PFW1542: I/O problem isolation procedure

This I/O problem-determination procedure isolates I/O card and I/O subsystem failures. When I/O problem isolation is complete, all cables and cards that are failing will have been replaced or reseated.

For more information about failing part numbers, location codes, or removal and replacement procedures, see Part locations and location codes . Select your machine type and model number to see applicable procedures for your system.

Notes:
  1. To avoid damage to the system or subsystem components, unplug the power cords before removing or installing a part.
  2. This procedure assumes either of the following items:
    • An optical drive is installed and connected to the integrated EIDE adapter, and a stand-alone diagnostic CD-ROM is available.
    • Stand-alone diagnostics can be booted from a NIM server.
  3. If a power-on password or privileged-access password is set, you are prompted to enter the password before the stand-alone diagnostic CD-ROM can load.
  4. The term POST indicators refers to the device mnemonics that appear during the power-on self-test (POST).
  5. The service processor might have been set by the user to monitor system operations and to attempt recoveries. You might want to disable these options while you diagnose and service the system. If these settings are disabled, make notes of their current settings so that they can be restored before the system is turned back over to the customer.
    The following settings may be of interest.
    Monitoring
    (also called surveillance) From the ASMI menu, expand the System Configuration menu, then click Monitoring. Disable both types of surveillance.
    Auto power restart
    (also called unattended start mode) From the ASMI menu, expand Power/Restart Control, then click Auto Power Restart, and set it to disabled.
    Wake on LAN
    From the ASMI menu, expand Wake on LAN, and set it to disabled.
    Call Out
    From the ASMI menu, expand the Service Aids menu, then click Call-Home/Call-In Setup. Set the call-home system port and the call-in system port to disabled.
  6. Verify that the system has not been set to boot to the SMS menus or to the open firmware prompt. From the ASMI menu, expand Power/Restart Control to view the menu, then click Power On/Off System. The AIX/Linux® partition mode boot indicates Continue to Operating System.

Use this procedure to locate defective FRUs not found by normal diagnostics. For this procedure, diagnostics are run on a minimally configured system. If a failure is detected on the minimally configured system, the remaining FRUs are exchanged one at a time until the failing FRU is identified. If a failure is not detected, FRUs are added back until the failure occurs. The failure is then isolated to the failing FRU.

Perform the following procedure:

  • PFW1542-1
    1. Ensure that the diagnostics and the operating system are shut down.
    2. Turn off the power.
    3. Turn on the power.
    4. Insert the stand-alone diagnostic CD-ROM into the optical drive.

    Does the optical drive appear to operate correctly?

    No
    Go to Problems with loading and starting the operating system (AIX and Linux).
    Yes
    Continue to PFW1542-2.
  • PFW1542-2
    1. When the keyboard indicator is displayed (the word "keyboard"), if the system or partition gets that far in the IPL process, press the 5 key on the firmware console.
    2. If you are prompted to do so, enter the appropriate password.

    Is the "Please define the System Console" screen displayed?

    No
    Continue to PFW1542-3.
    Yes
    Go to PFW1542-4.
  • PFW1542-3

    The system is unable to boot stand-alone diagnostics.

    Did powering on the system generate a different error code or partition firmware hang from the one that originally sent you to PFW1542?

    No
    If you were sent here by an error code, and the error code did not change as the result of powering on the system, you have a processor subsystem problem. Go to PFW1548: Memory and processor subsystem problem isolation procedure. If you were sent here because the system is hanging on a partition firmware checkpoint, and the hang condition did not change as a result of powering on the system, go to PFW1542-5.
    Yes
    Look up the new error code in the reference code index and perform the listed actions.
  • PFW1542-4

    The system stopped with the Please define the System Console prompt on the system console. Stand-alone diagnostics can be booted. Perform the following steps:

    1. Follow the instructions on the screen to select the system console.
    2. When the DIAGNOSTIC OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS screen is displayed, press Enter.
    3. If the terminal type has not been defined, you must use the option Initialize Terminal on the FUNCTION SELECTION menu to initialize the AIX operating system environment before you can continue with the diagnostics. This is a separate operation from selecting the firmware console.
    4. Select Advanced Diagnostic Routines.
    5. When the DIAGNOSTIC MODE SELECTION menu displays, select System Verification to run diagnostics on all resources.

      Did running diagnostics produce a different symptom?

      No
      Continue with the following sub-step.
      Yes
      Return to the Problem Analysis procedures with the new symptom.
    6. Record any devices missing from the list of all adapters and devices. Continue with this procedure. When you have fixed the problem, use this record to verify that all devices appear when you run system verification.

      Are there any devices missing from the list of all adapters and devices?

      No
      Reinstall all remaining adapters, if any, and reconnect all devices. Return the system to its original configuration. Go to Verifying a repair.
      Yes
      The boot attempts that follow will attempt to isolate any remaining I/O subsystem problems with missing devices. Ignore any codes that may display on the operator panel unless stated otherwise. Continue to PFW1542-5.
  • PFW1542-5

    Are there any adapters in the PCI slots in the base system?

    No
    Go to PFW1542-6.
    Yes
    Go to PFW1542-8.
  • PFW1542-6

    Replace the system backplane, Un-P1. Continue to PFW1542-7.

  • PFW1542-7
    1. Boot stand-alone diagnostics from CD.
    2. If the "Please define the System Console" screen is displayed, follow directions to select the system console.
    3. Use the Display Configuration and Resource List to list all adapters and attached devices.
    4. Check that all adapters and attached devices are listed.

    Did the "Please define the System Console" screen display and are all attached devices and adapters listed?

    No
    Go to PFW1542-11.
    Yes
    Go to PFW1542-12.
  • PFW1542-8
    1. If it is not already off, turn off the power.
    2. Label and record the location of any cables attached to the adapters.
    3. Record the slot number of the adapters.
    4. Remove all adapters from slots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the base system that are not attached to the boot device.
    5. Turn on the power to boot stand-alone diagnostics from CD-ROM.
    6. If the ASCII terminal displays Enter 0 to select this console, press the 0 key on the ASCII terminal's keyboard.
    7. If the "Please define the System Console" screen is displayed, follow directions to select the system console.
    8. Use the option Display Configuration and Resource List to list all adapters and attached devices.
    9. Check that all adapters and attached devices are listed.

    Did the "Please define the System Console" screen display and are all attached devices and adapters listed?

    No
    Go to PFW1542-11.
    Yes
    Continue to PFW1542-9.
  • PFW1542-9

    If the "Please define the System Console" screen does display and all adapters and attached devices are listed, the problem is with one of the adapters or devices that was removed or disconnected from the base system.

    1. Turn off the power.
    2. Reinstall one adapter and device that was removed. Use the original adapters in their original slots when reinstalling adapters.
    3. Turn on the power to boot stand-alone diagnostics from the optical drive.
    4. If the "Please define the System Console" screen is displayed, follow the directions to select the system console.
    5. Use the Display Configuration and Resource List to list all adapters and attached devices.
    6. Check that all adapters and attached devices are listed.

    Did the "Please define the System Console" screen display and are all attached devices and adapters listed?

    No
    Continue to PFW1542-10.
    Yes
    Return to the beginning of this step to continue reinstalling adapters and devices.
  • PFW1542-10

    Replace the adapter you just installed with a new adapter and try the boot to stand-alone diagnostics from CD-ROM again.

    1. If the "Please Define the System Console" screen is displayed, follow directions to select the system console.
    2. Use the option Display Configuration and Resource List to list all adapters and attached devices.
    3. Check that all adapters and attached devices are listed.

    Did the "Please define the System Console" screen display and are all attached devices and adapters listed?

    No
    Go to PFW1542-6.
    Yes
    The adapter you just replaced was defective. Go to PFW1542-12.
  • PFW1542-11
    1. Turn off the power.
    2. Disconnect the base system power cables.
    3. Replace the following parts, one at a time, in the sequence listed:
      1. Optical drive
      2. Removable media backplane and cage assembly
      3. Disk drive backplane and cage assembly
      4. System backplane, location Un-P1
      5. Service processor
    4. Reconnect the base system power cables.
    5. Turn on the power.
    6. Boot stand-alone diagnostics from CD.
    7. If the "Please define the System Console" screen is displayed, follow directions to select the system console.
    8. Use the option Display Configuration and Resource List to list all adapters and attached devices.
    9. Check that all adapters and attached devices are listed.

    Did the "Please define the System Console" screen display and are all adapters and attached devices listed?

    No
    Replace the next part in the list and return to the beginning of this step. Repeat this process until a part causes the Please define the System Console screen to be displayed and all adapters and attached devices to be listed. If you have replaced all the items listed above and the Please define the System Console screen does not display or all adapters and attached devices are not listed, check all external devices and cabling. If you do not find a problem, contact your next level of support for assistance.
    Yes
    Go to PFW1542-12.
  • PFW1542-12

    The item you just replaced fixed the problem.

    1. Turn off the power.
    2. If a display adapter with keyboard and mouse were installed, reinstall the display adapter, keyboard, and mouse.
    3. Reconnect the tape drive (if previously installed) to the internal SCSI bus cable.
    4. Plug in all adapters that were previously removed but not reinstalled.
    5. Reconnect the I/O subsystem power cables that were previously disconnected.

    Return the system to its original condition. Go to Verifying a repair.