Dell PowerEdge 2650 (PE2650) Fan Replacement

By Anne Tarantino – Velocity Tech Solutions

For those of you running Dell PowerEdge 2650 servers, prepare yourself. At some point, you may get a fan error. That fan error isn’t anything to be too afraid of. But the fan should be replaced sooner rather than later so your server doesn’t overheat. Typically, there should be an error message that scrolls across your readout that says “Error, fan # __”

Well, that should be easy enough; You open your server and… GASP! Which fan is which? For all of you middle-aged people like me out there, don’t worry. You won’t have to get your cheaters AND a magnifying glass out. We have some help for you here.

There are 2 kinds of Dell PowerEdge 2650 servers. One runs at 400Mhz and the other at 533Mhz. The only way to visually tell the difference between them is this: the 400Mhz (Fig. A) has a total of 5 fans on it and the 533Mhz (Fig. B) has a total of 7 fans on it, see pictures below.

NOTE: Although there are only 5 fans in the Dell PowerEdge 2650 400Mhz, the numbering system is 1, 2, 3, 4, 7. Fans 5 and 6 are on the 533Mhz only.

B. PowerEdge 2650 Fans – 533Mhz

A. PowerEdge 2650 Fans – 400Mhz

Don’t forget to check out the video to this article and our video tutorials at our YouTube channel: velocity783. Have a How-To request? Request your own and we will get right to work on it for you!

Click on the pictures to enlarge them, also check out how to change the fans on our YouTube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OGLNhG9SJs

Thanks for reading!!

Anne

Please feel free to call us anytime at 888-784-2088 or visit our website at www.velocitytechsolutions.com

DELL 9th Generation Risers

By Dylan Kerling – Velocity Tech Solutions

Today, I’m going to do a quick blurb about the 9^th generation Dell servers and using different style PCI risers.

Fig. 1 – PCI-E PowerEdge 2950 Risers

When configuring a PowerEdge 1950 or PowerEdge 2950, there are two expansion risers in the machine.  They come standard with PCI-E slots on both risers (Fig. 1.)

However, while the PCI-E slots are standard, there are also PCI-X risers. (Fig. 2.) These are for if you have some older style expansion cards that you would like to run in your machine that use the older PCI-X style slot.  The issue arises when people have attempted to run both PCI-E and PCI-X risers at the same time.

Fig. 2 – PCI-X Alternate Risers

When attempting to run both kinds of risers, one of a few things will happen.  The machine will either not post, will go through post and give a riser mismatch error or just not even try to turn on at all.  So, while it is nice to have the ability to run older style cards, you than obviously lose the ability to run newer expansion cards.  So, with all of that said, unless you absolutely have to run a specific older PCI-X card, PCI-X risers, while available, are not the best solution.  Otherwise, you are losing out on the ability to run newer and likely better cards as a result.

Don’t forget to check out our video tutorials at our YouTube channel: velocity783. Have a How-To request?  Request your own and we will get right to work on it for you!

Please feel free to call us anytime at 888-784-2088 or visit our website at www.velocitytechsolutions.com

Adding or Upgrading a Processor in a ProLiant DL380 G6 Server

By Dylan Kerling – Velocity Tech Solutions

Today, I am going to be doing an overview on adding a new or upgrading an existing processor in an HP ProLiant DL380 G6 server.

The first thing we are going to want to do, if you are adding a second processor, is to find the step code of your current processor.  Next, we are going to remove the shroud and shipping bracket that is securing the lid covering the processors. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1 – Shroud Covering the Processors

Once you have that lifted, you should see your heat sink.  You are going to twist the heat sink slightly to break the bond the thermal compound has made to make it easier to remove and lift it off the processor.  Next, you will want to lift the lever on the side of the cpu socket to release the cover on the cpu.  Then, carefully remove the processor from its socket.  Lastly, we are going to want to clean off all of the remaining thermal compound on the heat sink and processor.  Any remaining compound there, when you reapply thermal paste, will cause it not to cool the processor as effectively as it should.

Fig. 2 – Location of Step Code

With that done, now look at the top of the processor and find the step code located here. (Fig. 2)

Now that you know the step code, you will want to get a second processor of the exact same code.  Using a different type can cause the computer to not function.  If you are simply upgrading your current processors with new ones, you are going to want to again make sure that both new ones are the same code.  Also note, if you are adding a second processor, you may not have the full six fans in the front assembly and will need to add the last two for the server to function. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3 – 2 of 6 Server Fans

Once you have received your new processor/s, we are going to again open the case and get back to where the processors are located.  Lift the socket levers to allow you to install the processors.  Make sure to line up the notches on the cpu’s themselves with the notches on the socket. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4 – Notches in the Processors

It should be pretty apparent once you have them in hand.  Once you have them lined up, let the processor drop into place.  You shouldn’t need to force anything at this point.  So, if it doesn’t feel like it fits perfectly, it probably isn’t set right.  Once you are certain it is set properly, you will lower the cover and lower the latch.  At this point, it may feel like you are forcing the lever down.  But as long as it doesn’t get caught completely, this is normal.

Now that you have your processors seated correctly, you are going to need to apply thermal paste.  There are several different methods people tend to use.  I always go with using either a pea-sized dot in the very center or a thin line going straight down the middle. (Fig. 5)

Fig. 5 – Applying Thermal Paste

This tends to have the best effect as it lets the heat sink’s pressure spread the thermal paste thinly and evenly across the entire cpu.  Methods of spreading the thermal paste prior to attaching the heat sink can create air bubbles in the compound which will lead to poorer cooling.  Now that we have the thermal paste applied to the processor, lower the heat sink down on top of it.  Make sure the side with only one pin on the underside is matched up with the side with only one pin on the board. (Fig. 6)

Fig. 6 – One Pin Location

Once you have the heat sinks installed, you are all set to secure the latch covering the heat sinks.  Put the shroud back in place.  After that, close back up the case and boot it back up and you should be good to go.

Don’t forget to check out the video to this article and our video tutorials at our YouTube channel: velocity783. Have a How-To request?  Request your own and we will get right to work on it for you!

Please feel free to call us anytime at 888-784-2088 or visit our website at www.velocitytechsolutions.com

HP ProLiant DL380 G5 Server Overview

By Dylan Kerling – Velocity Tech Solutions

Today, I am going to be doing an overview of the ProLiant DL380 G5 server; one of our more popular entry-level HP servers.

To start out, we will be going over what type of hardware is compatible with this model.  Starting with the processors, the DL380 G5 supports both dual core and quad core processors.  It supports up to two (2) processors for a max of 8 threads.  The processors can be found, here, on the motherboard (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 – Location of Processors

Each processor requires a VRM installed in the corresponding slot (Fig. 2).  The right slot is for CPU 1 and the left slot is for CPU 2.  The machine will not run without VRMs.

Fig. 2 – Slots for VRMs

The DL380 G5 server takes PC2-5300 FBDIMM RAM and has 8 DIMM slots on the board.  It runs in dual channel mode so you will need to have RAM installed in sets of two (2) for best performance.  The maximum amount of memory this machine can support is 64GB with 8GB DIMMs.  The DIMMs can be found under the shroud on the board, here (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3 – Location of DIMMs

This machines typically comes with a Smart Array P400, with multiple sizes of raid cache.  The standard cache size is 256MB but can also come with no cache, 128MB and 512MB.  Battery-backed cache is optional on this machine.  However, it is still recommended in most instances.  The smart array card can typically be found on the back of the machine, here (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4 – Location of Smart Array

It takes 2.5″ SAS HDDs and has 8 bays for expandability.

For expansion slots, this machine has two (2) PCI-E 4x slots on the mainboard itself and has an expansion bay found here (Fig. 5 & 6).  The expansion bay can come in both a PCI-X model and PCI-E model with three (3) expansion slots on either type.  The server features dual redundant 800W power supplies, has Windows support up to Windows Server 2008 and is compatible with various Linus distros.

Fig. 5 – Location of Expansion Bay

Fig. 6 – Another View

I hope this overview of the HP ProLiant DL380 G5 Server has been informational and helpful.

Please feel free to call us anytime at 888-784-2088 or visit our website at www.velocitytechsolutions.com

Replacing a Smart Array Controller on a ProLiant DL380 G5 Server

By Dylan Kerling – Velocity Tech Solutions

Hi.  Today, I am going to be talking about replacing a failed Smart Array controller on a DL380 G5.

Fig. 1 – Smart Array Controller

First things first, power off your server entirely and open the lid.  Locate the Smart Array card, near the back of the case, sitting in one of the PCI slots. It should look something like this (Fig. 1).

Fig. 2 – Detach the two SAS Cables

Once you have found the card, lift the blue tab that is locking it in place.  Detach the two SAS cables running to the front of the case from the top of the card (Fig. 2) and don’t forget to note which cord is which when attaching them to your new card.  If your machine is running battery-backed cache, make sure to detach the battery cable from the cache module shown in (Fig. 3).  Lastly, lift the card completely out of the slot.

Taking your new card, you will insert it directly down onto the socket and flush with the back of the machine.  It should secure in place, allowing you to lower the blue latch, fully securing it into the machine.

Fig. 3 – Detach Battery Cable from Cache Module

You will reattach the two SAS cables that are running from the front of the machine to the card.  Insure they are in the same slots as they were in with the last card.  Lastly, reattach the battery wire to the cache module and reseal the machine.

Now that we have the card replaced, we will be powering on the machine again.  As it’s going through post, you should see “initializing smart array controller” come up as one of the first parts of post.  After this is done initializing, you should see a couple different options.

Fig. 4 – Smart Array Firmware Screen

Hit F8 and you should arrive in the Smart Array firmware which will look something like this (Fig. 4).

Fig. 5 – View Logical Drive

Select the second option (View Logical Drive) and you should arrive at a screen like this (Fig. 5).  Make sure it says “OK” for status as shown in Figure 5.

Assuming all went as it should, exit the firmware and it should then boot right into your logical drive as it would’ve prior to the failure.

Hopefully you find this article helpful and informative in replacing your failed Smart Array controller on your DL380 G5 Server.

Feel free to call us at 888-784-2088 or visit our website anytime at www.velocitytechsolutions.com

Pin Type Processors, and You: A Quick Guide to Replacing or Removing the Older PIN Style Processors from PowerEdge Servers, 8th Gen and Older

By Mike Kidd – Velocity Tech Solutions

One of the things I commonly find as a usual suspect in troubleshooting after replacing a system board is improperly seated or removed processors. Fret not, because this happens to the best of technicians and even the novice. In particular, when removing the processor from an 8th gen or older Dell server, the processor comes off with the heatsink. Not that this is always a problem, but it does greatly increase the chance of bending one of the thousands of tiny, tiny pins that make the unit work properly.

Don’t Do This!

Notice the silver lever on the white processor socket is still down and the CPU itself is still attached to the heatsink. Some people assume that this is normal practice and attempt to remove the CPU from the heatsink and simply set it back on top of the processor socket without lifting that silver bar.

Here is what the bar does:
The bar moves the socket forward, and what happens when the bar is up, it lets the CPU pins enter the socket straight up and down. Once the bar is moved back down, the socket shifts and locks the pins in place, creating the solid connection needed to run.

So, you may be asking; how do I properly remove the heatsink and processor?

Do This!

If you look at my fantastic MS Paint skills, you will grab onto the heatsink and give it a twist. This will break the thermal compound free that attaches the processor to the heatsink. At first, it may seem kind of stiff and as if it is going to break. Don’t worry. As long as you twist instead of lift, the processor will stay safely in its socket until you raise the metal lever.

Hopefully this article will help you correctly remove your CPU and assist in motherboard replacement.

Feel free to call us at 888-784-2088 or visit our website anytime at www.velocitytechsolutions.com

How to Replace SAS 5 Controller on a PowerEdge Server

By Mike Kidd – Velocity Tech Solutions

Today, we are going to do a quick write-up with a video on replacing a failed SAS 5 raid controller. This procedure is pretty much the same across the entire PowerEdge line of servers.

Firstly, shut down your server and open the case. Locate your SAS 5 raid controller and you will see something like Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Unscrew the card from your case, and squeeze the blue tabs on the side of the SAS cable, lifting it straight off the card. Next, lift the card out of the server and replace it with your new one.

Installation is much more in-depth in the video demonstration, but basically is the reverse of the removal.

Now, when you turn your server back on, you will get a message stating your virtual disk is inactive/optimal. (Fig. 2)

We are going to go into the raid configuration utility by pressing “CTRL C” when prompted.

Fig. 2

Once inside, press “enter” and arrow over to the “raid properties” menu (Fig. 3) and press enter. We are going to arrow down to “manage array” (Fig. 4) and press enter. Now arrow down to “activate array” and press enter.

Fig. 3

This part of the procedure can be a bit scary because it is taking the existing mirror and bringing it down to a raid 0 and re-syncing it back to a mirror or raid 1. As soon as you activate the array again, you will see it re-syncing if you go back into “manage array” (Fig. 4) in the configuration utility. I have seen windows while booting come up with “NTLDR NOT FOUND” until the sync is 100% complete so do not panic.

Fig. 4

Don’t forget to check out the video to this article and our video tutorials at our YouTube channel: velocity783. Have a How-To request?  Request your own and we will get right to work on it for you!