Supermicro 8042-6, 8042-8 User Manual

®

SUPERSERVER 8042-8
SUPERSERVER 8042-6

USER’S MANUAL

1.0a

SUPER

S

UPERMICR

ALARM

RESET

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The information in this User’s Manual has been carefully reviewed and is believed to be
accurate. The vendor assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies that may be
contained in this document, makes no commitment to update or to keep current the
information in this manual, or to notify any person or organization of the updates.

Please
Note: For the most up-to-date version of this manual, please see our
web site at www.supermicro.com.

SUPERMICRO COMPUTER reserves the right to make changes to the product described in
this manual at any time and without notice. This product, including software, if any, and
documentation may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated
or reduced to any medium or machine without prior written consent.

IN NO EVENT WILL SUPERMICRO COMPUTER BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT,
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECULATIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM
THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT OR DOCUMENTATION, EVEN IF
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN PARTICULAR, THE VENDOR
SHALL NOT HAVE LIABILITY FOR ANY HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, OR DATA STORED
OR USED WITH THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING THE COSTS OF REPAIRING, REPLACING,
INTEGRATING, INSTALLING OR RECOVERING SUCH HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, OR
DATA.

Any disputes arising between manufacturer and customer shall be governed by the laws of
Santa Clara County in the State of California, USA. The State of California, County of
Santa Clara shall be the exclusive venue for the resolution of any such disputes.
Supermicro's total liability for all claims will not exceed the price paid for the hardware
product.

Unless you request and receive written permission from SUPER MICRO COMPUTER, you
may not copy any part of this document.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and
companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies or mark holders.

Copyright © 2003 by SUPER MICRO COMPUTER INC.
All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

iii

Preface

Preface

About This Manual

This manual is written for professional system integrators and PC techni­cians. It provides information for the installation and use of the Super­Server 8042-8/8042-6. Installation and maintainance should be performed
by experienced technicians only.

The SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 is a high-end, quad processor 4U
rackmount server based on the SC862 4U rackmount server chassis and
the P4QH8/P4QH6, a quad processor serverboard that supports Intel Xeon

®

processors MP of up to 2.8 GHz at a Front Side (system) Bus speed of 400
MHz and up to 32 GB of DDR200 (PC1600) SDRAM main memory.

Manual Organization

Chapter 1: Introduction

The first chapter provides a checklist of the main components included with
the server system and describes the main features of the SUPER P4QH8/
P4QH6 serverboard and the SC862 chassis, which make up the Super­Server 8042-8/8042-6.

Chapter 2: Server Installation

This chapter describes the steps necessary to install the SuperServer
8042-8/8042-6 into a rack and check out the server configuration prior to
powering up the system. If your server was ordered without processor
and memory components, this chapter will refer you to the appropriate sec­tions of the manual for their installation.

Chapter 3: System Interface

Refer here for details on the system interface, which includes the functions
and information provided by the control panel on the chassis as well as
other LEDs located throughout the system.

Chapter 7 includes an introduction to BIOS and provides detailed informa­tion on running the CMOS Setup Utility.

Appendix A offers information on BIOS POST messages.

Appendix B provides POST codes.

Appendix C lists the system specifications.

SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

iv

v

Preface

Notes

vi

Table of Contents

Preface

About This Manual ....................................................................................................... ii i

Manual Organization .................................................................................................... ii i

Chapter 1: Introduction

1-1 Overview ............................................................................................................ 1- 1

1-2 Serverboard Features ...................................................................................... 1-2

1- 3 Server Chassis Features ................................................................................ 1 -4

1- 4 Contacting Supermicro ................................................................................... 1 -6

Chapter 2: Server Installation

2-1 Overview ............................................................................................................ 2- 1

2-2 Unpacking the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6................................................... 2 -1

2- 3 Preparing for Setup ......................................................................................... 2-1

2-4 Installing the 8042-8/8042-6 into a Rack...................................................... 2-3

2- 5 Checking the Serverboard Setup ................................................................... 2 -7

2-6 Checking the Drive Bay Setup....................................................................... 2 -9

Chapter 3: System Interface

3-1 Overview ............................................................................................................ 3- 1

3-2 Control Panel Buttons..................................................................................... 3- 1

Power ......................................................................................................... 3 -1

Alarm.......................................................................................................... 3-1

Reset.......................................................................................................... 3-1

3- 3 Control Panel LEDs......................................................................................... 3-2

Power ......................................................................................................... 3 -2

NIC.............................................................................................................. 3-2

HDD ............................................................................................................ 3-2

PWR Fault ................................................................................................. 3-2

Fan Fail........................................................................................................3-3

Overheat ..................................................................................................... 3 -3

SCA Channel ............................................................................................. 3 -3

3- 4 SCSI Drive Carrier LEDs................................................................................. 3 -4

3-5 Power Supply LEDs ........................................................................................ 3-4

SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

Chapter 4: System Safety

4-1 Electrical Safety Precautions...........................................................................4-1

4- 2 General Safety Precautions .............................................................................4-2

4-3 ESD Precautions ...............................................................................................4-3

4- 4 Operating Precautions ......................................................................................4-4

Chapter 5: Advanced Serverboard Setup

5-1 Handling the P4QH8/P4QH6 Serverboard .......................................................5-1

5-2 PGA Processor and Heatsink Installation ......................................................5-2

5- 3 Connecting Cables ............................................................................................5-6

Connecting Data Cables ............................................................................5-6

Connecting Power Cables ..........................................................................5-6

Connecting the Control Panel ...................................................................5-7

5-4 Installing Memory in the MEC .........................................................................5-8

5- 5 Adding PCI Cards............................................................................................5-11

5-6 I/O Ports ...........................................................................................................5-11

5-7 Serverboard Details .........................................................................................5-12

Serverboard Layout ...................................................................................5-12

P4QH8/P4QH6 Quick Reference.............................................................5-13

5- 8 Connector Definitions ......................................................................................5-14

Main ATX Power Connection ................................................................. 5-14

Secondary Power Connections................................................................5-14

Power LED.................................................................................................5-14

IDE/HDD LED .......................................................................................... 5-14

PWR_ON.................................................................................................... 5-15

Reset..........................................................................................................5-15

NIC_LED ....................................................................................................5-15

I2C ...............................................................................................................5-16

Chassis Intrusion .................................................................................... 5-16

Keyboard Lock ........................................................................................ 5-16

Overheat LED (OH) ................................................................................. 5-16

Speaker.................................................................................................... 5-16

Fan Headers ..............................................................................................5-17

Serial Ports ...............................................................................................5-17

ATX PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse Ports ................................................... 5-17

Universal Serial Bus (USB).................................................................... 5-17

IPMB......................................................................................................... 5-17

SMB ...........................................................................................................5-18

Wake-On-LAN............................................................................................5-18

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Table of Contents

viii

Wake-On-Ring ...........................................................................................5-18

Power Supply Fail Header .......................................................................5-18

NMI Header.............................................................................................. 5-19

5-9 DIP Switch Settings ........................................................................................5-19

DIP Switch 1: Processor Speed .............................................................5-19

5-10 Jumper Settings...............................................................................................5-20

Explanation of Jumpers............................................................................5-20

CMOS Clear ..............................................................................................5-20

SCSI Termination Enable/Disable ...........................................................5-20

LAN Enable/Disable................................................................................ 5-21

Spread Spectrum Enable/Disable ......................................................... 5-21

Third Power Supply Fail Alarm Enable/Disable.....................................5-21

LVD Channel A SCSI Termination Enable/Disable ...............................5-22

LVD Channel B SCSI Termination Enable/Disable ...............................5-22

Overheat Fan Force On............................................................................5-22

VGA Enable/Disable ................................................................................. 5-22

5-11 Debug LEDs .....................................................................................................5-23

5-12 Parallel Port, Floppy/Hard Disk Drive and SCSI Connections ...................5-24

Parallel Port Connector .......................................................................... 5-24

Floppy Connector .................................................................................... 5-25

IDE Connectors ....................................................................................... 5-25

SCSI Connectors ......................................................................................5-26

5-13 Installing Software Drivers .............................................................................. 5-27

Chapter 6: Advanced Chassis Setup

6-1 Static-Sensitive Devices ................................................................................ 6-1

6- 2 Control Panel .....................................................................................................6-2

6-3 System Fans ......................................................................................................6-4

System Fan Failure ....................................................................................6-4

Replacing System Cooling Fans...............................................................6-5

Replacing System Exhaust Fans .............................................................6-6

6-4 Drive Bay Installation/Removal .........................................................................6-6

SCSI Drive Installation.............................................................................. 6-7

CD-ROM and Floppy Drive Installation ................................................. 6-10

6-5 Power Supply Modules ...................................................................................6-11

Power Supply Failure ...............................................................................6-11

Replacing Power Modules........................................................................6-11

SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

Table of Contents

ix

Chapter 7: BIOS

7- 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 7-1

7- 2 BIOS Features ...................................................................................................7-2

7- 3 Running Setup ...................................................................................................7-2

7- 4 Advanced BIOS Setup ......................................................................................7-4

7- 5 Chipset Setup ..................................................................................................7-14

7-6 PCI PnP Setup ................................................................................................7-16

7- 7 Power Setup.....................................................................................................7-18

7-8 Boot Setup .......................................................................................................7-20

7-9 Security Setup .................................................................................................7-22

7-10 Exit....................................................................................................................7-24

Appendices:

Appendix A: BIOS Error Beep Codes .................................................................. A-1

Appendix B: BIOS POST Checkpoint Codes .........................................................B-1

Appendix C: System Specifications ...................................................................... C-1

Notes

x

SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

Chapter 1

Introduction

1-1 Overview

The Supermicro SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 is a high-end quad processor
in a 4U rackmount configuration. The SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 is com­prised of two main subsystems: the SC862 high-end server chassis and
the P4QH8/P4QH6 quad Xeon processor serverboard. Please refer to our
web site for information on operating systems that have been certified for
use with the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6.

In addition to the serverboard and chassis, various hardware components
have been included with the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6, as listed below:

! Up to four (4) 603-pin Intel Xeon processors MP (optional)

! Four (4) CPU heatsinks (FAN-042-CF)

! Up to 32 GB ECC registered DDR200 (PC1600) SDRAM (optional)

! One (1) MEC (Memory Expansion Card)

! One (1) 3.5" floppy drive

! One (1) slim CD-ROM drive

! SCSI Accessories

One (1) 68-pin Ultra320/160 SCSI cable (for SCA SCSI backplane)
Four (4) SCA 1-inch high SCSI drive carriers
One (1) SCA SCSI backplane
One (1) SCSI manual

! Rackmount hardware (with screws):

Two (2) rack rail assemblies
Six (6) brackets for mounting the rack rails to a rack/telco rack

! One (1) CD containing drivers and utilities

! SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 User's Manual

Chapter 1: Introduction

1-1

1-2

SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

1-2 Serverboard Features

At the heart of the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 lies the P4QH8/P4QH6, a quad
processor serverboard based on ServerWorks GC-HE chipset and designed to
provide maximum performance with the newest technology available. Below are
the main features of the P4QH8/P4QH6. (See Figure 1-1 for a block diagram of
the GC-HE chipset).

Processors

The P4QH8/P4QH6 supports up to four Intel Xeon processors MP of up to 2.86
GHz with a 400 MHz FSB. Please refer to the support section of our web site
for a complete listing of supported processors (http://www.supermicro.com/
TechSupport.htm).

Memory

The P4QH8/P4QH6 has an MEC card that plugs into a special slot on the
serverboard. This MEC card has 16 184-pin DIMM slots that can support up
to 32 GB of registered ECC DDR200 (PC1600) SDRAM. Module sizes of
128MB, 256MB, 512MB 1GB and 2GB may be used to populate the DIMM
slots. (DDR266 is also supported, but only at 200 MHz.)

Onboard SCSI

8042-8: Onboard SCSI is provided with an Adaptec AIC-7902 SCSI chip,
which supports dual channel, Ultra320 SCSI at a throughput of 320 MB/sec
for each channel. The P4QH8 provides two Ultra320 SCSI ports.

8042-6: Onboard SCSI is provided with an Adaptec AIC-7899 SCSI chip,
which supports dual channel, Ultra160 SCSI at a throughput of 160 MB/sec
for each channel. The P4QH6 provides two Ultra160 SCSI ports.

PCI Expansion Slots

The P4QH8/P4QH6 has a total of six 64-bit 100 MHz PCI-X slots.

Onboard Controllers/Ports

Onboard are one floppy drive controller and two ATA/100 controllers, which
support up to four hard drives or ATAPI devices. The color-coded I/O ports
include a VGA port, one COM port, a parallel port, two USB ports, PS/2

1-3

Chapter 1: Introduction

mouse and keyboard ports and one 10/100 Mb LAN (Ethernet) port.

Other Features

Other onboard features that promote system health include onboard voltage
monitors, a chassis intrusion header, auto-switching voltage regulators,
chassis and CPU overheat sensors, virus protection and BIOS rescue.

Figure 1-1. ServerWorks GC-HE Chipset:

System Block Diagram

Note: This is a general block diagram. Please see Chapter 5 for details.

CMIC

400 MH z H o st Bus

CPU 2 CPU 1CPU 4 CPU 3

CIOB30

REMC

288-bit,

200 MHz

Memory

Bus

REMC

REMC

REMC

Memory Board (32 GB Total)

CIOB30

DIMM Slots

ZCR

PCI- X Slot

SCSI

Controller

PCI-X Slo t

PCI-X Slot

PCI-X Slot

PCI-X Slo t

PCI-X Slo t

CSB5

IPMI

SIO USB 1.1

ATA-100

IDE

BIOS

Serial

Port

Parallel

Port

Floppy

LAN VGA

Thin IMB

IMB Bus

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SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

1-3 Server Chassis Features

The SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 is a high-end, scaleable server platform
designed with today's most state-of-the-art features. The following is a
general outline of the main features of the SC862 server chassis.

System Power

The 8042-8/8042-6 features a triple redundant power supply consisting of
three hot-swappable 350 watt power modules, which supply 700 watts of
continuous power with a 350 watt backup. If any of the three modules fail,
you will be notified by an alarm and an LED and the remaining two modules
will take up the load. The alarm reset button located on the control panel
can be depressed to deactivate the power fail alarm.

SCSI Subsystem

The SCSI subsystem supports up to four 80-pin SCA Ultra320 (8042-8) or
Ultra160 SCSI (8042-6) hard drives. (Any standard 1" drives are sup­ported. SCA = Single Connection Attachment.) The SCSI drives are con­nected to an SCA backplane. The SCSI drives are hot-swap units. A RAID
controller card can be used with the SCA backplane to provide data secu­rity.
Note: The operating system you use must have RAID support to enable the
hot-swap capability of the SCSI drives.

Front Control Panel

The control panel on the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 provides you with
system monitoring and control. LEDs indicate network activity, power sup­ply failure, fan failure, SCSI drive activity and failure and SCA backplane
overheat conditions. A main power button, a system reset button and an
alarm reset switch are also included.

I/O Backplane

The SC862 is a 4U rackmount, WTX form factor chassis. The I/O backplane
provides seven expansion slots, one COM port, one VGA port, a parallel
port, two USB ports, PS/2 mouse and keyboard ports and an Ethernet port.

1-5

Chapter 1: Introduction

Cooling System

The SC862 chassis has an innovative cooling design that includes four 9­cm hot-plug redundant system cooling (intake) fans and two 9-cm exhaust
fans. All system fans (located between the drive bays and the
serverboard) operate continuously. If one fails, an alarm is activated and
the RPM of the remaining fans increase to compensate and maintain suffi­cient airflow.

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SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

1-4 Contacting Supermicro

Headquarters

Address: SuperMicro Computer, Inc.

980 Rock Ave.

San Jose, CA 95131 U.S.A.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail] (General Information)

[e-mail] (Technical Support)
Web Site: www.supermicro.com

Europe

Address: SuperMicro Computer B.V.

Het Sterrenbeeld 28, 5215 ML

's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail] (General Information)

[e-mail] (Technical Support)

[e-mail] (Customer Support)

Asia-Pacific

Address: SuperMicro, Taiwan

D5, 4F, No. 16 Chien-Ba Road

Chung-Ho 235, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web Site: www.supermicro.com.tw
Technical Support:
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone], ext.132 or 139

Chapter 2: Server Installation

2-1

Chapter 2

Server Installation

2-1 Overview

This chapter provides a quick setup checklist to get your SuperServer 8042­8/8042-6 up and running. Following these steps in the order given should
enable you to have the system operational within a minimum amount of time.
This quick setup assumes that your SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 system
has come to you with the processors and memory preinstalled. If your
system is not already fully integrated with a serverboard, processors, sys­tem memory etc., please turn to the chapter or section noted in each step
for details on installing the specific component.

2-2 Unpacking the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6

You should inspect the box the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 was shipped in
and note if it was damaged in any way. If the server itself shows damage
you should file a damage claim with the carrier who delivered it.

Decide on a suitable location for the rack unit that will hold the SuperServer
8042-8/8042-6. It should be situated in a clean, dust-free area that is well
ventilated. Avoid areas where heat, electrical noise and electromagnetic
fields are generated. You will also need it placed near a grounded power
outlet. Read the Rack and Server Precautions in the next section.

2-3 Preparing for Setup

The box the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6 was shipped in should include two
sets of rail assemblies, two rail mounting brackets and the mounting screws
you will need to install the system into the rack. Follow the steps in the
order given to complete the installation process in a minimum amount of time.
Please read this section in its entirety before you begin the installation
procedure outlined in the sections that follow.

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SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

Choosing a Setup Location:

- Leave enough clearance in front of the rack to enable you to open

the front door completely (~25 inches).

- Leave approximately 30 inches of clearance in the back of the rack

to allow for sufficient airflow and ease in servicing.

Rack Precautions:

- Ensure that the leveling jacks on the bottom of the rack are fully

extended to the floor with the full weight of the rack resting on them.

- In single rack installation, stabilizers should be attached to the rack.

- In multiple rack installations, the racks should be coupled together.

- Always make sure the rack is stable before extending a component

from the rack.

- You should extend only one component at a time - extending two or

more simultaneously may cause the rack to become unstable.

Server Precautions:

- Review the electrical and general safety precautions in Chapter 4.

- Determine the placement of each component in the rack before you

install the rails.

- Install the heaviest server components on the bottom of the rack

first, and then work up.

- Use a regulating uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect the
server from power surges and voltage spikes and to keep your
system operating in case of a power failure.

- Allow the hot plug SCSI drives and power supply units to cool before

touching them.

- Always keep the rack's front door and all panels and components on

the servers closed when not servicing to maintain proper cooling.

!

!

Warnings and Precautions!

Chapter 2: Server Installation

2-3

2-4 Installing the 8042-8/8042-6 into a Rack

This section provides information on installing the SuperServer 8042-8/
8042-6 into a rack unit. If the 8042-8/8042-6 has already been mounted into
a rack, you can skip ahead to Sections 2-5 and 2-6. There are a variety of
rack units on the market, which may mean the assembly procedure will
differ slightly. The following is a guideline for installing the 8042-8/8042-6
into a rack with the rack rails provided. You should also refer to the
installation instructions that came with the rack unit you are using.

Identifying the Sections of the Rack Rails:

You should have received two rack rail assemblies with the SuperServer
8042-8/8042-6. Each of these assemblies consist of three sections: an
inner fixed chassis rail that secures to the 8042-8/8042-6 (A), an outer
fixed rack rail that secures directly to the rack itself (B), and a sliding rail
guide (C) between the two, which should remain attached to the fixed
rack rail. (See Figure 2-1, which shows the chassis rail 'A' already
attached to the chassis).

The first thing you must do is to remove the fixed chassis rail (A) from
each assembly. To do this, pull this inner rail out as far as possible

- you should hear a "click" sound as a locking tab emerges from inside
the rail assembly and locks the inner rail. Depress the locking tab to pull
the inner rail completely out.

Figure 2-1. Identifying the Sections of the Rack Rails

A

C

B

2-4

SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

Installing the Chassis Rails:

Position the fixed chassis rail sections you just removed along the side of
the 8042-8/8042-6 chassis making sure the five screw holes line up. Be
aware that these two rails are left/right specific. Screw the rail securely
to the side of the chassis (see Figure 2-2). Repeat this procedure for
the other rail on the other side of the chassis.

Locking Tabs: As you have seen, both chassis rails have a locking tab,
which serves two functions. The first is to lock the server into place
when installed and pushed fully into the rack, which is its normal position.
These tabs also lock the server in place when fully extended from the
rack. This prevents the server from coming completely out of the rack
when you pull it out for servicing.

Figure 2-2. Installing the Chassis Rails

Installing the Rack Rails:

Determine where you want to place the 8042-8/8042-6 in the rack.
(See Rack and Server Precautions in Section 2-3.) Position the fixed rack
rail/sliding rail guide assemblies at the desired location in the rack,
keeping the sliding rail guide facing the inside of the rack. Screw the
assembly securely to the rack using the brackets provided. Attach the
other assembly to the other side of the rack, making both are at the exact
same height and with the rail guides facing inward (see Figure 2-3).

Locking Tab

Chapter 2: Server Installation

2-5

Figure 2-3. Installing the Rack Rails

Installing the Server Into the Rack:

You should now have rails attached to both the chassis and the rack
unit. The next step is to install the server into the rack. Do this by
lining up the rear of the chassis rails with the front of the rack rails.
Slide the chassis rails into the rack rails, keeping the pressure even on
both sides (you may have to depress the locking tabs when inserting).
See Figure 2-4 on the next page.

When the server has been pushed completely into the rack, you should
hear the locking tabs "click". Finish by inserting and tightening the
thumbscrews that hold the front of the server to the rack.

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SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

Figure 2-4. Installing the Server Into the Rack

A

C

B

Chapter 2: Server Installation

2-7

2-5 Checking the Serverboard Setup

After you install the 8042-8/8042-6 in the rack, you will need to open the
unit to make sure the serverboard is properly installed and all the connec­tions have been made.

1. Accessing the inside of the 8042-8/8042-6 (see Figure 2-5):

First, release the retention screws that secure the unit to the rack.
Next, release the two thumbscrews that secure the top cover to the
chassis. Grasp the two handles on either side and pull the unit
straight out until it locks (you will hear a "click"). There are two
square recesses in the top cover to help you push the cover away
from you until it stops. You can then lift the top cover from the
chassis. You now have full access to the inside of the server.

2. Check the CPUs (processors):

The processors are enclosed in an air shroud. You should one to four
processors fully inserted into the serverboard. Each processor should
have its own heatsink attached. See Chapter 5 for instructions on
processor installation.

3. Check the MEC:

The Memory Expansion Card (MEC) should be already installed. Make
sure the MEC is fully seated in its slot and that its retention plate is
screwed firmly to the chassis. For details on populating the MEC,
refer to Chapter 5.

4. Installing add-on cards:

Install any add-on cards that you want added to the system. See
Chapter 5 for details on installing PCI add-on cards.

5. Check all cable connections and airflow:

Make sure all power and data cables are properly and firmly connected
and not blocking the airflow. See Chapter 5 for details on cable
connections.

2-8

SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

Figure 2-5. Accessing the Inside of the SuperServer 8042-8/8042-6

Chapter 2: Server Installation

2-9

2-6 Checking the Drive Bay Setup

Next, you should check to make sure the peripheral drives and the SCA
drives and backplane have been properly installed and all connections have
been made.

1. Accessing the drive bays:

All drives can be accessed from the front of the server. For servicing
the CD-ROM and floppy drives, you will need to remove the top
chassis cover. The SCSI disk drives can be installed and removed
from the front of the chassis without removing the top chassis cover.

2. Installing a CD-ROM and floppy disk drives:

Refer to Chapter 6 if you need to reinstall a CD-ROM and/or floppy disk
drive to the system.

3. Check the SCSI disk drives:

Depending upon your system's configuration, your system may have
some SCSI drives already installed. If you need to install SCSI drives,
please refer to Chapter 6.

4. Check the airflow:

Airflow is provided by four hot-swap input fans and two exhaust fans,
all of which are 9-cm in size. Also note that all power and data
cables have been routed in such a way that they do not block the
airflow generated by the fans. Make sure you reroute them in this
fashion if you disconnect them when adding or removing components.

5. Supplying power to the system:

The last thing you must do is supply power to the system. Plug all
three power cords from the three power supply units into a high­quality power strip that offers protection from electrical noise and
power surges. It is recommended that you use an uninterruptible
power supply (UPS).

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SUPERSERVER 8042-8/8042-6 Manual

Notes

Chapter 3: System Interface

3-1

Chapter 3

System Interface

3-1 Overview

There are several LEDs on the control panel as well as others on the power
supply units, the SCSI drive carriers and the serverboard to keep you con­stantly informed of the overall status of the system as well as the activity
and health of specific components. There are also three switches that
allow you to take action based on the information provided by these LEDs.
This chapter explains the meanings of all LED indicators and audible alarms
and the appropriate response you may need to take.

3-2 Control Panel Switches

There are three push-button switches located on the front of the chassis.
These are (in order from left to right) a power on/off switch, an alarm
disable switch and a reset switch.

! POWER: This is the main power switch, which is used to apply or

remove the power from the power supply units on the server.

! ALARM: Depressing the alarm switch will disable the audible alarm,

which is generated to notify you of chassis overheating or a fan/power
supply failure. The LED indicating the cause of the alarm will remain illumi­nated after the audible alarm is disabled.

! RESET: The reset switch reboots the system.

ALARM

RESET

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3-2

3-3 Control Panel LEDs

The control panel located on the front of the SC862 chassis has seven
LEDs. These LEDs provide you with critical information related to different
parts of the system. This section explains what each LED indicates when
illuminated and any corrective action you may need to take.

! Power: Indicates power is being supplied to the system's power

supply units. This LED should normally be illuminated when the system is
operating.

! NIC: Indicates network activity on the system when flashing.

! HDD: Indicates IDE channel activity. On the SuperServer 8042-8/

8042-6, this light indicates CD-ROM drive activity when flashing.

! PWR Fault: Indicates a power supply failure. This should be ac-

companied by an audible alarm, which you can disable with the alarm
switch on the control panel. Inspect the power supply modules at the front
left of the chassis. The module with the red LED illuminated has failed.
Refer to Chapter 6 for instructions on replacing the failed module. Because
the power supplies are hot-pluggable, you do not need to remove power

Chapter 3: System Interface

3-3

from the system when replacing. (All three power supply modules are
normally active - if one module fails the other two take up the load to keep
the system running.)

! Fan Fail: Indicates a system fan failure. This may be one or more of

the four hot-swap intake fans or the two exhaust fans. A fan failure is
accompanied by an audible alarm, which you can disable with the alarm
switch on the control panel. When a fan stops working, all the other sys­tem fans will increase their RPM to compensate until the failed unit is re­placed (see Chapter 6 for more details.) Refer to Chapter 6 for instructions
on replacing system fans. It is unnecessary to power down the system as
these are hot-swap fans.
Note: You must use the exact same brand and rating of fan for replace­ment. These can be obtained directly from Supermicro.

! Overheat: Indicates an overheat condition in the chassis. This may

be caused by cables obstructing the airflow in the system, or the ambient
room temperature being too warm. You should also check to make sure
that the chassis cover is installed and that all fans are present and operat­ing normally.

! SCA Channel: Indicates an overheat condition in the area of the

SCA SCSI drives and backplane. This may be caused by cables obstructing
the airflow in the system, or the ambient room temperature being too warm.
You should also check to make sure that the chassis cover is installed and
that all fans are present and operating normally.

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3-4

3-4 SCSI Drive Carrier LEDs

Each SCSI drive carrier has two LEDs.

! Green: When illuminated, the green LED on the front of the SCSI drive

carrier indicates drive activity. A connection to the SCSI SCA backplane
enables this LED to blink on and off when that particular drive is being
accessed.

! Red: When illuminated, the red LED on the front of the SCSI drive

carrier indicates the drive has experienced a fault or has crashed. Please
refer to Chapter 6 for instructions on replacing failed SCSI drives.

3-5 Power Supply LEDs

Each of the three separate power units that comprise the power supply has
a single LED that can be illuminated either as green or red.

! Green: When green, the power unit has power applied to it and is

operating normally.

! Red: A red LED is normal only when system power has been turned

off. If the LED is red, it indicates that either (1) no power is being applied
to that particular power unit or (2) that particular power unit has failed.
First check to make sure the power cord for that unit is plugged into both
the power unit and a grounded wall outlet/power strip. If the power cord is
properly connected, not, refer to Section 6-5 for instructions on replacing
the power supply unit.