Service bulletins
IBM updates the support web site with the latest tips and techniques that you can
use to solve many problems.
To find service bulletins that are available for the IBM System x3530 M4 server, go
to http://www.ibm.com/supportportal/ and search for 7160 and retain.
Checkout procedure
The checkout procedure is the sequence of tasks that you should follow to
diagnose a problem in the server.
About the checkout procedure
Before you perform the checkout procedure for diagnosing hardware problems,
review the following information:
v Read the safety information that begins on page Safety.
v IBM Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) provides the primary methods of testing
the major components of the server, such as the system board, Ethernet
controller, keyboard, mouse (pointing device), serial ports, and hard disk drives.
You can also use them to test some external devices. If you are not sure whether
a problem is caused by the hardware or by the software, you can use the
diagnostic programs to confirm that the hardware is working correctly.
v When you run DSA, a single problem might cause more than one error message.
When this happens, correct the cause of the first error message. The other error
messages usually will not occur the next time you run DSA.
Exception: If multiple error codes or light path diagnostics LEDs indicate a
microprocessor error, the error might be in the microprocessor or in the
microprocessor socket. See “Microprocessor problems” on page 250 for
information about diagnosing microprocessor problems.
v Before you run diagnostic programs, you must determine whether the failing
server is part of a shared hard disk drive cluster (two or more servers sharing
external storage devices). If it is part of a cluster, you can run all diagnostic
programs except the ones that test the storage unit (that is, a hard disk drive in
the storage unit) or the storage adapter that is attached to the storage unit. The
failing server might be part of a cluster if any of the following conditions is true:
– You have identified the failing server as part of a cluster (two or more servers
sharing external storage devices).
– One or more external storage units are attached to the failing server and at
least one of the attached storage units is also attached to another server or
unidentifiable device.
– One or more servers are located near the failing server.
Important: If the server is part of a shared hard disk drive cluster, run one test
at a time. Do not run any suite of tests, such as “quick” or “normal” tests,
because this might enable the hard disk drive diagnostic tests.
v If the server is halted and a POST error code is displayed, see “POST error
codes” on page 122. If the server is halted and no error message is displayed,
see “Troubleshooting by symptom” on page 241 and “Solving undetermined
problems” on page 259.
v For information about power-supply problems, see “Solving power problems”
on page 258 and “Power-supply LEDs” on page 114.
102 System x3530 M4 Type 7160: Installation and Service Guide