Chapter 2. DiagnosticsThis chapter describes the diagnostic tools that are available to help you solveproblems that might occur in the server.If you cannot diagnose and correct a problem by using the information in thischapter, see Appendix A, “Getting help and technical assistance,” on page 111 formore information.Diagnostic toolsThe following tools are available to help you diagnose and solve hardware-relatedproblems:v POST beep codes, error messages, and error logsThe power-on self-test (POST) generates beep codes and messages to indicatesuccessful test completion or the detection of a problem. See “POST” for moreinformation.v Troubleshooting tablesThese tables list problem symptoms and actions to correct the problems. See“Troubleshooting tables” on page 24.v System-board LEDsUse the system-board LEDs to diagnose system errors quickly. See“System-board LEDs” on page 35 for more information.v Diagnostic programs, messages, and error messagesThe diagnostic programs are the primary method of testing the majorcomponents of the server. The diagnostic programs are on the IBM EnhancedDiagnostics CD. See “Diagnostic programs, messages, and error codes” on page37 for more information.POSTWhen you turn on the server, it performs a series of tests to check the operation ofthe server components and some optional devices in the server. This series of testsis called the power-on self-test, or POST.If a power-on password is set, you must type the password and press Enter, whenyou are prompted, for POST to run.The power-on self-test beep codes indicate the detection of a problem.v One beep indicates successful completion of POST, with no errors.v More than one beep indicates that POST detected a problem. Error messagesalso are displayed during startup if POST detects a hardware-configurationproblem. See “POST beep codes” and “POST error codes” on page 15 for moreinformation.POST beep codesA beep code is a combination of short or long beeps or series of short beeps thatare separated by pauses. For example, a “1-2-3” beep code is one short beep, apause, two short beeps, and pause, and three short beeps. A beep code indicatesthat POST has detected a problem.© Copyright IBM Corp. 2006 11
