[uunix]

Morning (or afternoon) all.

So some months back my Power5 285 failed to power on, well rather boot up. I get the LCD display and the usual flashing power button and the ASM.

Today I have brought it into work to investigate what is up.

The error log via the ASM shows 2 issues..

Service Processor - Predictive Error B181201B
Power Supply - Unrecoverable Error, Loss of redundancy 11001521

Reading up on the redundancy issue, this seems to apply to machines with a second (redundant) power supply, yet the 285 only has a single supply.

Any thoughts?

[Edit.. forgot the 1 at the end of the error code]

[Edit Edit - Does seem to be a faulty power supply Darn it!]

[johnnym]

The error log via the ASM shows 2 issues..

Service Processor - Predictive Error B181201B
Power Supply - Unrecoverable Error, Loss of redundancy 11001521

Reading up on the redundancy issue, this seems to apply to machines with a second (redundant) power supply, yet the 285 only has a single supply.

Yes, but the system board has sockets for two PSUs in these machines IIC. So maybe the firmware doesn't have specific code or error messages for this case and just notices that one of the two possible PSUs failed.
On the other hand, the IBM docs say no to redundant PSUs for the Intellistation POWER 285. (See "Redundant power supply/Fans" on http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin...S9111-_h02) :huh:

[Edit Edit - Does seem to be a faulty power supply Darn it!]

Just to be sure, did you try to reseat it? I sometimes have similar problems in my p5 520Q (virtually identical system apart from the case and the processor and the shipped PSU) and reseating it usually solved the issue IIRC.

I still believe you can use the PSUs of p5 520 and p5 520Q - which provide 850 W instead of 700 W and are not as silent - in the Intellistation POWER 285. Unfortunately I don't remember if I ever tested this myself. The 850 W PSU type I use in both systems (and the p5 520 is an older revision, still with DDR memory instead of DDR2 as uased in the p5 520Q and POWER 285) is from Artesyn (Model: 7001087-Y000, IBM P/N: 39J4951, IBM EC #: H86723).

[uunix]

The error log via the ASM shows 2 issues..

Service Processor - Predictive Error B181201B
Power Supply - Unrecoverable Error, Loss of redundancy 11001521

Reading up on the redundancy issue, this seems to apply to machines with a second (redundant) power supply, yet the 285 only has a single supply.

Yes, but the system board has sockets for two PSUs in these machines IIC. So maybe the firmware doesn't have specific code or error messages for this case and just notices that one of the two possible PSUs failed.
On the other hand, the IBM docs say no to redundant PSUs for the Intellistation POWER 285. (See "Redundant power supply/Fans" on http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/cgi-bin...S9111-_h02) :huh:

[Edit Edit - Does seem to be a faulty power supply Darn it!]

Just to be sure, did you try to reseat it? I sometimes have similar problems in my p5 520Q (virtually identical system apart from the case and the processor and the shipped PSU) and reseating it usually solved the issue IIRC.

I still believe you can use the PSUs of p5 520 and p5 520Q - which provide 850 W instead of 700 W and are not as silent - in the Intellistation POWER 285. Unfortunately I don't remember if I ever tested this myself. The 850 W PSU type I use in both systems (and the p5 520 is an older revision, still with DDR memory instead of DDR2 as uased in the p5 520Q and POWER 285) is from Artesyn (Model: 7001087-Y000, IBM P/N: 39J4951, IBM EC #: H86723).

Hey JohnnyM, cheers..

Yes two power sockets on the motherboard, only one is used. Also two cut-outs in the casing for a kettle lead.

Have removed an refitted multiple times, all looks spotless inside.

On the power supply there are three symbols with LEDs. I think for DC / AC whatever, the bottom one though only lights on for a short time in amber. Not sure what that means though.

Do you think it may be worth booting from the permanent side for the prom instead of the temporary one it's booting off now?

[johnnym]

Have removed an refitted multiple times, all looks spotless inside.

Bummer, but it was worth a try.

On the power supply there are three symbols with LEDs. I think for DC / AC whatever, the bottom one though only lights on for a short time in amber. Not sure what that means though.

I can check with my POWER 285 at the weekend, it's not at my place at the moment.

Do you think it may be worth booting from the permanent side for the prom instead of the temporary one it's booting off now?

If both sides have the same firmware revision I assume not. If they differ, maybe.

Did you already try to empty the error logs and start over?

[uunix]

[quote pid='3373' dateline='1536782937']
Do you think it may be worth booting from the permanent side for the prom instead of the temporary one it's booting off now?

If both sides have the same firmware revision I assume not. If they differ, maybe.

Did you already try to empty the error logs and start over?
[/quote]
Ever had the firmware go bad on one of these things? It's doubtful I know.

[johnnym]

Ever had the firmware go bad on one of these things? It's doubtful I know.

Nope, not as long as I have these machines. But my p5 520 came with a defunct service processor, maybe a firmware upgrade on this thing went wrong in the past - that two-firmware-sides reliability feature only came with later firmware revisions AFAIK - or the SP or its firmware really just broke during past operation.

But I don't think your SP is as defunct as mine was or defucnt at all, because mine constantly jumped between two firmware progress codes and seemed to reset periodically and I couldn't even access the CLI. Temporarily using the SP of my POWER 285 in the p5 520 made it work like a charm. But as said, I don't think your SP is bad, as you still have access to it. BTW do you use it via serial console or via web browser?

[uunix]

Ever had the firmware go bad on one of these things? It's doubtful I know.

Nope, not as long as I have these machines. But my p5 520 came with a defunct service processor, maybe a firmware upgrade on this thing went wrong in the past - that two-firmware-sides reliability feature only came with later firmware revisions AFAIK - or the SP or its firmware really just broke during past operation.

But I don't think your SP is as defunct as mine was or defucnt at all, because mine constantly jumped between two firmware progress codes and seemed to reset periodically and I couldn't even access the CLI. Temporarily using the SP of my POWER 285 in the p5 520 made it work like a charm. But as said, I don't think your SP is bad, as you still have access to it. BTW do you use it via serial console or via web browser?

Web Browser, but also able to telnet into the same IP address accessing the Linux environment.

[johnnym]

Web Browser, but also able to telnet into the same IP address accessing the Linux environment.

Say do you also have the issue mentioned in this article chapter, i.e. if you connect to one of the HMC ports before the SP is up, then access is not possible but if you connect after the SP is up everything works well? I have this same issue on all of my p5 520, p5 520Q and POWER 285 and this is quite odd and cumbersome. Not sure, but maybe this is a firmware issue, so may I ask at what firmware level you are on your POWER 285?

---

I today could also perform the testing at the location of my POWER 285. I first "recorded" the LED sequence with the original PSU:

1. first the LED labelled with an AC symbol lights up and stays green
   
2. then the LED labelled with a DC symbol starts to blink green
   
3. then after a while the lowest LED with a "!" rotated 90 degrees symbol starts to blink orange (slower than the second LED with a DC symbol!)
   
4. sometime later this LED on the PSU goes off
   
5. a few seconds later the front panel shows readiness (blinks green)
   
6. after issuing a power up command, as soon as the machine fans start spinning, the direct current LED stops blinking and stays green
   

I also tested one of my above mentioned p5 520(Q) PSUs in my POWER 285. And this also works in there, with the same LED sequence as shown above. It's louder during standby and operation but works the same way as the original PSU. I only tested until the menu screen appears where one can choose to enter SMS or Open Firmware and two other menu options.

The p5 520(Q)s when only using one PSU usually have a sort of air baffle inserted in the upper PSU slot that covers the rear openings (incl. the one for the power input connector) of the case and most of the space that would be below an inserted PSU, have a look at these IBM instructions for details. For continuous operation of your POWER 285 with such a server PSU you should probably also put some sort of air baffle (maybe plastic) in there.

[uunix]

Web Browser, but also able to telnet into the same IP address accessing the Linux environment.

Say do you also have the issue mentioned in this article chapter, i.e. if you connect to one of the HMC ports before the SP is up, then access is not possible but if you connect after the SP is up everything works well? I have this same issue on all of my p5 520, p5 520Q and POWER 285 and this is quite odd and cumbersome. Not sure, but maybe this is a firmware issue, so may I ask at what firmware level you are on your POWER 285?

---

I today could also perform the testing at the location of my POWER 285. I first "recorded" the LED sequence with the original PSU:

1. first the LED labelled with an AC symbol lights up and stays green
   
2. then the LED labelled with a DC symbol starts to blink green
   
3. then after a while the lowest LED with a "!" rotated 90 degrees symbol starts to blink orange (slower than the second LED with a DC symbol!)
   
4. sometime later this LED on the PSU goes off
   
5. a few seconds later the front panel shows readiness (blinks green)
   
6. after issuing a power up command, as soon as the machine fans start spinning, the direct current LED stops blinking and stays green
   

I also tested one of my above mentioned p5 520(Q) PSUs in my POWER 285. And this also works in there, with the same LED sequence as shown above. It's louder during standby and operation but works the same way as the original PSU. I only tested until the menu screen appears where one can choose to enter SMS or Open Firmware and two other menu options.

The p5 520(Q)s when only using one PSU usually have a sort of air baffle inserted in the upper PSU slot that covers the rear openings (incl. the one for the power input connector) of the case and most of the space that would be below an inserted PSU, have a look at these IBM instructions for details. For continuous operation of your POWER 285 with such a server PSU you should probably also put some sort of air baffle (maybe plastic) in there.

Hey JohnnyM,

Yes I have to wait for the green power light before I connect to the ASM port.

My firmware level is SF240_338

As for the PSU LEDs, they appear the same as yours up to point 6 which never happens and the middle LED continues to blink.

[uunix]

Just an update and a big thanks to Johnnym for pointing me in the direction of a very reasonably priced replacement PSU.

I received today, installed and she is back up and running.

Took me some minutes to turn off the system attendant light and as hard as you look, you will never find it in smit. diag is your friend.


Anyway, cheers johnnym.