Non-Redundant or over spec LED possible if not using 220 VAC

Troubleshooting

Problem

The non-redundant LED (NONRED) is sometimes lit when a server is being used. The LED may turn on and off randomly while the server is operating. The information LED may also be lit on the lightpath panel during this event. The server is configured with the proper number of power supplies required for power redundancy as described in the User's Guide and the Hardware Maintenance Manual/Problem Determination Service Guide. All power supplies show LEDs for A/C and D/C. The server continues to operate withou t issues. The server is using 100/110 VAC power. A user may indicate that one or more servers out of many identical servers exhibit this symptom.

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H19406

Symptom

The non-redundant (NONRED) or OVER SPEC Light Emitting Diode (LED) sometimes is illuminated when a server is being used. The LED may turn on and off randomly while the server is operating. The information LED also may be lit on the Lightpath panel during this event.

This symptom may occur when any of the servers listed (except for the x3690x5) are equipped with two power supplies using 100/110 VAC power.

This symptom may occur for the IBM x3690 x5, when the server is equipped with 1 or 2 power supplies connected to either 100/110 VAC power or 220 VAC power.

All power supplies show LEDs for AC and DC indicating normal functionality.

Users may experience one or more servers, out of many identical servers, exhibiting the symptom(s).

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

System x3690 X5, type 7147, any model
System x3690 X5, type 7148, any model
System x3755, type 8877, any model
System x3800, type 8865, any model
System x3800, type 8866, any model
System x3850 M2, type 7141, any model
System x3850 M2, type 7144, any model
System x3850 M2, type 7233, any model
System x3850 M2, type 7234, any model
System x3850 X5, type 7143, any model
System x3850 X5, type 7145, any model
System x3850 X5, type 7146, any model
System x3850 X5, type 7191, any model
System x3850, type 8863, any model
System x3850, type 8864, any model
System x3950 E, type 8874, any model
System x3950 E, type 8879, any model
System x3950 M2, type 7141, any model
System x3950 M2, type 7144, any model
System x3950 M2, type 7233, any model
System x3950 M2, type 7234, any model
System x3950 X5, type 7143, any model
System x3950 X5, type 7145, any model
System x3950, type 8872, any model
System x3950, type 8878, any model
xSeries 260, type 8865, any model
xSeries 360, type 8686, any model
xSeries 365, type 8861, any model
xSeries 365, type 8862, any model
xSeries 366, type 8863, any model
xSeries 440, type 8687, any model
xSeries 445, type 8870, any model
xSeries 450, type 8688, any model
xSeries 455, type 8855, any model
xSeries 460, type 8872, any model
xSeries MXE-460, type 8874, any model

This tip is not option specific.

This tip is not software specific.

Solution

This is working as designed.

Workaround

To ensure power redundancy under all supported operating loads, any server displaying a NONRED or OVER SPEC LED should be checked for the following conditions before any parts are replaced:

Verify that the minimum number of power supplies required for power redundancy are installed and are functioning correctly. Refer to the User's Guide or HMM/Problem Determination Guide.

For the x3690 x5 which can hold up to 4 power supplies, the minimum configuration without redundancy is 2 power supplies. For N+1 redundancy, 3 power supplies are required. For N+N redundancy, all 4 power supplies must be installed.

Verify that the server is using 220 VAC power. IBM only guarantees power redundancy when using 220 VAC power.

Additional information

Servers are equipped with dual-range DC power supplies which supply a certain amount of wattage, depending on whether the input power is 100/110 VAC or 220 VAC. Refer to the User's Guide or HMM/Problem Determination Guide for DC wattage per input voltage.

Power redundancy thresholds are based on the wattage of a single power supply.

At 100/110 VAC, depending upon the amount of processors, memory, and option devices installed, it is possible for a server to reach the redundancy threshold at any time, causing the NONRED or OVER SPEC LED to illuminate.

At 220 VAC, each power supply is capable of providing enough wattage for a fully loaded and configured server. In the event AC power is lost to a single power supply, or if a single power supply experiences a failure, the server can continue functioning on the redundant power supply.

Hot-swapping of power supplies is supported only when using 220 VAC and if supported by the server architecture.

If a server is using 220 VAC power and experiences a NONRED or OVER SPEC condition when the proper number of power supplies are installed for power redundancy, then normal Problem Determination should be done to isolate the cause. The NONRED or OVER SPEC LED indicates insufficient power is being provided to the server's internal components.

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

System x:Operating system independent / None

Older System x:Operating system independent / None

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Tips

Non-Redundant or over spec LED possible if not using 220 VAC - IBM Servers