Malfunctioning Adapter. Won't complete post and can't find boot device.

Question

Our UPS started having problems last night and apparently caused a power supply malfunction with the poweredge 2600 (the red triangle with the ! was on the front of the server's PS). The server was operating fine for awhile while I went to go get some stuff from my office, but when I came back the server was reset, the power supply error was gone, and has been giving me an error on post ever since. It posts the embedded server management and backplane firmware info, posts processor info, BIOS info, then shows

"ERROR! Adapter Malfunctioning"

It does this twice. After that it shows

LSI MPT Boot ROOM, no supported devices found!

No Boot Device available-

F1 to retry, etc, etc.

I'm not sure how, but it looks like somehow the issue with the UPS and the servers power supplies, along with the shutdown/reset (whatever happened while I was in my office) has messed up the SCSI adapter. The error messages make it sound like the adapter is borked and hence, it can't access either of the HDDs. I tried clearing the NV_RAM and the CMOS. Neither have helped.

If this is really a hardware issue, well, I guess I'll just have ot grab a server from the project we are working on now and swap out the drives so we can atleast have a working system until we get the current server fixed. I'm just trying to figure out if this is something we can fix quickly here and get the process back up and running again without having to swap around and send out hardware. Thanks.

bast_imret · Answer

Ok, we just swapped the drives into our new poweredge we have for another project and it is booting fine.  Since we aren't using this server for another few weeks yet, we can use it back here to solve this problem temporarily, but we will need to get the original 2600 fixed.  Is this something we can get a replacement part for or will we need to send it back to Dell?

DELL-Mark A · Answer

Hi,

I am assuming you are running just the standard Scsi controller, not raid? If so, I would recommend these upgrades and clearing the NVRAM. If this does not resolve the issue, the motherboard may need to be replaced.

System BIOS, PowerEdge 2600, A10
FileName: PE2600-BIOSA10.exe [600 KB] Release Date: 11/24/2003

ESM Firmware, PowerEdge 2600, A32
FileName: PE2600-ESMA32.exe [224 KB] Release Date: 11/24/2003

If there is no added hardware, the only other thing I can think of which would cause this anomaly is the NVRAM is corrupted. We need to clear the NVRAM via the jumper on the motherboard, then enter the System BIOS and reset to the default settings.

Check the section on System Board Jumpers in the Service Manual.

Once this is complete, enter the System BIOS. Light the 3 keyboard LED's (Caps lock, Num lock and Scroll Lock). Hold the ALT key down and press the E key. The system should beep once. Then hold the ALT key down and press the F key.

Turn off any unused peripherals such as the USB and serial ports. Then reboot the system.

Thanks for using the Dell Community Forums!

Per_R. · Answer

You've to create the update floppy disks on anoter system. When you receive the message "Press F1 to retry boot" insert the floppy and press F1.

If this will not work, try to enter the system BIOS by pressing F2. Check boot sequence and run the commands recommended by Mark (Alt+E, Alt+F while all lock LEDs lit). First of all you have to use the NVRAM_CLR jumper.

Message Edited by Per_R. on 12-20-2005 01:00 AM

bast_imret · Answer

but how do I apply those updates to the bios and firmware if I can't even get to a system prompt?

DELL-Mark A · Answer

Hi,

Actually, my instructions need to be clearer.

The procedure is:

Power down, remove power cord(s).
Install the jumper.
Power up until you see a message indicating the NVRAM has been cleared (I am sorry, I do not have the exact verbiage.)
Power down, remove power cord(s).
Remove the jumper.
Power up and enter the System BIOS to complete the procedure

On the ESM question, download the hard drive version and copy the files to a bootable floppy.

Thanks

Message Edited by DELL-Mark A on 05-06-2004 01:12 PM

bast_imret · Answer

but after I'm done with those key commands in the setup menu and I reboot, I need to move the nv_ram jumper back to the normal position, right?

also, I downloaded the floppy version of hte BIOS update, but there is no floppy version of the other. Only Linux, Windows, and Hard-drive. Since I can't access the HDDs, I'm not sure if that will work. If it will still work from the floppy, then which one?

Message Edited by bast_imret on 05-06-2004 01:06 PM

bast_imret · Answer

thanks for the help guys.  I tried everything except the updates (don't have a floppy on hand and would have to run back to the mill to get one.  I'm out at waste water treatment) and Emerson just called us and told us to simply ship to them and they would fix it.  It's conditioned by them for deltaV service, and they need to work on it to qualify any changes anyway.  Thanks again.  We'll just be running on the spare server for now.

PowerEdge Hardware General

Malfunctioning Adapter. Won't complete post and can't find boot device.

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