DELL Poweredge 2600 Bios FREEZES After Cpu check and before SCSI Drives check HELP!!!!

1. Can you access the Bios configuration on boot by pressing F2? Check the setting
   
2. By load up do you mean your server software does not boot? use F10 on post from the utility partition main menu under Run System Utilities.
   
3. Is the server working with RAID? Press CTRL + R and check the RAID
   

I am not going to say check all the cables because I am sure you will have already?!?

I would definitively not recommend to remove the backplates, unless you want to ask for serious trouble with your system.

I would install a PCI SATA adapter card (one like these) and connect your SATA drives to it.

I have one for sale at www.JonRosenSystems.com. This is an extremely large and heavy unit. It has two P3-733 CPU's, 512mb RAM and three 18gb Quantum Atlas SCSI drives. I have more drives and RAM available.

The Perc RAID controller in a 2600 doesn't support RAID 4.
You can do RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 5.

With 3 HDD's your best bet would be a RAID 5.

Mirroring is RAID 1 (which would only use 2 of the drives)

Look at the service tag on the unit and go to support.dell.com to get the specs on the exisitng drives. Mine came with Seagate Ultra320 SCSI 80Pin 15K drives, You can shop for the 146GB versions and use your existing caddy's if you would like.

Hi

Yes, some systems (newer PowerEdge Servers, generally 6/7th Generation and above) have onboard VRMs.

1600sc is a 6th gen PowerEdge (with Simple Computing). I can checked and be absolute certain from within Dell. I'm on VAC until Saturday.

In the meantime, check the PRC model and revision and ensure that they match. Given that a single PRC POST/Boots, try upgrading (if not already) the system BIOS to latest revision.

If the PRC model/revision does match and you have the latest BIOS version, also if the VRMs are not needed, then from the Troubleshooting you have already done, we may conclude that the PRC 2 slot is faulty.

I will confirm the VRM query on Saturday.

PowerEdge 1600SC, BIOS A12 Update Package for Microsoft Windows - http://ftp.us.dell.com/bios/PE1600SC-BIOS-WIN-A12.exe
PowerEdge 1600SC, BIOS A12 Floppy Update Package - http://ftp.us.dell.com/bios/PE1600SC-BIOSA12.exe

Mike

Hi

Besides standard beeps codes indicating Processor, CPU, Memory or Systemboard failures,
Dell PERC (PowerEdge Expandable Raid Controller) or SAS Controllers (Serial Attached SCSI) generate beeps to alert failures on the RAID sub-system.

From your description of the issues (when the beeps start), i suggest you check PERC or SAS setup. If you have Dell OpenManage Server Administrator installed, you can log-in and check for more information. Additionally, on the next reboot check the PERC/SAS/CERC boot up for any messages. You may also access the PERC (Ctrl+M), SAS (Ctrl+R) CERC (Ctrl+A) Management Menu for specific failures and attempt a rebuild (assuming you have a redundant RAID Volume).

You can also speak with Dell Support and raise a warranty call if the system has warranty.

Note: PowerEdge 840 would ship with PERC or SAS Controller. PowerEdge 700 will ship with PERC or CERC.

Mike

You can either do this in the BIOS or (easier) just run a Linux installer (such as Ubuntu) and it will offer to do it for you when it sees Windows-formatted partitions.

you need to set the boot device order. Usually F12.
or you can go to bios with F2 or F10.

your cd-rom is wrong you need the Instalation and Server Management CD. I think it's possible to download this cd at their site.

good luck

I hope that you fixed your problem without troubles by now, but if you still have not, I can help. I added a second xeon processor to my Dell PowerEdge 2600 a couple of years ago.
Lay the server on its left side then loosen the three thumbscrews on the right front side and "slap" the cover off backwards.
You should have by now identified the current processor by running cpuid software that I think comes from Intel's website in order to buy an identical cpu. That was the hardest part, finding an identical one still for sale. If I remember the Poweredge 2600 could only use xeon processors with only up to 512 kb of cache or someother small amount and are not that available still new in the box.
You also have to get two identical voltage regulator modules (vrm). I was not able to get a second one for some reason and just bought two identical ones specifically for the xeon processors that I was using. Be sure to do your homework on this. MATCHING cpu's and MATCHING vrm's.
That's it. Each processor has two cores and you should see all four after you boot.
Another thing to think about would be setting the processor afinity to run your most intensive process to all four cores while only letting most applications to only use the first core.
I hope this helps if you haven't already had any success.