IBM Support

'Vcore PG low' error after unexpected System Power Off - IBM System x, BladeCenter, Flex System

Troubleshooting


Problem

In rare cases, during run time, the system may power off unexpectedly with the following error message in one (1) of the system event logs: 'Vcore PG low'. Additionally, the failure can be identified by one (1) of the symptoms listed below: - Lightpath display panel: BRD light may be illuminated. - Power supply LED: AC LED is on. DC and error LEDs are off. - Integrated Management Module (IMM) event log: Vcore PG low.

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H21966

Symptom

In rare cases, during run time, the system may power off unexpectedly with the following error message in one (1) of the system event logs: 'Vcore PG low'.

Additionally, the failure can be identified by one (1) of the symptoms listed below:

  • Lightpath display panel: BRD light may be illuminated.
  • Power supply LED: AC LED is on. DC and error LEDs are off.
  • Integrated Management Module (IMM) event log: Vcore PG low.

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

  • BladeCenter HS23, type 1929, any model
  • BladeCenter HS23, type 7875, any model
  • BladeCenter HS23E, type 8038, any model
  • BladeCenter HS23E, type 8039, any model
  • Flex System Manager Node, type 7955, any model
  • Flex System Manager Node, type 8731, any model
  • Flex System Manager Node, type 8734, any model
  • Flex System x220 Compute Node, type 2585, any model
  • Flex System x220 Compute Node, type 7864, any model
  • Flex System x220 Compute Node, type 7906, any model
  • Flex System x240 Compute Node, type 7863, any model
  • Flex System x240 Compute Node, type 8737, any model
  • Flex System x240 Compute Node, type 8738, any model
  • Flex System x440 Compute Node, type 2584, any model
  • Flex System x440 Compute Node, type 7917, any model
  • System x3100 M4, type 2582, any model
  • System x3250 M4, type 2583, any model
  • System x3300 M4, type 7382, any model
  • System x3500 M4, type 7383, any model
  • System x3550 M4, type 5459, any model
  • System x3550 M4, type 7914, any model
  • System x3650 M4 HD, type 5460, any model
  • System x3650 M4, type 6188, any model
  • System x3650 M4, type 7915, any model
  • System x3750 M4, type 8722, any model
  • System x3750 M4, type 8733, any model

This tip is not software specific.

This tip is not option specific.

The following system BIOS/uEFI level(s) are affected: See the full list in the Tip.

Solution

Update the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware per the following product list which shows Platform to UEFI / Code Build pair that contain the fix to this issue.

IBM Platform UEFI version and Build Id
BladeCenter HS23, type 1929 UEFI 1.42, Build TKE130D
BladeCenter HS23, type 7875 UEFI 1.42, Build TKE130D
BladeCenter HS23E, type 8038 uEFI 1.31, Build AHE128F
BladeCenter HS23E, type 8039 uEFI 1.31, Build AHE128F
Flex System Manager Node, type 7955 UEFI 1.40, Build BDE135J
Flex System Manager Node, type 8731 UEFI 1.40, Build BDE135J
Flex System Manager Node, type 8734 UEFI 1.40, Build BDE135J
Flex System x220 Compute Node, type 2585 UEFI 1.31, Build KES126B
Flex System x220 Compute Node, type 7864 UEFI 1.31, Build KES126B
Flex System x220 Compute Node, type 7906 UEFI 1.31, Build KES126B
Flex System x240 Compute Node, type 7863 UEFI 1.31, Build B2E126E
Flex System x240 Compute Node, type 8737 UEFI 1.31, Build B2E126E
Flex System x240 Compute Node, type 8738 UEFI 1.31, Build B2E126E
Flex System x440 Compute Node, type 2584 UEFI 1.21, Build CNE126I
Flex System x440 Compute Node, type 7917 UEFI 1.21, Build CNE126I
System x3100 M4, type 2582 UEFI 1.06, Build JQE160B
System x3250 M4, type 2583 UEFI 1.06, Build JQE160B
System x3750 M4, type 8722 UEFI 1.31, Build KOE126D
System x3750 M4, type 8733 UEFI 1.31, Build KOE126D

The file is available by selecting the appropriate Product Group, type of System, Product name, Product machine type, and Operating system on IBM Support's Fix Central web page, at the following URL:

Workaround

Disable Central Processing Unit (CPU) C-States by following these steps:

  1. Restart the system and use F1 to open the UEFI setup menu.
  2. Navigate to "System Settings" --> "Processors".
  3. Change the value for "CPU C-States" to "Disable".
  4. Save and exit UEFI and restart server.
  5. During system startup, return to the UEFI setup menu to confirm that CPU C-States is disabled.

Note: As an alternative to UEFI, users can use the Advanced Settings Utility (ASU) to disable CPU C-States:

32-bit operating system with ASU:

ASU set UEFI.ProcessorCcxEnable Disable --host x.x.x.x --user USERID --password PASSW0RD

where x.x.x.x is the IMM Internet Protocol (IP) address of the target server.

64-bit operating system with ASU:

asu64 set UEFI.ProcessorCcxEnable Disable --host x.x.x.x --user USERID --password PASSW0RD"

where x.x.x.x is the IMM IP address of the target server.

Additional information

In rare cases, a timing error in the CPU Voltage Regulator-Down (VRD) can cause the server to unexpectedly shut down when the CPU transitions from an idle state to a higher power state.

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

BladeCenter:Operating system independent / None

System x:Operating system independent / None

PureFlex System and Flex System:Operating system independent / None

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Document Information

Modified date:
16 May 2022

UID

ibm1MIGR-5093814

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