Multinode power-on not responsive right after power-off - IBM System x3850 X5, x3950 X5, BladeCenter HX5

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H197152

Symptom

When issuing a power on command right after a power off command, the system may not power on. If issuing the smbridge command to force a reset (reboot -force), then the system will shutdown and not power on when configured as a two-node system.

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

• BladeCenter HX5, type 7872, any model
• System x3850 X5, type 7145, any model
• System x3850 X5, type 7146, any model
• System x3950 X5, type 7145, any model

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

• The smbridge utility is affected.
• The IMM and FPGA firmware for the system is affected.

The following system firmware level(s) are affected:

• yu0073
  

Workaround

The user needs to delay for a period of at least 8 seconds between when the power off command is issued and the next power on. For smbridge commands, another power on command should be issued to turn the system on.

Additional information

When a multi-node system is powered off, the hardware needs some time to synchronize before it is ready to power back on. The power on command is issued, but the hardware cannot honor the request until it is ready. If the hardware receives a command before it is ready, then the command will be discarded.