Using progress codes

Progress codes (or checkpoints) offer information about the stages involved in powering on and performing initial program load (IPL). Although progress codes do not always indicate an error, in some cases your server can pause indefinitely (hang) without displaying an 8-character reference code. Only when you experience such a hang condition should you take any action with respect to a progress code. When you look up a progress code, the information indicates the most appropriate action for that progress code.

Progress code formats

Progress codes appear in several formats:

• an 8–digit hexadecimal number that begins with C (except for CB) or D (except for DA)
• a 3-digit hexadecimal number
• a 4-digit hexadecimal number that has a value between 2000 and 27FF
• a 4-digit hexadecimal number that begins with a 0, 2, BC, D, or E.

When the control panel displays more than eight characters, use only the first eight characters to find the progress code. The characters that display beyond the first eight represent a location code that can assist you in diagnosing the problem.

1. Some operating systems, including Linux®, do not produce progress codes when performing an IPL
2. Your server might display progress codes in the system control panel (for systems with a physical control panel) or in the virtual console on the Hardware Management Console.

Depending on the progress code you encounter, you might use the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI) or System Management Services (SMS) to view progress code logs.

Using the Advanced System Management Interface to view progress code logs (all models except A50 and 185)

The service processor keeps two logs of progress codes. Use the ASMI to view the progress code logs. To view the progress logs, complete the following steps:

1. Access the ASMI and log in
2. Select System Information, then select either Previous Boot Progress Indicators or Progress Indicator History.
   • Selecting Previous Boot Progress Indicators shows the progress codes that the server displayed in the control panel during the last system boot.
   • Progress Indicator History shows the latest progress codes that the server is currently displaying in the control panel.

Using System Management Services to view progress code logs

Using the System Management Services (SMS) to view progress code logs (models A50 and 185)

The system management services (SMS) keeps three logs of progress codes. Use the SMS console to access the SMS menus to look at the progress code logs. To view the logs, complete the following steps:

1. Access the SMS menus.
2. Select System Service Aids > Progress Indicator History, then select Current Boot Progress Indicators, Previous Boot Progress Indicators or Previous Failover Permanent Side Boot.
   • Selecting Current Boot Progress Indicators shows the latest progress codes that the server is currently displaying in the control panel.
   • Selecting Previous Boot Progress Indicators shows the progress codes that the server displayed in the control panel during the last system boot.
   • Selecting Previous Failover Permanent Side Boot shows the progress codes that the server displayed in the control panel during the last boot in which the server was unable to boot from the T (temporary) side and boot from the P (permanent) side.

Selecting Progress Indicator History shows the latest progress codes that the server is currently displaying in the control panel.

Using the list of progress codes

The list of progress codes is in numeric order. The first column represents either an entire 4 character progress code or the first 4 characters of an 8-character progress code. The second column describes the progress code and links to information that includes one or more tables and, when necessary, a description of the table columns.

To use the list of progress codes, locate the code that you want to find in the first column and click the link in the second column.

For more information, refer to the List of progress codes.