Apple Xserve User Manual

							16 - Xserve Troubleshooting
Video Symptom Charts
Video
Screen is black, but activity lights ßash at startup, drive operates, blowers are 
running, and power LED is lit
1. Verify that the system ID button on the back of the logic board aligns with the 
opening in the chassis back panel. If it does not, realign the logic board.
2. Reseat the ATA controller board.
3. Check video card connections and connector pins.
4. Test with a known-good monitor. Replace the monitor, if necessary.
5. Remove all third-party devices.
6. Reseat the video card.
7. Clear parameter RAM. Hold down Command-Option-P-R during startup.
8. Reset the logic board. Refer to ÒResetting the PMU on the Logic BoardÓ in this 
chapter.
9. Replace the video card.
10. Replace the logic board. Note: When installing the new logic board, make sure the 
ports and ID button on the back of the board align with the openings in the chassis.
Screen is black, power LED is lit, blowers spin, activity lights do not ßash, and 
drives do not operate
1. Verify that the system ID button on the back of the logic board aligns with the 
opening in the chassis back panel. If it does not, realign the logic board.
2. Reset the logic board. Refer to ÒResetting the PMU on the Logic BoardÓ in this 
chapter.
3. Reseat the processor module.
4. Replace the processor module.
5. Replace the logic board. Note: When installing the new logic board, make sure the 
ports and ID button on the back of the board align with the openings in the chassis.
Video is distorted
1. Make sure that the video card driver and Þrmware are updated to the most recent 
versions.
2. Refer to the adjustments section of the service manual or ownerÕs manual for the 
monitor. Adjust monitor as necessary.
3. Third-party monitors: Try a known-good monitor.
4. Reseat the video card.
5. Replace the video card. 
						

							Xserve Troubleshooting - 17
Hard Drive Symptom Charts
Hard Drive
Flashing question mark appears on the screen
1. Reseat the drive module in the Þrst drive bay.
2. Start up from the system restore CD and check to see if the hard drive shows up on 
the desktop. If it does, go to step 3. If it does not, go to step 5.
3. Run Disk Utility. Update the driver and restart the server.
4. Reinstall system software using the system restore CD that came with the server.
5. Replace the drive module in the Þrst drive bay.
6. Replace the ATA controller board. 
						

							18 - Xserve Troubleshooting
Hard Drive Symptom Charts
Internal Optical Drive
Optical drive icon does not appear on the desktop
1. If the server is locked, unlock it.
2. Check to see if the optical drive is listed in Apple System ProÞler. If it is, go to step 3. If 
it is not, go to step 9.
3. Verify the correct type of disc is being used. Try using a known-good disc.
4. Try cleaning the disc. (It may not mount if it is dirty or scratched.)
5. If there is a disc stuck in the drive, eject it by restarting the server while holding down 
the mouse button. 
6. Turn off all third-party extensions.
7. Verify the Þrmware is the most recent version for that drive. Check Software 
Downloads for any current update.
8. Reinstall system software.
9. Reseat the optical drive cable at both connectors. 
10. Replace the optical drive cable.
11. Replace the optical drive.
12. Replace the logic board only if other devices on the bus do not work. Note: When 
installing the new logic board, make sure the ports and ID button on the back of the 
board align with the openings in the chassis.
Optical drive does not accept CD or DVD disc
1. If the server is locked, unlock it.
2. Verify the disc is not warped.
3. Verify the disc is not the wrong size. Refer to article 58641 ÒMacintosh: Using 
Nonstandard Discs in CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drives.Ó
4. Replace the optical drive.
Original Xserve: Drive tray wonÕt open 
1. If the server is locked, unlock it.
2. Try using a known-good disc.
3. Reseat the optical drive cable at both connectors. 
4. Replace the optical drive cable.
5. Replace the optical drive. 
						

							Xserve Troubleshooting - 19
USB Devices Symptom Charts
Xserve (Slot Load): Disc will not eject
1. If the server is locked, unlock it.
2. Verify the disc is not in use.
3. Drag the disc icon to the trash or select it and press Command-E.
4. Restart the server while holding down the mouse button. 
5. Verify that the bezel over the slot is not bent. If it is, gently bend it back into position.
6. Reseat the optical drive cable at both connectors. 
7. Replace the optical drive cable.
8. Replace the optical drive.
USB Devices
At startup, cursor does not move with the Apple mouse
1. If the server is locked, unlock it.
2. Verify that mouse and keyboard connections are secure.
3. If the mouse is connected to the keyboard, connect the mouse to one of the USB ports 
on the back panel instead. If the mouse works, replace the keyboard. 
4. Replace the mouse.
5. If the mouse is connected to one of the USB ports on the back panel, switch to the 
other USB port. If the mouse operates correctly, replace the logic board. (You can also 
use Apple System ProÞler to verify USB ports.) Note: When installing the new logic 
board, make sure the ports and ID button on the back of the board align with the 
openings in the chassis.
No response to any key on keyboard
1. If the server is locked, unlock it.
2. Verify that keyboard and mouse connections are secure.
3. Remove all USB devices, except the keyboard and mouse. If the keyboard operates 
correctly, troubleshoot the other USB devices.
4. Switch the keyboard to a different USB port. If the keyboard operates correctly, 
replace the logic board. (You can also use Apple System ProÞler to verify USB ports.) 
5. Relaunch Finder.
6. Start up from the system installation CD or system restore CD that came with the 
server. If the keyboard operates, reinstall system software.
7. Replace the keyboard.
8. Replace the logic board. Note: When installing the new logic board, make sure the 
ports and ID button on the back of the board align with the openings in the chassis.  
						

							20 - Xserve Troubleshooting
FireWire Devices Symptom Charts
FireWire Devices
FireWire device connected to port on back panel: No external FireWire device 
icon appears on the desktop 
1. If the server is locked, unlock it.
2. Verify that the FireWire device is turned on and the FireWire cable is securely 
connected to the device and the server.
3. If the device requires external power, make sure it is plugged in.
4. Check that the FireWire device is listed in Apple System ProÞler. If it is, go to step 5. If 
it is not, go to step 6.
5. Check the FireWire device documentation to see if additional drivers are required. If 
so, make sure the drivers are installed.
6. Check for broken pins, dust, dirt, or wear on both FireWire cable connectors, the 
device FireWire port, and the server FireWire port. 
7. Reconnect the FireWire device to another FireWire port on the server. If the server 
has a bad FireWire port, replace the logic board.
8. Replace the FireWire cable.
9. Replace the FireWire device.
10. Replace the logic board. Note: When installing the new logic board, make sure the 
ports and ID button on the back of the board align with the openings in the chassis.
FireWire device connected to port on front panel: No external FireWire 
device icon appears on the desktop
1. If the server is locked, unlock it.
2. Verify that the FireWire device is turned on and the FireWire cable is securely 
connected to the device and the server.
3. If the device requires external power, make sure it is plugged in.
4. Check that the FireWire device is listed in Apple System ProÞler. If it is, go to step 5. If 
it is not, go to step 6.
5. Check the FireWire device documentation to see if additional drivers are required. If 
so, make sure the drivers are installed.
6. Check for broken pins, dust, dirt, or wear on both FireWire cable connectors, the 
device FireWire port, and the server FireWire port. 
7. Reconnect the FireWire device to one of the two FireWire ports on the back panel. If 
the front FireWire port is bad, reseat the FireWire cable on the front panel board and 
the interconnect board. Replace front panel board. Replace internal FireWire cable.
8. Replace the FireWire cable.
9. Replace the FireWire device. 
						

							Xserve Troubleshooting - 21
Network Problems Symptom Charts
Network Problems
Server cannot be seen on network
1. Open the Network system preference and select the Ethernet option. Verify that you 
can now see devices on the network.
2. Boot the server from the Net-install CD. Go to another computer on the same subnet 
and start Server Assistant. If the server can be seen, the server hardware should be 
functioning correctly. Check the software conÞguration on the server, or reinstall and 
reconÞgure the server.
3. Try a known-good Ethernet cable.
4. Clear parameter RAM. Hold down Command-Option-P-R during startup.
5. Try connecting to a known-good Ethernet port at the wall or external hub. 
6. Verify that other users are experiencing the same problem. If so, contact the network 
administrator. 
7. If connected to an Ethernet card, reseat the card.
8. If connected to an Ethernet card, replace the card.
9. Replace the logic board. Note: When installing the new logic board, make sure the 
ports and ID button on the back of the board align with the openings in the chassis. 
						

							22 - Xserve Troubleshooting
Miscellaneous Symptom Charts
Miscellaneous
ID buttons/lights on the back and front of the server are always on, even 
though Server Monitor reports no problems
Make sure the ports and ID button on the back of the logic board align correctly with the 
openings in the chassis.
Original Xserve: Security light on the front of the server is always on, even 
though the server is unlocked. Or service light turns on and off, even though 
Server Monitor does not report any problems.
Make sure the metal locking switch at the front of the server is not bent downward. If it is, 
bend it back to its original position, as shown below. 
						

							© 2003 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.
ð Service Source
Views
Xserve 
						

							Xserve Views - 1
 Internal Views, Xserve
Internal Views, Xserve
Exploded View
Power Supply
661-2664
1 GHz Uni Processor
661-2661 AGP/PCI Single-Slot Riser Card
922-5166
AGP/AGP Single-Slot Riser Card
922-5250
Gigabit Ethernet Card
661-2677
Logic Board
661-2660
Battery
922-4028
Drive
Interconnect
Board
922-5167 Dual-Slot Riser Card
922-5140
Video Card, PCI
661-2679
Blowers
922-5268
DIMM Slots (4)
256 MB DDR
DIMM
661-2658
512 MB DDR
DIMM
661-2659
CD Drive
661-2663
Optical Drive Cable
922-5151
ATA Controller Board
922-5144
Front Panel Board Cable
922-5153
60 GB Hard Drive Module
661-2654
120 GB Hard Drive Module
661-2655 Front Panel Board 
922-5141 FireWire Cable
922-5152 
						

							2 - Xserve Views
 Internal Views, Xserve
Logic Board
Dual-Slot Riser
Connector
PMU
Reset
Button
DIMM
Slots
Bridge Board ConnectorsPower
Supply
ConnectorSingle-
Slot
Riser
Connector Serial
PortUSB
PortsFireWire
PortsEthernet
Port
Processor Connector Reset
Button
Interrupt
Button
System
Identifier
Button