Apple xserve early 2009 User Manual

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Input/Output Devices 61 2010-06-28
Input/Output Devices
Rear USB Port Does Not Recognize Known Devices
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Rear USB Port Does Not 
Recognize Known Devices
• USB devices not recognized on 
the rear USB port.
1. If the Xserve is locked, unlock it.
2.  Check the for latest software updates for Apple 
and especially third party devices.
3. Use System Profiler to verify the System 
recognizes each of the USB buses in the USB 
device tree.
4.  Test both rear ports with known good Apple 
keyboard or mouse.
5. Test front USB port with known good Apple 
keyboard or mouse.
6.  Verify any external USB device with large power 
requirements have their own external power 
supplies.
7. Verify external USB device cables by using known 
good cables.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1.  Disconnect all peripherals 
except for a known good 
Apple USB device.
YesGo to step 2
NoRepeat Step 1
2.  Verify the USB ports are free 
from contaminants and debris.
YesGo to step 3
NoRemove contaminants and 
debris. Replace affected 
modules if necessary. Defects 
caused by contaminants or 
debris are not covered by 
Apple warranty. Go to step 3.  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Input/Output Devices 62 2010-06-28
3. Reset SMC. Verify each of the 
USB buses are recognized, and 
a known good connected USB 
device is recognized?
YesIssue resolved. Issue maybe 
caused by another peripheral 
device.
NoReplace Logic Board.M15
Front USB Port Does Not Recognize Known Devices
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Front USB Port Does Not Recognizing 
Known Devices
• USB devices not recognized on the 
front USB port.
1. If the Xserve is locked, unlock it.
2.  Check the for latest software updates for 
Apple and especially third party devices.
3. Use System Profiler to verify the System 
recognizes each of the USB buses in the 
USB device tree.
4.  Test both rear ports with known good 
Apple keyboard or mouse.
5. Verify any external USB device with large 
power requirements have their own 
external power supplies.
6.  Verify external USB device cables by using 
known good cables.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Disconnect all peripherals 
except for a known good 
Apple USB device.
YesGo to step 2
NoRepeat Step 1
2.  Verify the USB ports are free 
from contaminants and debris.
YesGo to step 3
NoRemove contaminants and 
debris. Replace affected 
modules if necessary. Defects 
caused by contaminants or 
debris are not covered by 
Apple warranty. Go to step 3.  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Input/Output Devices 63 2010-06-28
3. Reset SMC. Verify each of the 
USB buses are recognized, and 
a known good connected USB 
device is recognized?
YesIssue resolved. Issue maybe 
caused by another peripheral 
device.
NoGo to step 4.
4.  Reseat the Front Panel Board 
cable. 
YesIssue resolved.
NoReplace Front Panel Board.M15
N08
FireWire Port Does Not Recognize Known Devices
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
FireWire Port Does Not 
Recognize Known Devices
• FireWire devices not 
recognized.
1. If the Xserve is locked, unlock it.
2.  Check the for latest software updates for Apple 
and especially third party devices.
3. Use System Profiler to verify the System 
recognizes each of the FireWire busses in the 
FireWire device tree.
4.  Test both rear ports with known good FireWire 
device and cable.
5. Verify any external FireWire device with large 
power requirements have their own external 
power supplies.
6.  Verify external FireWire device cables by using 
known good cables.
7. Reset PRAM/NVRAM.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1.  Disconnect all peripherals 
except for a known good 
FireWire device and cable.
YesGo to step 2
NoRepeat Step 1  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Input/Output Devices 64 2010-06-28
2. Verify the FireWire ports are 
free from contaminants and 
debris.
YesGo to step 3
NoRemove contaminants and 
debris. Replace affected 
modules if necessary. Defects 
caused by contaminants or 
debris are not covered by 
Apple warranty. Go to step 3.
3. Reset SMC. Verify each of the 
FireWire busses are recognized, 
and a known good connected 
Firewire device is recognized?
YesIssue resolved. Issue maybe 
caused by another peripheral 
device.
NoReplace Logic Board.M12
PCI-E Expansion Card/Slot Not Recognized
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
I/O Expansion Issues
• Expansion riser/slot issues
• Can’t detect expansion card
1. For Ethernet card issues, make sure to configure 
using Network System Preference
2.  For Fibre channel card issues, make sure to 
configure using Fibre Channel Utility.
3. For SCSI card issues, make sure to configure 
using Disk Utility.
4.  Check System Profiler to see if the card is 
recognized.
5. Reset PRAM/NVRAM
6.  Run AXD diagnostics and check log files.  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Input/Output Devices 65 2010-06-28
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Does the expansion card meet 
the requirements for the slot 
in which it is being used?
YesGo to step 2.
NoRefer to product specifications 
of Xserve then recommend 
the card be replaced with the 
proper specification type of 
model.
2.  Reset SMC.YesIssue resolved.
NoGo to step 3.
3. Reseat the expansion card.YesIssue resolved.
NoGo to step 4.
4.  Reseat the PCI riser card into 
the logic board, and retest the 
card in the same slot.
YesIssue resolved.
NoGo to step 5.
5. Test the expansion card in 
the other expansion slot, 
if available, ensuring the 
card being tested meets the 
requirements of the slot.
YesIssue resolved.
NoGo to step 6.
6.  Test with a different known 
good compatible card in the 
same type of slot.
YesIssue resolved.
NoGo to step 7.
7. Test with a known good PCI 
riser card.
YesIssue resolved.
NoReplace Logic Board.M17
8.  Does the expansion card work 
with the replacement logic 
board?
YesIssue resolved.
NoRepeat steps 3-7.  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Input/Output Devices 66 2010-06-28
Uncategorized Symptom
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Uncategorized Symptom
Unable to locate appropriate 
symptom code
Verify whether existing symptom code applies to the 
issue reported by the user. If not, document reported 
symptoms and send feedback to smfeedback@apple.
com stating that suitable symptom code could not 
be found.  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Communications 67 2010-06-28
Communications
Ethernet Port/Device Issues
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Network Issues
• Server cannot be seen on 
network
• Slow network performance 
1. Open the Network system preference pane and 
select the built-in Ethernet option. 
2.  If only one Ethernet port is in use, verify that it 
is the right hand (1) port. If it is not, move the 
Ethernet cable to the right hand (1) port. This is 
the primary (en0) port.
3. Boot the Xserve from the Installation disc. Go to 
another computer on the same subnet and start 
Server Assistant. If the Xserve can be seen, the 
Xserve hardware should be functioning correctly. 
Check the software configuration on the Xserve, 
or reinstall and reconfigure the Xserve. 
4.  Try a known-good Ethernet cable. 
5. Clear parameter RAM (PRAM).  Hold down 
Command-Option-P-R during startup. (You must 
unlock the Xserve to perform PRAM reset)
6.  Try connecting to a known-good Ethernet port at 
the wall or external hub. 
7. Verify that other users are experiencing the same 
problem. If so, contact the network administrator. 
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1.  Is the Ethernet network 
connected to an Ethernet 
expansion card in the Xserve?
YesSee expansion card 
troubleshooting section.
NoUsing built-in Ethernet. Go to 
step 2.  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Communications 68 2010-06-28
2. Visually inspect Ethernet 
connector to ensure all pins 
will make physical contact with 
CAT5 or better network cable. 
YesEthernet interface contacts 
are good. Go to step 3. 
NoPins are damaged or bent flat, 
replace logic board. 
M10
3. Isolate OS by booting from 
original install media. Verify 
network link status active 
by using Network Utility on 
install DVD and looking for link 
LED adjacent to connected 
Ethernet port.   If the Ethernet 
interface (en0) link status 
is inactive, recheck physical 
connection and link activity 
indicator on hub/ switch. 
YesRight-hand (1) Ethernet 
interface (en0) Link Status is 
active, go to step 4.
NoRight-hand (1) Ethernet 
interface (en0) Link Status is 
inactive. Replace logic board. 
M10
4.  Disconnect Xserve and 
connect known-good 
computer to network using 
the same Ethernet cable.  Verify 
if IP address is listed for the 
Ethernet interface in System 
Preferences: Network. Retest.
YesGo to step 5.
NoIf connection is OK on known-
good system, replace logic 
board. 
M10
5. Verify connection by using 
Network Utility to ping another 
connected computer on the 
same subnet.  Ensure the 
target computer‚ IP address is 
valid, on the same subnet and 
powered on. Ensure no MAC 
address filtering or hardware 
access control devices are 
present. Use a simple hub/
switch environment.  Is ping 
successful?
YesGo to step 6.
No If the symptoms do not 
change, replace the logic 
board. 
M10  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Communications 69 2010-06-28
6. Verify Ethernet performance 
and reliability by starting up 
from a known-good OS install, 
and downloading a large file 
from a web site or file server.
YesIf there is performance or 
connectivity issue isolated 
solely to the system under 
test, the problem may be the 
network environment. No 
repair is necessary. 
NoIf there are connection 
dropouts or poor 
performance not seen on 
a known-good test system, 
replace the logic board. 
M10
Uncategorized Symptom
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Uncategorized Symptom
Unable to locate appropriate 
symptom code
Verify whether existing symptom code applies to the 
issue reported by the user. If not, document reported 
symptoms and send feedback to smfeedback@apple.
com stating that suitable symptom code could not 
be found.  
						

							Xserve (Early 2009) Symptom Charts — Video 70 2010-06-28
Video
Video Distortion
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Video is distorted
• Bad/Dim color
• Lines or artifacts
• Distortion/garbled video
1. Refer to the adjustments section of the owner’s 
manual for the external display. Adjust display as 
necessary. 
2.  Reseat the Mini DisplayPort adapter and cable 
connections.
3. Inspect the Mini DisplayPort adapter pins and 
replace the adapter if necessary.
4.  Reset PRAM/NVRAM. (You must unlock the Xserve 
to perform)
5. Test with a known good display. 
6.  Run complete AXD Diagnostics
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Reseat the mezzanine video 
card
YesIssue resolved.
NoReplace the mezzanine video 
card.
M04