Factors contributing to early power supply failures - IBM System x3550

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H196778

Symptom

Failure analysis data gathered from the field has identified factors that may contribute to the early life failure of System x3550 power supplies. This only affects power supplies that match ALL three (3) of the following criteria:

1. Power supplies Field Replaceable Unit (replacement part number) 39Y7189 manufactured in July or August of 2008. The power supply build date can be verified by checking the physical label on the part. Here is sample power supply data from a part manufactured in July 2008:
   
   

   11S39Y7188YK122187xxxx The sixth digit from the end is the year. The fifth digit from the end is the month.

   
   
2. Servers are configured with a single power supply.
   
   
3. Servers are under constant heavy load.
   

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

• System x3550, type 1013, any model
• System x3550, type 1913, any model
• System x3550, type 7978, any model

This tip is not software specific.
This tip is not option specific.

Workaround

Replace the failed power supply as usual.

Additional information

Power supplies manufactured during the affected time period may have been built with a component that could experience premature failure when overheated. Servers configured with redundant power supplies run cooler given the additional airflow of the second power supply fan mechanism.