Apple xserve g5 or xserve g5 january 2005 User Manual

							
 

© 2005 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.
 

 
 
 
Service SourceXserve G5
 
Xserve G5, Xserve G5 (Cluster Node), and Xserve G5 (January 2005) Updated: 11 March 2005 
						

							
 

© 2005 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.
 

 
 
 
Service Source
       Take Apart
 
                  Xserve G5 
						

							
 

Xserve G5 Take Apart - 
 
1
 
 General Information
 
General Information
 
Overview
 
Xserve G5 is a server designed to mount into a rack; Apple recommends that you remove 
the Xserve G5 server from the rack before replacing or installing all parts except hard 
drives. You can replace hard drives while the server is operating and still in the rack.
To identify versions of the Xserve G5, check the front panel. Xserve G5 and Xserve G5 
(January 2005) include a slot-load optical drive and three hard drives. Xserve G5 (Cluster 
Node) has no optical drive and just one hard drive.
 
Note:
 
 For the most part, the procedures in this chapter apply to all versions of the server. 
When different procedures are required, the version is speci fied in the topic heading.
 
Using 2 Gigabyte Memory Modules 
 
2 gigabyte memory modules became a con figurable purchase option for Xserve G5 
computers starting in March 2005. Only Xserve G5 version 2 logic boards labeled as 
shown below accept 2 gigabyte (GB) memory modules (DIMMs). Check for this label 
before you install memory or change logic boards. 
						

							
 

2 - 
 
Xserve G5 Take Apart General Information
 
Important:
 
 There are two versions of the Xserve G5 logic board that must be replaced 
like-for-like. Identify version 2 logic boards by the “DDR 2GB” (Double-Data-Rate, 2 
gigabyte memory) label as shown below.
 
 
Mounting in a Rack
 
For information on mounting Xserve G5 in a rack, see the Xserve G5 User’s Guide.
 
Tools
 
You will need a medium and a small Phillips screwdriver and a small  flat-blade screwdriver 
for some procedures. If the server is locked, you will also need the server’s Allen wrench 
key. 
 
Note:
 
 Many take-apart procedures do not require tools. 
 
Server Identi fier Light/Button
 
The identi fier light on the server’s front panel turns on when internal sensors or a systems 
administrator detects a problem with the server. (The light can also be turned on by 
pressing the identi fier button.) This indicator will help you locate which server in a rack 
needs servicing. In addition, you can use the identi fier button to initiate several  firmware 
commands to the system. See “Entering Firmware Boot Commands From the Front Panel” 
in the Troubleshooting chapter.
 
Note:
 
 A duplicate identi fier light/button is on the server’s back panel. 
						

							
 

Xserve G5 Take Apart - 
 
3
 
 General Information
 
Before Opening the Server
 
Serial Number
 
Be sure to write down the server’s serial number. If the server’s software must be set up 
after service is complete, the serial number will be required for login. 
 
Unlocking the Server
 
If the server is in the locked position (the yellow security LED on the front panel is on), use 
the Allen key that came with the server to unlock it.
 
Important:
 
 When the lock on the server’s front panel is locked, the software ignores the 
optical drive, keyboard and mouse, and other peripherals connected to the USB and 
FireWire ports on the server.
 
Shutting Down
 
You must shut down the server before replacing or installing all parts except the hard 
drives. Before shutting down, be sure to alert users that the server will be unavailable for a 
period of time.
 
Warning:
 
 After shutting down the server, you must wait a few minutes before servicing it 
to allow internal components to cool.
 
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Precautions
 
Follow these steps to avoid damage from ESD before working inside the server. 
1. Shut down the server.
2. If the cable management arm is not in use, unplug all external cables except the  power cord.
3. Touch the server’s metal case to discharge static electricity.
4. Unplug the power cord.
5. Slide the server open, remove it from the rack, and place it on a  flat surface, preferably 
covered by an ESD mat.
6. Put on an ESD wrist strap, and to avoid static electricity building back up in your body,  do not walk around the room until after you have  finished and closed the server.
 
Top Cover
 
The top cover is attached to the rack where the server is mounted. If you are replacing the 
top cover, you must remove it both from the server and from the rack. For detailed 
information on how the top cover is mounted in the rack, see the User’s Guide. 
						

							
 

4 - 
 
Xserve G5 Take Apart Hard Drive
 
Hard Drive
 
Xserve G5 and Xserve G5 (January 2005) include three hard drive bays at the front of the 
server; Xserve G5 (Cluster Node) includes just one drive bay. Drives come as modules 
attached to carriers; they are removed from or installed in the server as a unit.
 
Note:
 
 Blank drive carriers, which may fill some of the hard drive bays, follow the same 
take-apart procedure as hard drives. If you are replacing a blank carrier with a drive 
module, instruct the server’s administrator to keep the blank for possible future use. Blank 
carriers must be installed in all empty bays to maintain proper air flow through the server.
 
Tools
 
No tools are required for this procedure.
 
Preliminary Steps
 
Before you begin, make sure the drives are in the unlocked position. No other preliminary 
steps are required. You can replace or install hard drives while the server is running; you 
do not need to shut down or open the server  first.
 
Note:
 
 There are two LED indicators on the front of each drive. 
• The upper LED shows drive status: a green light indicates the drive is g\
ood; a yellow  or red light indicates the drive should be replaced.
• The lower LED shows drive activity: when the light is blinking, the syst\
em is reading  from or writing to the drive. To avoid losing data, never remove a drive\
 when the lower 
LED is blinking.
 
WARNING:
 
 Drives must be in the unlocked position before you attempt to remove a drive. 
If the drives are locked, pulling on the drive to remove it could damage the drive handle.
 
Part Location 
						

							
 

Xserve G5 Take Apart - 
 
5
 
 Hard Drive
 
Procedure
 
1. Make sure the drive being replaced is not in use by any application and is not being shared by the server. (See the Mac OS X Server documentation for information about 
shared drives.)
2. Unmount the drive (by using the command-line tools or by dragging the disk icon to  the Trash).
3. Press the handle on the front of the drive module so that the handle pops out.
4. Wait for the upper LED on the drive to go out. Then grasp the drive handle, and pull  the drive module out of the server. 
						

							
 

6 - 
 
Xserve G5 Take Apart Opening the Server
 
Opening the Server
 
The server slides open from the front of the rack. The server’s top cover remains in place 
in the rack; the bottom housing (containing all internal components) should be placed on a 
sturdy, flat surface.
 
Tools
 
No tools are required for this procedure. You may, however,  find a Phillips screwdriver 
useful in releasing the thumbscrews in step 1 below.
 
Preliminary Steps
 
Before you begin this procedure, write down the server’s serial number located on the 
back panel. If it is necessary to set up the server’s software after service is complete, the 
serial number will be required for login. 
						

							
 

Xserve G5 Take Apart - 
 
7
 
 Opening the Server
 
Procedure
 
1. Release the two thumbscrews at the front of the server.
 
Note:
 
 The thumbscrews are captive and do not separate from the bottom housing\
.
2. Grasp the thumbscrews and slide the bottom housing forward part way to expose the  two chassis levers.
3. While depressing both levers, pull the bottom housing all the way forward and remove  it from the rack. Place the bottom housing on a sturdy,  flat surface and ESD mat. 
						

							
 

8 - 
 
Xserve G5 Take Apart DIMMs
 
DIMMs
 
Xserve G5 has eight Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) slots arranged in two banks. The 
slots accept Double-Data-Rate (DDR) Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory 
(SDRAM) devices. 
Depending on your configuration, the computers ship with a pair of DIMMs installed in slot 
1 of each DIMM bank. You can add DIMMs, provided they are installed in pairs of equal 
size, one per bank, from the center outward. Numbers marked on the logic board next to 
the DIMM slots illustrate how the pairs must be installed. 
In addition, DIMMs must  fit these speci fications: 
• PC3200 error-correcting DDR SDRAM, also known as DDR-400
• 2.5 volt
• 64-bit wide, 184-pin module
• 18 memory devices maximum
• Unbuffered (not registered or buffered)
• Maximum height of 1.25 inches