Acer Altos G310 Mk2 series
Copyright © 2005 Acer Incorporated All Rights Reserved. Acer Altos G310 Mk2 series User's Guide 1st Issue: February 2005 Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications.
iii Notices FCC notice Class A devices do not have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Class B devices have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Once the class of the device is determined, refer to the following corresponding statement. Class B equipment This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
iv Notice: Shielded cables All connections to other computing devices must be made using shielded cables to maintain compliance with FCC regulations. Notice: Peripheral devices Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) certified to comply with the Class A or Class B limits may be attached to this equipment. Operation with noncertified peripherals is likely to result in interference to radio and TV reception.
v Important safety instructions Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference. 1 Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. 2 Unplug this product from the power outlet before cleaning. Use a soft, moist cloth for cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. 3 Do not use this product near water. Do not spill water or any other liquid on the product 4 Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, or table.
vi d If the product does not operate normally when the operating instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions since improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition. e If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged f If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service.
iii iii iii iv v 1 System information 1 Product briefing Processor Memory subsystem Storage Graphics interface Networking I/O ports Serial ATA ports PCI I/O Caring features Product specification summary 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 7 2 System tour 9 System board Mainboard layout Jumper settings and CMOS clear External and internal structure Front bezel Front panel Rear panel Internal components 3 Getting Started Setting up the system Preinstallation requirements Selecting a site Checking the package contents
Contents ESD precautions Preinstallation instructions Post-installation instructions Opening the server Before opening the server To remove the side panel To remove the front panel Installing and removing storage devices To install a 5.
Security Power Boot Boot Device Priority Hard disk Drives Removable Devices ATAPI CD-ROM Drives Exit 6 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Resetting the system Problems following initial system installation First steps checklist Hardware diagnostic testing Verifying proper operation of key system lights Confirming loading of the operating system Specific problems and corrective actions Power light does not light No characters appear on screen Characters are distorted or incorrect System cooling fans do not rot
Contents BIOS Beep Codes BIOS Error Messages Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 SATA ports BIOS Features Driver Features Manageability/Disk console Configuring arrays Configuration strategies Assigning RAID levels Performing a quick configuration Configuring arrays and logical drives Starting the BIOS configuration utility Selecting a configuration method Configuring physical arrays and logical drives Physical drive parameters Logical drive parameters Easy configuration Confi
Create RAID1 volume Assign hot spare disk Initialize RAID volume Save and exit MegaRAID configuration utility 121 122 122 122
Contents
1 System information
The Acer Altos G310 Mk2 server is an entry level single-processor general purpose system. The system offers a new standard for flexible productivity ideal for small business or workgroup applications.
3 Product briefing This section provides basic information concerning the configuration of your Altos G310 Mk2 system.
4 1 System information Storage • 5.25 inch IDE CD-ROM drive • 3.5 inch Floppy disk drive • Support for three (max) hard disk drives • Three additional 5.
5 Caring features Part of Acer's mission, as a company that cares about its end users, is to provide features that make operation, maintenance, and upgrading your system simpler and faster. The Altos G310 Mk2 is no exception to this rule. The following features and options are provided. • Cost efficient operation in a value oriented package. • Tool-less design. • Front accessible USB ports. • Integrated graphics. • Acer EasyBUILDTM (optional) for efficient system setup and installation.
6 1 System information
7 Product specification summary Highlighted below are the system's key features: • Single Intel® Pentium® 4 processor supporting Hyper-Threading technology and EM64T • 533/800 MHz FSB supports processor speeds from 2.8 GHz to 3.
8 • 1 System information Operating Systems supported • Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 • Red Hat® Enterprise Linux 3.0 • Novell Netware 6.
2 System tour
This chapter provides locations of various components and ports, and instructions on how to set up the system. Procedures on how to connect peripherals are also explained.
11 System board Mainboard layout The mainboard becomes accessible once you open the system.
12 2 System tour Item Description L V reg fan connector M CPU socket N CPU fan connector O Hardware Management controller P Intel E7221MC GMCH Q Channel A DIMM 0 (Blue) Socket R Channel A DIMM 1 (Black) Socket S Channel B DIMM 0 (Blue) Socket T Channel B DIMM 1 (Black) Socket U I/O controller V Floppy disk drive connector W Two x12 Power connector X Parallel ATA IDE connector Y CMOS battery Z Chassis intrusion connector AA BIOS configuration jumper BB Clear CMOS jumper
13 Jumper settings and CMOS clear 1 3 J6J3 OM16682 Function/Mode Jumper setting Configuration Normal 1-2 The BIOS uses current configuration information and passwords for booting. Configure 2-3 Recovery 1 3 After the POST runs, Setup runs automatically. The maintenance menu is displayed. 1 3 The BIOS attempts to recover the BIOS configuration. A recovery floppy disk is required.
14 2 System tour External and internal structure Front bezel Note: One pair of system keys are provided (attached to the rear panel of the system). No.
15 No. Description 5 FDD eject button 6 FDD (floppy disk drive) 7 FDD activity indicator 8 Security keylock 9 HDD activity indicator 10 System power indicator 11 System power button 12 USB 2.0 ports (two) 13 5.
16 2 System tour Front panel No.
17 No. Description 9 HDD activity indicator 10 System power indicator 11 System power button 12 USB 2.0 ports (two) 13 5.
18 2 System tour Rear panel No.
19 No. Icon Description 7 USB 2.
20 2 System tour Internal components No. Description 1 Power supply unit 2 System fan 3 Mainboard 4 PCI slots 5 HDD bays 6 3.5” device bays 7 5.
3 Getting Started
This chapter gives information on setting up and starting to use your system
23 Setting up the system Preinstallation requirements Selecting a site Before unpacking and installing the system, select a suitable site for the system for maximum efficiency.
24 3 Getting Started System startup Turning on the system After making sure that you have set up the system properly and connected all the required cables, you can now power on the system. To power on the system, press the power button on the front panel. The system starts up and displays a welcome message. After that, a series of power-on self-test (POST) messages appears. The POST messages indicate if the system is running well or not.
25 Turning off the system To turn off the server, on the Windows task bar click on the Start button, point to Shut Down..., select Shut down from the dropdown window then click on OK. You can then turn off all peripherals connected to your server. If you are unable to shutdown the server within Windows, press and hold the power button for at least four seconds to force quit all applications and shut down.
26 3 Getting Started
4 Configuring the system
This chapter discusses the precautionary measures and installation procedures you need to know when upgrading the system.
29 Upgrading the system Certain components of the server are upgradeable such as the drives, the CPU, the memory, and the expansion cards. However, for safety purposes, we do not recommend that you perform these upgrades yourself. If you want to replace or upgrade any of these components, contact your dealer or a qualified service technician for assistance. Important: Observe the installation precautions described in the subsequent section when installing or removing a server component.
30 4 Configuring the system Preinstallation instructions Always observe the following before you install any component: 1 Turn off the system and all the peripherals connected to it. 2 Unplug all cables from the power outlets. 3 Open the system according to the instructions on "Opening the server" on page 31. 4 Follow the ESD precautions described in this section when handling a server component.
31 Opening the server Caution! Before you proceed, make sure that you have turned off your system and all peripherals connected to it. Read the "Preinstallation instructions" on page 30. You need to open the server before you can install additional components. The front and left side panels are removable to allow access to the system's internal components. Refer to the following sections for instructions.
32 4 Configuring the system To remove the side panel The side panel is attached to the server by two (non-removable) thumbscrews. To remove the side panel: 1 Locate the System Keys (if necessary) and unlock the system lock on the front panel. 2 Loosen the thumbscrews located at the rear end of the left panel (1). 3 Slide the left panel rearward (2) before detaching it from the chassis.
33 To remove the front panel The front bezel is attached to the chassis by screwless hinges. To remove the front panel, you must remove the side panel first. To remove the front bezel: 1 With your finger, pull the front panel release lever located at the bottom front inside the chassis (1). 2 Gently pull the bottom of the front bezel away from the chassis (2), lift it to approximately 45 degrees, then detach the top and move it away from the chassis.
34 4 Configuring the system Installing and removing storage devices The system supports 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch internal storage devices. The system comes pre-installed with a floppy drive and a CD-ROM drive. The empty 5.25-inch half-height bays allow you to install additional drives such as another CD-ROM drive or a tape drive. To install a 5.25-inch storage device Note: If you are installing a new drive in an empty drive bay, skip steps 2 to 4.
35 4 Transfer the left side tool-less locking rail (looking from the front) from the old drive to the new drive module. 5 Insert the new CD-ROM drive into the drive bay until it locks into place with an audible "click." 6 Connect the power and IDE cables to the new drive. 7 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 30.
36 4 Configuring the system Installing and replacing the processor This section includes instructions for removing and installing a CPU. Caution: Processor must be appropriate. You may damage the server board if you install a processor that is inappropriate for your server. Caution: SD and handling processors. Reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to the processor by doing the following: (1) Touch the metal chassis before touching the processor or server board.
37 2 Lift the load plate. Do not touch the socket contacts. 3 Remove the protective socket cover from the load plate. Do not discard the protective socket cover. Always replace the socket cover if the processor is removed from the socket. 4 Remove the processor from the protective processor cover. Hold the processor only at the edges, being careful not to touch the bottom of the processor. Do not discard the protective processor cover.
38 4 Configuring the system 5 Hold the processor with your thumb and index fingers oriented as shown below. Make sure fingers align to the socket cutouts. Align notches with the socket. Lower the processor straight down without tilting or sliding the processor in the socket. 6 Pressing down on the load plate close and engage the socket lever.
39 To install the processor fan heat sink The Altos G310 Mk2's server board has an integrated processor fan heat sink retention mechanism (RM). Connecting the processor fan heat sink cable Connect the processor fan heat sink cable to the 4-pin processor fan header.
40 4 Configuring the system To remove a Processor 1 Observe the safety and ESD precautions at the beginning of this section. 2 Turn off all peripheral devices connected to the server. Turn off the server. 3 Remove the AC power cord from the server. 4 Remove the server's cover. See the documentation that accompanied your server chassis for instructions on removing the server's cover. 5 Unplug the processor fan cable from the server board.
41 Upgrading the system memory Memory configuration This section includes instructions for removing and installing a memory module. The memory modules are located on the main server board as shown below: Channel A DIMM 0 DIMM 1 Channel B DIMM 0 DIMM 1 The two tables (below) summarize the characteristics of 1-way and 2way memory interleave configurations.
42 4 Configuring the system Warning! Functionality issues may be encountered if mixed memory types are installed on the same server board. DIMM modules of identical type, banking and stacking technology, and vendor should be installed in the Altos G310 Mk2.
43 To remove a DIMM Before installing a new DIMM in a socket, remove first any previously installed DIMM from that socket. Important: Before removing any DIMM from the mainboard, make sure to create a backup file of all important data. 1 Observe the precautions and pre-installation procedures described in "ESD precautions" on page 29. 2 Locate the DIMM socket on the mainboard. 3 Press the holding clips on both sides of the socket outward to release the DIMM (1).
44 4 Configuring the system To install a DIMM 1 Observe the precautions and pre-installation procedures described in "ESD precautions" on page 29. 2 Locate the DIMM sockets on the mainboard. 3 Open the clips on the socket. 4 Align then insert the DIMM into the socket (1). 5 Press the holding clips inward to lock the DIMM in place (2). DIMMs must be installed in the following order: DM1. DM2, DM3 and DM4 Note: The DIMM socket is slotted to ensure proper installation.
45 Installing an expansion card This section explains how to install an expansion card. The onboard expansion slots support PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) or PCI Express cards. Note: The BIOS setup automatically detects and assigns resources to the new device (applicable only to Plug-and-Play expansion cards). To install an expansion card Note: The illustrations used in this section show the Altos G310 Mk2 server chassis.
46 4 Configuring the system 7 Align the card in the empty slot on the mainboard. 8 Insert the bracket with the card into the selected slot (3). Make sure that the card is properly seated. 9 Secure the card with the tool-less bracket card lock removed in step three above (4). 10 Observe the "Post-installation instructions" on page 30.
47 Installing and removing a hard disk Although the Altos G310 Mk2 has four hard disk slots, the system board only supports a maximum of three. To remove a hard disk Follow these steps to replace your computer's hard disk: 1 Remove the side and front panels (see page 32 and page 33). 2 Detach the cables from the exposed end of the HDD (1) and (2). 3 Squeeze the two locking tabs that secure the drive to the chassis slot and gently remove the HDD from the system (3).
48 4 Configuring the system 1 Remove the side panel (see page 32). 2 Attach the HDD rails to the sides of the drive housing as shown below. 3 Insert the drive into an empty HDD slot (slot 1 or slot 3) until it locks into place with an audible “click” (1). 4 Attach the power and IDE cables to the HDD (2) and (3)..
5 BIOS setup
This chapter gives information about the system BIOS and discusses how to configure the system by changing the settings of the BIOS parameters.
51 BIOS setup BIOS setup is a hardware configuration program built into your system's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). Since most systems are already properly configured and optimized, there is no need to run this utility.
52 5 BIOS setup Entering BIOS setup Power on the server to start the system POST (Power On Self Test) process. During bootup, press F2 to enter the BIOS setup screen. Note: You must press F2 while the system is booting. This key combination does not work during any other time.
53 • Use the Enter key to display a submenu screen. Note: When a parameter is preceded by a (>), it means that a submenu screen is available. • Press F1 for General Help on using the BIOS setup. • Press F9 to set up defaults • Press F10 to save changes and close the BIOS setup. • Press Esc to close the BIOS setup. In the descriptive table following each of the screen illustrations, settings in boldface are the default and suggested parameter settings.
54 5 BIOS setup Main The Main menu displays basic and important information about the system. This information is necessary for troubleshooting and may be required when asking for technical support. The last parameter on the screen lets you define the system's time and date settings. The real-time clock keeps the system date and time. After setting the date and time, you do not need to enter them every time you turn on the system.
55 Advanced The Advanced menu contains parameter values that define how the system behaves on startup. Important! Be cautious in setting parameter values in the Advanced menu as any incorrect value may cause the system to malfunction.
56 5 BIOS setup PCI Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced PCI Configuration PCI Slot1 IRQ Priority PCI Slot2 IRQ Priority PCI Slot3 IRQ Priority [Auto] [Auto] [Auto] Manual IRQ selection does not guarantee PCI slot device will be configured with choice because PnP ISA cards ( If present ) are assigned the available resources before PCI devices ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description
57 Boot Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Boot Configuration Plug & Play O/S Numlock Max CPUID Value Limit: [No] [On] [Disabled] No, lets the BIOS configure all the devices in the system.
58 5 BIOS setup Peripheral Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Peripheral Configuration Serial Port A Serial Port B Parallel Port Mode [Auto] [Auto] [Auto]] [Bi-directional] Onboard Gb LAN Onboard 10/100 LAN ASF Support [Enabled] [Enabled] [Enabled] ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description Option Serial port A Indicates the configuration of serial port A Enabled Disabled Auto
59 Mode Sets the operation mode for the parallel port. When set to output only, allows normal speed one-way operation. When Bi-directional, allows normal speed operation in a two way mode. EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port) allows bi-directional parallel port operation at maximum speed. ECP (Extended Capabilities Port) allows the parallel port to operate in bi-directional mode and at a speed higher than the maximum data transfer rate.
60 5 BIOS setup Parameter Description Option ATA/IDE Configuration Disabled: All IDE resources disabled. LEGACY: Up to 2 IDE channels enabled for OS requiring legacy IDE operation. ENHANCED: All SATA and PATA resources enabled Disabled Legacy Enhanced Intel RAID Technology Sets RAID function Enabled Disabled SATA AHCI Mode Sets SATA AHCI Mode Enabled Disabled PCI IDE Bus Master Sets PCI IDE Bus master Enabled Disabled Hard Disk PreDelay Selects the hard disk drive pre-delay Disabled ….
61 Floppy Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Configures the integrated diskette controller Floppy Configuration Diskette Controller [Enabled] Floppy A [1.
62 5 BIOS setup Event Log Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Views the contents of the DMI event log. Event Log Configuration Event Log [Space Available] View Event Log Clear Event Log Event Logging ECC Event Logging [Enabled] [Enabled] Mark Events As Read ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description Option View Event Log Views the contents of the DMI event log.
63 Video Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Video Configuration Primary Video Adapter Frame Buffer Size IGD Aperture Size DVMT MODE IGD DVMT/FIXED MEMORY [Auto] [ 8MB] [256MB] [DVMT] [128MB] Allows selecting the Primary Video Adapter init’d & used by BIOS & OS for Boot Display ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description Option Primary video Adaptor Allows selecting the Primary vide
64 5 BIOS setup USB Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Disables this function when a USB 2.0 driver is not available USB Configuration High-Speed USB [Enabled] Legacy USB Support USB 2.0 Legacy Support [Enabled] [Full-Speed] ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description Option High-Speed USB Disables this function when a USB 2.
65 PCI Express Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced PCIE x16 Link Retrain Link Stability Algorithm Compliance Test Pattern PEG Negotiated Width [Disable] [Enabled] [Disabled] None ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description Option PCIE x16 Link Retrain Select to retrain PCIE x16 link GFX Card Enabled Disabled Link Stability Algorithm Select to enable link stability algorithm Enabl
66 5 BIOS setup Chipset Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Chipset Configuration Setup Warning: Setting items on this screen to incorrect values may cause the system to malfunction! ISA Enable Bit PCI Latency Timer Some older expansion devices require this to be enabled [Enabled] [32] ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description Option ISA Enable Bit Some older expansion devices re
67 Fan Control Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Enables or disables CPU fan control Fan Control Configuration Note: The new settings will not take effect until the system is completely shut down CPU Fan Control [Enabled] Fan Control Lowest Fan Speed [Enabled] [Slow] ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description Option CPU Fan Control Sets CPU fan control Enabled Disabled Fan Co
68 5 BIOS setup Hardware Monitoring BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Hardware Monitoring Note: These measurements are approximated and should not be used for validation purposes Processor Zone Temperature System Zone 1 Temperature System Zone 2 Temperature 71°C/159°F 36°C/96°F 44°C/111°F Processor Fan Speed Vreg Fan Speed Front Fan Speed Rear Fan Speed 3419 RPM 0 RPM 0 RPM 0 RPM +1.5Vin Vccp +3.3Vin +5Vin +12Vin 1.493 V 1.317 V 3.310 V 5.105 V 12.
69 Remote Access Configuration BIOS SETUP UTILITY Advanced Configure Remote Access type and parameters Remote Access Select Remote Access type [Disabled] ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 General Help F9 Setup Defaults F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit Parameter Description Option Remote Access Selects remote access type Enabled Disabled
70 5 BIOS setup Security The Security menu allows you to safeguard and protect the system from unauthorised use by setting up access passwords.
71 Power The Power menu allows you to configure the system's power management features.
72 5 BIOS setup Boot The boot menu allows you to specify the preferred settings during system boot up. Press to enter the submenu screen of the parameters shown in the screen below. BIOS SETUP UTILITY Main Advanced Security Power Silent Boot AddOn ROM Display Mode Intel(R) Rapid BIOS Boot Scan User Falsh Area PXE Boot to LAN USB Boot Boot Exit [Enabled] [Enabled] [Enabled] [Enabled] [Disabled] [Enabled] Disabled, displays normal POST messages.
73 PXE Boot to LAN Disables or enables PXE boot to LAN Enabled Disabled USB Boot Disables or enables booting to USB boot devices Enabled Disabled Boot Device Priority BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot 1 st Boot Device 2 nd Boot Device 3 rd Boot Device Specifies the boot st [1 FLOPPY DRIVE] sequence from the [PM-WDC WD1200JD-22GBB0] available devices [3M-CD-ROM 52X/AKH] A device enclosed in parenthesis in the corresponding type menu ←→ Select Screen ↑↓ Select Item Enter Select ? Sub-Menu Tab Select Field F1 G
74 5 BIOS setup Hard disk Drives BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot 1 st Device Specifies the boot [PM-WDC WD1200JD-22GBB0] sequence from the available devices. Select the boot device with UpArrow or DownArrow key. Press Enter to set the selection as the intended boot device.
75 Removable Devices BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot 1 st Device [1 st FLOPPY DRIVE] Specifies the boot sequence from the available devices. Select the boot device with UpArrow or DownArrow key. Press Enter to set the selection as the intended boot device.
76 5 BIOS setup ATAPI CD-ROM Drives BIOS SETUP UTILITY Boot 1 st Device [13M-CD-ROM 52X/AKH] Specifies the boot sequence from the available devices. Select the boot device with UpArrow or DownArrow key. Press Enter to set the selection as the intended boot device.
77 Exit The Exit menu displays the various options to quit from the BIOS setup. Highlight any of the exit options then press .
78 5 BIOS setup
6 Troubleshooting
This chapter gives information about identifying and solving basic problems that may occur during system use.
81 Troubleshooting This chapter helps you identify and solve problems that might occur while you are using the system. For any issue, first ensure you are using the latest firmware and files. In addition to the server firmware and files, also update any drivers used for components you have installed in your system, such as video drivers, network drivers, and SCSI drivers. If you are unable to resolve your server problems on your own, contact your dealer or a qualified service technician for assistance.
82 6 Troubleshooting Problems following initial system installation Problems that occur at initial system startup are usually caused by an incorrect installation or configuration. Hardware failure is a less frequent cause. If the problem you are experiencing is with a specific software application, see "Problems with newly installed application software" on page 90.
83 • Are all integrated components from the tested components lists? Check the tested memory, and chassis lists, as well as the supported hardware and operating system list. Hardware diagnostic testing This section provides a more detailed approach to identifying a hardware problem and locating its source. Caution: Turn off devices before disconnecting cables. Before disconnecting any peripheral cables from the system, turn off the system and any external peripheral devices.
84 6 Troubleshooting Verifying proper operation of key system lights As POST determines the system configuration, it tests for the presence of each mass storage device installed in the system. As each device is checked, its activity light should turn on briefly. Check for the following: • Does the floppy disk drive activity light turn on briefly? If not, see "Floppy disk drive activity light does not light" on page 88.
85 Power light does not light Check the following: • Did you press the power-on button? • Is the system operating normally? If so, the power LED might be defective or the cable from the front panel to the server board might be loose.
86 6 Troubleshooting No characters appear on screen Check the following: • Is the keyboard functioning? Test it by turning the “Num Lock” function on and off to make sure the Num Lock light is functioning.
87 you hear. This information may be useful for your service representative. 5 If you do not receive a beep code and characters do not appear, the video display monitor or video controller may have failed. Contact your service representative or authorized dealer for help. Characters are distorted or incorrect Check the following: • Are the brightness and contrast controls properly adjusted on the video monitor? See the manufacturer's documentation.
88 6 Troubleshooting • Are the power supply cables properly connected to the server board? • Are there any shorted wires caused by pinched cables or have power connector plugs been forced into power connector sockets the wrong way? Floppy disk drive activity light does not light Check the following: • Are the floppy disk drive's power and signal cables properly installed? • Are all relevant switches and jumpers on the floppy disk drive set correctly? • Is the floppy disk drive properly configured
89 • Make sure the hub port is configured for the same duplex mode as the network controller. • Make sure the correct networking software is installed. • If you are directly connecting two servers (without a hub), you will need a crossover cable. • Check the network controller LEDs next to the NIC connectors. Problems with the network The server hangs when the drivers are loaded. • Certain drivers may require interrupts that are not shared with other PCI drivers.
90 6 Troubleshooting System boots when installing PCI card System Server Management features require full-time "standby" power. This means some parts of the system have power going to them whenever the power cord is plugged in, even if you have turned the system power off with the power button on the front panel. If you install a PCI card with the AC power cord plugged in, a signal may be sent to the command the system to boot.
91 However, they can also be caused by file corruption or changes to the software configuration. Check the following: • If you are running the software from a floppy disk, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, try a different floppy disk. • Uninstall and reinstall the software. Make sure all necessary files are installed. • If the problems are intermittent, there may be a loose cable, dirt in the keyboard (if keyboard input is incorrect), a marginal power supply, or other random component failures.
92 6 Troubleshooting • If using SCSI drives, verify that each SCSI ID number is unique on the SCSI bus. See your drive documentation for details on setting the SCSI ID for your drives. • If using IDE drives, verify that the master/slave settings are set correctly. See your drive documentation for details on setting the master/slave settings. • If using a RAID configuration with SCSI or SATA drives, make sure the RAID card is installed correctly.
93 LED information The Altos G310 Mk2 server system includes LEDs that can aid in troubleshooting your system. A table of these LEDs with a description of their use is listed below. LED Functions LED Name Function Location Color Correction ID Aid in server identification from the back panel Board rear left corner Blue Press ID LED button or use Server Management software to turn off the LED.
94 LED 6 Troubleshooting Function Location Color Correction CPU 1 & 2 fault Identify processor failure 1” behind processor socket Amber On = Fault 5v standby Identify 5v standby power on state Front left board Amber On = 5v standby power on Power LED Identify the power state of the system Front panel Green • Off = Power is off (off or S5) • On = Power on or S0) • Slow blink = Low power state (S1 – S3) Name
95 BIOS POST Beep Codes The Acer Altos G310 Mk2 reports POST errors in two ways: • By sounding a beep code • By displaying an error message on the monitor BIOS Beep Codes The BIOS beep codes are listed in the table below. The BIOS also issues a beep code (one long tone followed by two short tones) during POST if the video configuration fails (a faulty video card or no card installed) or if an external ROM module does not properly checksum to zero.
96 6 Troubleshooting Error Message Explanation A: Drive Error B: Drive Error No response from the floppy disk drive. CMOS Battery Low The battery may be losing power. Replace the battery soon. CMOS Display Type Wrong The display type is different than what has been stored in CMOS. Check Setup to make sure type is correct. CMOS Checksum Bad The CMOS checksum is incorrect. CMOS memory may have been corrupted. Run Setup to reset values.
97 Error Message Explanation Memory Size Decreased Memory size has decreased since the last boot. If no memory was removed, then memory may be bad. Memory Size Increased Memory size has increased since the last boot. If no memory was added, there may be a problem with the system. Memory Size Changed Memory size has changed since the last boot. If no memory was added or removed, then memory may be bad. No Boot Device Available System did not find a device to boot.
98 6 Troubleshooting
Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2
This appendix provides a description of the features and configuration process for the embedded SATA RAID technology of the Altos G310 Mk2 server.
101 SATA ports The Embedded Server RAID Technology can support up to four ports.
102 Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 Driver Features The driver features include • special interface for configuration information, configuration changes, and manageability • optimized disk access • support for RAID levels 0, and 1 • support for Stand-by and Hibernation in Windows 2000, XP, and 2003 Note: The following items require Spy Service to be running in order to work.
103 • physical drive roaming • independent stripe size configuration per logical drive • ability to create up to eight logical drives per array • auto-configuration support of newly added physical drive • support for hotspares • support for disk coercion • array initialization support (fast and normal) • offline data (RAID 1) verification with auto-recovery mechanism • ability to prioritize configurable tasks (for online rebuild, check consistency, migration, and expansion) • logical driv
104 Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 Configuring arrays Configure the physical disk drives in arrays. An array can consist of one to four physical disk drives, depending on the RAID level. A RAID 0 array can consist of one to four physical drives, while a RAID 1 array consists of two. Configuration strategies You have two choices when creating a RAID array. • Maximizing fault tolerance You can maximize fault tolerance to protect against loss of data by using mirroring.
105 Level Description and use Pros Cons No. of Drives Fault Toler -ant 0 Data divided in blocks and distributed sequentially (pure striping). Use for noncritical data that requires high performance. High data throughput for large files No fault tolerance. Data is lost if a drive fails. One to four No 1 Data duplicated on another disk (mirroring). Use for readintensive, fault-tolerant systems. 100 percent data redundancy, providing fault tolerance. More disk space required.
106 6 Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 Initialize the new logical drive(s). Configuring arrays and logical drives This section provides detailed instructions for configuring the logical disks and arrays. Starting the BIOS configuration utility During bootup, the following BIOS banner displays the following: Press Ctrl-E to run LSI Logic Embedded SATA RAID Setup Utility Hold down the key while you press . The main menu for the utility displays.
107 Logical drive parameters For the logical drive you can change the RAID level and stripe size. The table below contains descriptions of the logical drive parameters. Parameter Description RAID level The number of physical drives in a specific array determines the RAID levels that can be implemented with the array. RAID 0 requires one or two physical drives. RAID 1 requires exactly two physical drives.
108 Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 Configuration menu screen 2 Press the spacebar to associate the selected physical drives with the current array. The indicator for the selected drives changes from READY to ONLIN A[array number]-[drive number]. For example, ONLIN A13 means array 1 with disk drive 3. 3 Press after you finish creating the current array. 4 Press to select configurable arrays. 5 Press the spacebar to select the array.
109 Logical drive configuration screen 6 Set the RAID level for the logical drive by highlighting RAID and pressing . The available RAID levels for the current logical drive display. 7 Select a RAID level and press . 8 Set the RAID logical drive size and stripe size. 9 When you have defined the current logical drive, select Accept and press . 10 Repeat step 7 to step 10 to configure additional logical drives.
110 Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 Caution: The New Configuration option erases the existing configuration data when you save the new array configuration. If you do not want to delete the existing configuration data, use View/Add Configuration. Perform the following steps to configure a disk array using New Configuration or View/Add Configuration: 1 Select Configure→ View/Add Configuration from the CU Management Menu. The CU displays an array selection window.
111 Initializing logical drives You can initialize the logical drives using individual initialization, which initializes a single logical disk. There are two methods to initialize a logical drive using the individual initialization procedure using the CU. For the first method, perform the following steps to initialize a logical drive using the Initialize menu. 1 On the Management Menu, select Initialize. 2 Use the space bar to highlight the logical drive to initialize.
112 Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 Logical drive submenu 2 Select a logical drive, if there is more than one configured and press . 3 Select Initialize from the submenu and press . 4 Select Yes at the prompt and press . The CU displays a bar graph showing the initialization progress. 5 When initialization completes, press to return to the previous menu.
113 4 After selecting the physical drive, press and select Yes at the confirmation prompt. The indicators for the selected drive changes to REBLD. 5 When rebuild is complete, press any key to continue. 6 Press to display the Management Menu. A second way to perform a manual rebuild on an individual drive is as follows: 1 Select the option from the CU→ Objects→ Physical Drive submenu. 2 Press the arrow keys to select the physical drive to be rebuilt and press .
114 Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 Note that the logical drive should be at a RAID 1 level to start check consistency. If you select a RAID 0 logical drive, a message displays stating that a check consistency cannot be performed. To de-select a logical drive, press the space bar again. 3 Press . 4 At the prompt, select Yes to start check consistency and press .
115 Troubleshooting Problems and suggested solutions The following table describes possible problems you might encounter, along with suggested solutions. Problem Suggested solution Drives are not detected • Make sure that the cable ends are connected properly. • Make sure that the power cables to the drives are connected properly. • Change cables. • If everything fails, change the drive(s). or The system hangs when the adaptor ROM for Embedded SATA software RAID scans the SATA ports.
116 Appendix A: Embedded SATA RAID Technology for the Altos G310 Mk2 Problem Suggested solution One of the hard drives in a mirrored (RAID 1) array has failed. Replace the failed drive with another drive that has the same or greater capacity. You insert a new drive with no configuration into the slot which is already part of a mirrored (RAID 1) array. Press any key to enter the BIOS Configuration Utility (Ctrl-E) to configure the new drive.
Appendix B: Configuring SCSI/ SCSI RAID HBA
This appendix shows you how to create a RAID 1 volume for the Altos G310 Mk2 with Acer qualified SCSI/SCSI RAID HBA.
119 Configuring the SCSI/SCSI RAID HBA This section briefly shows how to create a RAID 1 (mirror) volume. This feature requires installation/presence of LSI Logic 20320-R or LSI Logic 22320-R U32 SCSI controllers. How to use SCSI HBA setup utility During the Power-On Self Test (POST), press + to enter the LSI Logic Configuration Utility. Loading HBA default settings 1 In the LSI Logic MPT SCSI Setup Utility, please press F2 and select Global Properties. Then, select .
120 Appendix B: Configuring SCSI/SCSI RAID HBA Note: In the Hot Spare field, if you change settings, you will see the following messages. Press the DELETE key to ignore it. WARNING: Data on drive will be LOST! Press DELETE if data loss is OK or any other key to cancel. 5 Press ESC, then select . RAID volume initialization After you create RAID volume and save the changes, the disk controller will initialize RAID volume automatically.
121 MegaRAID configuration utility Turn on the system power. When prompted, press + to enter the MegaRAID Configuration Utility. After entering the MegaRAID Configuration Utility, you will see the Management Menu on the screen. Load RAID card default setting 1 Select Objects from the Management menu. 2 Select Adaptor from Objects. The adaptor setting will be shown on the screen. You can change the setting from this menu. 3 Select Factory Default and YES to load the default settings.
122 Appendix B: Configuring SCSI/SCSI RAID HBA Assign hot spare disk 1 Select Add/View Configuration from Configuration menu. 2 Press arrow keys to choose specific physical drives and press to set the drive as Hot Spare disk. Select YES to confirm and the indicator for selected drive change from READY to HOTSP. 3 Press to end the array configuration. 4 Select YES to Save Configuration and press any key to return to the Configure menu.
123 A F Acer Server Manager (ASM) 119 assigning RAID levels 104 101, Graphics BIOS features 101 BIOS POST Checkpoint Codes BIOS setup 23, 51, 81 entering 52 Main 54 14 16 G B 25 4 H hard disk installing 47 removing 47 I C Caring features 5 configuration steps 105 configuration strategies 104 Configuration Utility configuration steps 105 configuring drives 106 easy configuration 107 individual rebuild 113 initializing drives 111 logical drive configuration screen 108 new configuration 109 rebuil
124 P S package contents 23 Post-installation instructions 30 Preinstallation instructions 30 Preinstallation requirements 23 Processor 3 Product 3 Product specifications 7 SCSI HBA setup 119 SCSI RAID HBA 117, 119 SCSI RAID HBA setup 119 selecting Configuration Utility 106 Serial ATA ports 4 size logical drive 110 Storage 4 stripe size 107 system boards mainboard layout 11 system upgrade 29 ESD precautions 29 post-installation instructions 30 preinstallation instructions 30 Q quick configuration steps
