huoltamista.

ПРЕДУПРЕЖДЕНИЕ: Данная система может иметь несколько кабелей
электропитания. Во избежание электрического удара квалифицированный
техник долж ен о тключить все кабели электропитания прежде, чем приступить к
обслуживанию системы.

OSTRZE¯ENIE: System ten mo¿e mieæ wiêcej ni¿ jeden kabel zasilania. Aby
zmniejszyæ ryzyko pora¿enia pr¹dem, przed napraw¹ lub konserwacj¹ systemu
wszystkie kable zasilania powinny byæ od³¹czone przez przeszkolonego technika
obs³ugi.

ADVARSEL! Det er mulig at dette systemet har mer enn én strømledning.
Unngå fare for støt: En erfaren servicetekniker må koble fra alle strømled­ninger før det utføres service på systemet.

VARNING: Detta system kan ha flera nätkablar. En behörig servicetekniker
måste koppla loss alla nätkablar innan service utförs för att minska risken
för elektriska stötar.

Additional Safety Precautions

To reduce the risk of bodily injury, electrical shock, fire, and damage to the equipment,
observe the following precautions.

General Precautions

Observe the following general precautions for using and working with your system:

• Observe and follow service markings. Do not service any Dell product except as

explained in your Dell system documentation. Opening or removing covers that
are marked with the triangular symbol with a lightning bolt may expose you to
electrical shock. Components inside these compartments should be serviced
only by a Dell authorized service technician.

• If any of the following conditions occur, unplug the product from the electrical

outlet and replace the part or contact your Dell authorized service provider:

— The power cable, extension cord, or plug is damaged.

— An object has fallen into the product.

— The product has been exposed to water.

— The product has been dropped or damaged.

vi

— The product does not operate correctly when you follow the operating

instructions.

• Keep your system components away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do

not block cooling vents.

• Do not spill food or liquids on your system components, and never operate the

product in a wet environment. If the computer gets wet, see the appropriate sec­tion in your troubleshooting guide or contact a Dell-authorized service provider.

• Do not push any objects into the openings of your system components. Doing so

can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components.

• Use the product only with Dell products or other Dell-approved equipment.

• Allow the product to cool before removing covers or touching internal

components.

• Use the correct external power source. Operate the product only from the type

of power source indicated on the electrical ratings label. If you are not sure of the
type of power source required, consult your Dell service provider or local power
company.

• To help avoid damaging your system components, be sure the voltage selection

switch (if provided) on the power supply is set to match the power available at
your location:

— 115 volts (V)/60 hertz (Hz) in most of North and South America and some Far

Eastern countries such as South Korea and Taiwan

— 100 V/50 Hz in eastern Japan and 100 V/60 Hz in western Japan

— 230 V/50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East

Also be sure that your monitor and attached peripherals are electrically rated to
operate with the power available in your location.

• Use only approved power cable(s). If you have not been provided with a power

cable for your computer or storage system or for any AC-powered option
intended for your system, purchase a power cable that is approved for use in your
country. The power cable must be rated for the product and for the voltage and
current marked on the product’s electrical ratings label. The voltage and current
rating of the cable should be greater than the ratings marked on the product.

• To help prevent electric shock, plug the system components and peripheral

power cables into properly grounded electrical outlets. These cables are
equipped with three-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use
adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you must use an
extension cord, use a three-wire cord with properly grounded plugs.

• Observe extension cord and power strip ratings. Make sure that the total ampere

rating of all products plugged into the extension cord or power strip does not
exceed 80 percent of the extension cord or power strip ampere ratings limit.

• Do not use appliance/voltage converters or kits sold for appliances with your Dell

product.

vii

• To help protect your system components from sudden, transient increases and

decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or uninter­ruptible power supply (UPS).

• Position cables and power cords carefully; route cables and the power cord and

plug so that they cannot be stepped on or tripped over. Be sure that nothing rests
on your system components’ cables or power cord.

• Do not modify power cables or plugs. Consult a licensed electrician or your

power company for site modifications. Always follow your local/national wiring
rules.

• To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning

off the system before removing a component from the system board or discon­necting a peripheral device from the computer.

• Handle batteries carefully. Do not disassemble, crush, puncture, short external

contacts, dispose of in fire or water, or expose batteries to temperatures higher
than 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit). Do not attempt to open or ser
vice batteries; replace batteries only with batteries designated for the product.

• Turn down the volume before using headphones or other audio devices.

Precautions for Server and Storage Systems

Follow the additional safety guidelines for your system:

-

• Unless your installation and/or troubleshooting documentation specifically allows

it, do not remove enclosure covers, attempt to override the safety interlocks, or
access any components inside the system. Depending on your system, installa
tion and repairs may be done only by individuals who are qualified to service your
computer or storage system equipment and trained to deal with products capa
ble of producing hazardous energy levels.

-

• When connecting or disconnecting power to hot-pluggable power supplies, if

offered with your Dell product, observe the following guidelines:

— Install the power supply before connecting the power cable to the power

supply.

— Unplug the power cable before removing the power supply.

— If the system has multiple sources of power, disconnect power from the sys-

tem by unplugging all power cables from the power supplies.

• Move products with care; ensure that all casters and/or stabilizers are firmly con-

nected to the computer or storage system. Avoid sudden stops and uneven
surfaces.

Precautions for Rack-Mountable Products

Observe the following precautions for rack stability and safety. Also refer to the rack
installation documentation accompanying the system and the rack for specific warn
ing and/or caution statements and procedures.

-

-

viii

WARNING: Installing Dell system components in a Dell rack without the front
and side stabilizers installed could cause the rack to tip over, potentially result­ing in bodily injury under certain circumstances. Therefore, always install the
stabilizers before installing components in the rack.

After installing system components in a rack, never pull more than one compo­nent out of the rack on its slide assemblies at one time. The weight of more
than one extended component could cause the rack to tip over and injure
someone.

NOTE: Dell’s server and storage systems are certified as components for use in Dell’s
rack cabinet using the Dell customer rack kit. The final installation of Dell systems and
rack kits in any other brand of rack cabinet has not been approved by any safety agen
cies. It is the customer’s responsibility to have the final combination of Dell systems
and rack kits for use in other brands of rack cabinets evaluated for suitability by a certi
fied safety agency.

• System rack kits are intended to be installed in a Dell rack by trained service tech-

nicians. If you install the kit in any other rack, be sure that the rack meets the
specifications of a Dell rack.

• Do not move large racks by yourself. Due to the height and weight of the rack,

Dell recommends a minimum of two people to accomplish this task.

• Before working on the rack, make sure that the stabilizers are secure to the rack,

extend to the floor, and that the full weight of the rack rests on the floor. Install
front and side stabilizers on a single rack or front stabilizers for joined multiple
racks before working on the rack.

• Always load the rack from the bottom up, and load the heaviest item in the rack

first.

• Make sure that the rack is level and stable before extending a component from

the rack.

• Extend only one component at a time from the rack.

• Use caution when pressing the component rail release latches and sliding a com-

ponent into or out of a rack; the slide rails can pinch your fingers.

• After a component is inserted into the rack, carefully extend the rail into a locking

position, and then slide the component into the rack.

• Do not overload the AC supply branch circuit that provides power to the rack. The

total rack load should not exceed 80 percent of the branch circuit rating.

• Ensure that proper airflow is provided to components in the rack.

• Do not step on or stand on any system/component when servicing other

systems/components in a rack.

-

-

ix

Precautions for Products With Modems,
Telecommunications, or Local Area Network Options

Observe the following guidelines when working with options:

• Do not connect or use a modem or telephone during a lightning storm. There

may be a risk of electrical shock from lightning.

• Never connect or use a modem or telephone in a wet environment.

• Do not plug a modem or telephone cable into the network interface controller

(NIC) receptacle.

• Disconnect the modem cable before opening a product enclosure, touching or

installing internal components, or touching an uninsulated modem cable or jack.

• Do not use a telephone line to report a gas leak while you are in the vicinity of the

leak.

Precautions for Products With Laser Devices

Observe the following precautions for laser devices:

• Do not open any panels, operate controls, make adjustments, or perform proce-

dures on a laser device other than those specified in the product’s
documentation.

• Only authorized service technicians should repair laser devices.

When Working Inside Your Computer

Before you remove the computer covers, perform the following steps in the sequence
indicated.

NOTICE: Some Dell systems can be serviced only by trained service technicians
because of high voltages and energy hazards. Do not attempt to service the
computer system yourself, except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in
Dell documentation. Always follow installation and service instructions closely.

NOTICE: To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds
after turning off the system before removing a component from the system
board or disconnecting a peripheral device from the computer.

1. Turn off your computer and any peripherals.

2. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as
the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before
touching anything inside your computer.

While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer
chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

x

3. Disconnect your computer and peripherals from their power sources. Also, dis­connect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock.

In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:

• When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not

on the cable itself. Some cables have a connector with locking tabs; if you are dis
connecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before disconnecting
the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bend­ing any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure that both
connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

• Handle components and cards with care. Don’t touch the components or con-

tacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a
component such as a microprocessor chip by its edges, not by its pins.

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incor­rectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent
type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

-

Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent
static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of
your computer’s electronic components, such as the microprocessor. You can do so
by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an unpainted metal
surface to remove any static charge your body may have accumulated.

You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge
(ESD):

• When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not

remove the component from the antistatic packing material until you are ready to
install the component in your computer. Just before unwrapping the antistatic
packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your body.

• When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic container

or packaging.

• Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use antistatic

floor pads and workbench pads.

The following notice may appear throughout this document to remind you of these
precautions:

NOTICE: See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety
instructions.

xi

Ergonomic Computing Habits

CAUTION: Improper or prolonged keyboard use may result in injury.

CAUTION: Viewing the monitor screen for extended periods of time may result
in eye strain.

For comfort and efficiency, observe the following ergonomic guidelines when you set
up and use your computer system:

• Position your system so that the monitor and keyboard are directly in front of you

as you work. Special shelves are available (from Dell and other sources) to help
you correctly position your keyboard.

• Set the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance (usually 510 to 610 millimeters

[20 to 24 inches] from your eyes).

• Make sure that the monitor screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you sit in

front of the monitor.

• Adjust the tilt of the monitor, its contrast and brightness settings, and the lighting

around you (such as overhead lights, desk lamps, and the curtains or blinds on
nearby windows) to minimize reflections and glare on the monitor screen.

• Use a chair that provides good lower back support.

• Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position

while you use the keyboard or mouse.

• Always leave space to rest your hands while you use the keyboard or mouse.

• Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides.

• Sit erect, with your feet resting on the floor and your thighs level.

• When sitting, make sure the weight of your legs is on your feet and not on the

front of your chair seat. Adjust your chair’s height or use a footrest, if necessary,
to maintain proper posture.

• Vary your work activities. Try to organize your work so that you do not have to

type for extended periods of time. When you stop typing, try to do things that
use both hands.

xii

2

3

5

4

1

1 Monitor screen at or below eye level

2 Wrists relaxed and flat

3 Arms at desk level

4 Feet flat on the floor

5 Monitor and keyboard positioned directly in front of user

xiii

xv

xiv

Preface

About This Guide

This guide is intended for anyone who wants to upgrade or troubleshoot a Dell
PowerEdge 2400 computer system. Before calling Dell for technical assistance, fol
low the recommended procedure(s) in this guide to solve most hardware and
software problems yourself. The sections are summarized as follows:

• Chapter 1, "Introduction" — Overview of the system's service features.

• Chapter 2, "Checking the Basics" — Initial checks and procedures used to solve

basic system problems and information on more detailed troubleshooting proce­dures to solve more complex problems.

• Chapter 3, "Messages and Codes" — System messages, system beep codes,

warning messages, diagnostics messages, alert log messages, and small com­puter system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drive indicator codes.

• Chapter 4, "Finding Software Solutions" — Software-related problems or prob-

lems after testing the computer's hardware.

• Chapter 5, "Running the Dell Diagnostics" — Hardware-related problems.

• Chapter 6, "Checking the Equipment," and Chapter 7, "Checking Inside the Com-

puter" — Troubleshooting procedures for equipment connected to the input/
output (I/O) panel of the computer and components inside the computer, respec­tively. "Checking Inside the Computer" also provides information on removing the
computer covers.

• Chapter 8, "Installing System Board Options," Chapter 9, "Installing Drives in the

External Bays," Chapter 10, "Installing Hard-Disk Drives," and Appendix B, "Install­ing Redundant Power Supplies" — Installation or removal of system components,
such as dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), microprocessors, expansion
cards, and SCSI devices.

• Chapter 11, "Getting Help" — Help tools Dell provides to assist with computer

problems and explanations on how and when to call Dell for technical assistance.
Also includes a Diagnostics Checklist that you can copy and fill out as you per­form the troubleshooting procedures. If you need to call Dell for technical
assistance, use the completed checklist to tell the Dell technical support repre­sentative what procedures you performed to better help the representative give
you assistance. If you must return a piece of hardware to Dell, include a filled-out
checklist.

-

• Appendix A, "Jumpers, Switches, and Connectors" — Jumper or switch settings

to change when troubleshooting the system or adding internal options.

• “Abbreviations and Acronyms” — Abbreviations and acronyms used throughout

this guide and in other Dell documentation for the system.

Other Documentation You May Need

In addition to this Installation and Troubleshooting Guide, the following documentation
is included with your system:

• The Dell PowerEdge 2400 Systems User's Guide, which describes system fea-

tures and technical specifications, device drivers, the System Setup program,
Resource Configuration Utility, and the System Setup Utility.

• The HP OpenView Network Node Manager Special Edition User's Guide, which

describes the features, requirements, installation, and basic operation of the
server management software. Refer to the software's online help for information
about the alert messages issued by the software.

You may also have one or more of the following documents.

NOTE: Documentation updates are sometimes included with the system to describe
changes to the system or software. Always read these updates before consulting any
other documentation because the updates often contain information that supersedes
the information in the other documents.

• Operating system documentation is included with the system if you ordered the

operating system software from Dell. This documentation describes how to
install (if necessary), configure, and use the operating system software.

• Documentation is included with any options you purchase separately from the

system. This documentation includes information that you need to configure and
install these options in your Dell computer.

• Technical information files—sometimes called "readme" files—may be installed

on the hard-disk drive to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to
the system or advanced technical reference material intended for experienced
users or technicians.

Typographical Conventions

The following list defines (where appropriate) and illustrates typographical conven­tions used as visual cues for specific elements of text throughout this document:

• Interface components are window titles, button and icon names, menu names

and selections, and other options that appear on the monitor screen or display.
They are presented in bold.

Example: Click OK.

xvi

• Keycaps are labels that appear on the keys on a keyboard. They are enclosed in

angle brackets.

Example: <Enter>

• Key combinations are series of keys to be pressed simultaneously (unless other-

wise indicated) to perform a single function.

Example: <Ctrl><Alt><Enter>

• Commands presented in lowercase bold are for reference purposes only and are

not intended to be typed when referenced.

Example: "Use the format command to . . . ."

In contrast, commands presented in the Courier New font are part of an instruc­tion and intended to be typed.

Example: "Type format a: to format the diskette in drive A."

• Filenames and directory names are presented in lowercase bold.

Examples: autoexec.bat and c:\windows

• Syntax lines consist of a command and all its possible parameters. Commands

are presented in lowercase bold; variable parameters (those for which you substi­tute a value) are presented in lowercase italics; constant parameters are
presented in lowercase bold. The brackets indicate items that are optional.

Example: del [drive:] [path] filename [/p]

• Command lines consist of a command and may include one or more of the com-

mand’s possible parameters. Command lines are presented in the Courier New
font.

Example: del c:\myfile.doc

• Screen text is a message or text that you are instructed to type as part of a com-

mand (referred to as a command line). Screen text is presented in the Courier
New font.

Example: The following message appears on your screen:

No boot device available

Example: "Type md c:\programs and press <Enter>."

• Variables are placeholders for which you substitute a value. They are presented in

italics.

Example: DIMM_x (where x represents the DIMM socket designation).

xvii

xviii

Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Chapter 2 Checking the Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Backing Up Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Basic Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Checking Connections and Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Look and Listen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
The System Setup Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
The Resource Configuration Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8

Chapter 3 Messages and Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

System Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
System Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Warning Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Diagnostics Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Alert Log Messages From the Dell OpenManage HIP Application . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Indicator Codes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16

Chapter 4 Finding Software Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Installing and Configuring Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Using Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Input Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Program Conflicts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Avoiding Interrupt Assignment Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2

xix

Chapter 5 Running the Dell™ Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Features of the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Starting the Dell Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
How to Use the Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
How to Use the Device Groups Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Device Groups Menu Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

Run Tests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Config. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

Error Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

Chapter 6 Checking the Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Troubleshooting the Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Troubleshooting the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Troubleshooting the Basic I/O Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Troubleshooting a Parallel Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Troubleshooting a Serial I/O Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Troubleshooting a USB Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6

Chapter 7 Checking Inside the Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Safety First—For You and Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Removing and Replacing the Computer Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

Removing the Computer Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Replacing the Computer Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Removing and Replacing the Cooling Shroud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Removing the Cooling Shroud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

Replacing the Cooling Shroud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Inside the Chassis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Responding to a Dell OpenManage Hardware Instrumentation Package Alert

Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Troubleshooting a Wet Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Troubleshooting a Damaged Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Troubleshooting the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Troubleshooting Redundant Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11

Removing and Replacing a Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Troubleshooting a Cooling Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-13
Troubleshooting Expansion Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-14
Troubleshooting System Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-16
Troubleshooting the Video Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Troubleshooting the System Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19

xx

Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive Subsystem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
Troubleshooting a SCSI Tape Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Troubleshooting SCSI Hard-Disk Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
Troubleshooting a RAID Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28

Troubleshooting an Integrated PERC 2/Si RAID Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
Troubleshooting a PERC 2 Controller Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29

Chapter 8 Installing System Board Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Expansion Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Choosing an Expansion Slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Installing an Expansion Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Removing an Expansion Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Adding Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8

Memory Upgrade Kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
DIMM Installation Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Performing a Memory Upgrade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9

Installing DIMMs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10

Removing DIMMs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Upgrading the Microprocessor or Installing a Secondary Microprocessor . . . . . . 8-12

Removing a Terminator Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12

Installing a Terminator Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-13

Removing the SEC Cartridge and Heat Sink Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14

Replacing the SEC Cartridge and Heat Sink Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-15
Activating the Integrated RAID Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-17
Replacing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18

Chapter 9 Installing Drives in the External Bays. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Removing and Replacing Front-Panel Inserts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3

Removing a Plastic Insert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3

Removing a Metal Insert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Connecting the Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4

Interface Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4

DC Power Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
SCSI Configuration Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4

SCSI ID Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4

Device Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Installing a SCSI Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Installing a Tape Drive That Uses a Controller Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Connecting an External Tape Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7

xxi

Chapter 10 Installing Hard-Disk Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

Preparing SCSI Hard-Disk Drives for Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-2

SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-3
Partitioning and Formatting SCSI Hard-Disk Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-3

Installing and Removing SCSI Hard-Disk Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3

Installing a SCSI Hard-Disk Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3

Removing a SCSI Hard-Disk Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Installing a Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller Host Adapter Card . . . 10-5
Installing a SCSI Backplane Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-6
Configuring the Boot Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-9

Chapter 11 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1

Technical Assistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Help Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1

World Wide Web on the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2

AutoTech Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3

TechFax Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3

TechConnect BBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3

Automated Order-Status System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3

Technical Support Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3
Problems With Your Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Before You Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5

Diagnostics Checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5
Dell Contact Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
International Dialing Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-19

Appendix A Jumpers, Switches, and Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Jumpers and Switches—A General Explanation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Jumpers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
System Board Jumpers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
System Board Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
SCSI Backplane Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Disabling a Forgotten Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6

xxii

Appendix B Installing Redundant Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Installing the PSDB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Installing the Dual Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6

Abbreviations and Acronyms

xxiii

xxiv

Table 2-1. Boot Routine Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Table 3-1. System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-2
Table 3-2. System Beep Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Table 3-3. Dell HIP Application Alert Log Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Table 3-4. SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Indicator Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Table 4-1. IRQ Line Assignment Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Table 5-1. Devices Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Table 5-2. Parameters Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Table 8-1. Sample DIMM Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Table 11-1. International Dialing Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Table 11-2. Dell Contact Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Table A-1. System-Board Jumper Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-3
Table A-2. System Board Connectors and Sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4

xxiii

xxiv

Figure 2-1. Back-Panel Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Figure 2-2. Front-Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Figure 3-1. Hard-Disk Drive Indicators

3-16

Figure 7-1. Opening the Front Bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Figure 7-2. Removing the Computer Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Figure 7-3. Removing the Cooling Shroud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Figure 7-4. Inside the System (Right-Side View) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Figure 7-5. Power Supply Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Figure 8-1. System Board Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Figure 8-2. Expansion-Card Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Figure 8-3. Installing an Expansion Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Figure 8-4. DIMM Sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Figure 8-5. Installing a DIMM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Figure 8-6. Removing a DIMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Figure 8-7. Removing a Terminator Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-13
Figure 8-8. Removing an SEC Cartridge and Heat Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-15
Figure 8-9. Installing an SEC Cartridge and Heat Sink Assembly . . . . . . . . 8-16
Figure 8-10. Installing the RAID Hardware Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-17
Figure 8-11. Installing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-19
Figure 9-1. External Drive Bay Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Figure 10-1. Hard-Disk Drive Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Figure 10-2. Installing a SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Figure 10-3. Installing a SCSI Backplane Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Figure 10-4. SCSI Backplane Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Figure 11-1. Diagnostics Checklist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
Figure A-1. System Board Jumpers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
Figure A-2. Connectors on the SCSI Backplane Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Figure B-1. Removing the Top Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Figure B-2. Removing the Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Figure B-3. Installing the PSDB and Dual Power Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
Figure B-4. Features on the PSDB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5

xxv

xxvi

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Dell™ PowerEdge™ 2400 computer systems are high-speed servers that offer signifi­cant service and upgrade features. These systems include the following service
features to make troubleshooting and repair easy and effective:

• Dell Diagnostics, which checks for hardware problems (if the system can boot)

• Embedded server management hardware, which monitors temperatures and

voltages throughout the system and notifies you if the system overheats, if a sys­tem cooling fan malfunctions, or a power supply fails

• Optional redundant, hot-plug power supplies

The Dell PowerEdge 2400 system chassis simplifies removing and replacing com­puter components. You can perform processor and memory upgrades without
removing the system board. The Dell-designed small computer system interface
(SCSI) backplane board and hard-disk drive carriers eliminate the extensive cabling
and drive configuration usually required for a SCSI subsystem.

The following upgrade options are offered for the Dell PowerEdge 2400 systems:

• Additional microprocessors

• Additional memory

• An integrated redundant arrays of independent disks (RAID) controller

• A 1 x 6 or 1 x 4 SCSI backplane

• A variety of expansion-card options

• Dual redundant, hot-plug power supplies

• A Dell OpenManage Remote Assistant Card 2 (DRAC 2) for advanced server

management

support.dell.com Introduction 1-1

1-2 Dell PowerEdge 2400 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

CHAPTER 2

Checking the Basics

If your Dell™ PowerEdge™ 2400 system is not working as expected, begin trouble­shooting using the procedures in this section. This section guides you through some
initial checks and procedures that can solve basic computer problems. It can also
direct you to the appropriate section for detailed troubleshooting information and pro­cedures to solve more complex problems.

NOTE: When you see the question "Is the problem resolved?" in a troubleshooting
procedure, perform the operation that caused the problem.

Backing Up Files

If the system is behaving erratically, back up the files on the hard-disk drives immedi­ately. See the documentation that came with the operating system for instructions on
how to back up the files.

Basic Checks

The following procedure leads you through the checks necessary to solve some basic
computer problems:

1. Was an alert message issued by the Dell OpenManage™ Hardware Instrumenta­tion Package (HIP) server management application program?

Ye s . Go to "Alert Log Messages From the Dell OpenManage HIP Application Pro-
gram" in Chapter 3, "Messages and Codes."

No. Go to step 2.

2. Is the computer wet or damaged?

Ye s . Go to Chapter 7, "Checking Inside the Computer."

No. Go to step 3.

support.dell.com Checking the Basics 2-1

3. Perform the steps in the next section, "Checking Connections and Switches."

Is the problem resolved?

Ye s . The power to the computer system was faulty, or the connections to the
computer system were loose. You have fixed the problem.

No. Go to step 4.

4. Follow the procedures described in "Look and Listen," found later in this chapter.

Did the system complete the boot routine?

Ye s . Go to step 5.

No. A serious malfunction may have occurred. Go to Chapter 11, "Getting Help."

5. Did you receive a system message or beep code?

Ye s . Go to "System Messages" in Chapter 3, “Messages and Codes.”

No. Go to step 6.

6. Verify the settings in the System Setup program. (See Chapter 4, “Using the Sys­tem Setup Program,” in your User’s Guide.

Is the problem resolved?

Ye s . The system configuration information was incorrect. You have fixed the
problem.

No. Go to step 7.

7. Run the Dell Diagnostics. (See Chapter 5, “Running the Dell Diagnostics.”)

Checking Connections and Switches

Improperly set switches and controls and loose or improperly connected cables are
the most likely source of problems for the computer, monitor, or other peripherals
(such as a printer, keyboard, mouse, or other external equipment). A quick check of

the switches, controls, and cable connections can easily solve these problems.

all

Figure 2-1 shows the back-panel connections on the computer. Figure 2-2 shows the
front-panel controls and indicators on the computer.

2-2 Dell PowerEdge 2400 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide