Page 1 Acer Altos G710 User’s Guide...
Page 2 Serial Number: ___________________________________ Purchase Date: ___________________________________ Place of Purchase: ________________________________ Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other company’s product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.
Page 3: Fcc Notice
Notices FCC notice Class A devices do not have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Class B devices have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Once the class of the device is determined, refer to the following corresponding statement. Class A equipment This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Page 4: Laser Compliance Statement
Notice: Shielded cables All connections to other computing devices must be made using shielded cables to maintain compliance with FCC regulations. Notice: Peripheral devices Only peripherals (input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) certified to comply with the Class A or Class B limits may be attached to this equipment. Operation with noncertified peripherals is likely to result in interference to radio and TV reception.
Page 5: Important Safety Instructions
Important safety instructions Read these instructions carefully. Save these instructions for future reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. Do not use this product near water.
Page 6 If the product does not operate normally when the operating instructions are followed. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions since improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition.
Page 7: Table Of Contents
Notices FCC notice Laser compliance statement Important safety instructions 1 System tour Features summary External and internal structure Front bezel Front panel Rear panel Internal components System boards Mainboard layout Jumper settings Backplane layout SAF-TE board layout 2 System setup Setting up the system Preinstallation requirements Connecting peripherals...
Page 8 viii Installing the four-bay hot-plug SATA HDD cage Installing a hard disk into the four-bay hot-plug HDD cage carrier Replacing storage devices Replacing the FDD Replacing the CD-ROM drive Upgrading the CPU Installing the heatsink and CPU Removing the heatsink and CPU Upgrading the system memory Removing a DIMM Installing a DIMM...
Page 9 Specific problems and corrective actions Appendix A: System management System requirements System setup ePanel RAID configuration Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide Setting up the system rack System rack installation Vertical mounting hole pattern Installing the system into the rack...
Page 10 Setting Index...
Page 11: System Tour
1 System tour...
Page 12 The Acer Altos G710 server is a powerful dual- processor system loaded with a host of new and innovative features. The system offers a new standard for flexible productivity ideal for multimedia processing, intensive graphics applications, general business applications, email, web service, file clustering and print...
Page 13: Features Summary
DIMM modules of identical type, banking and stacking technology, and manufacturer should be installed in the Altos G710 system. • Maximum upgrade — 16 GB (when 2 GB of DDR2 400 Registered...
Page 14 For instance, if 8 GB of memory is installed (four 2 GB DIMMs), only 4 GB of memory in DIMM 1B and DIMM 1A can be accessed by the system. Memory in DIMM 2B and DIMM 2A is reserved as spare DIMMs. Refer to “Server Management Configuration”...
Page 15 RAID on motherboard (optional) • Dual channel Ultra 320 SCSI channels • Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 and 50 • Requires RAID-enabler (iButton) • Requires one 184-pin DDR 400 unbuffered ECC DIMMs for cache memory • Supports 128 MB memory module with iTBBU (Transportable Battery Backup Unit) cache memory •...
Page 16 Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 ® ® • Novell NetWare ™ • SCO OpenServer 5.0.7 ® • SCO UnixWare 7.1.4 • ASM (Acer Server Management) Power supply • 550-watts redundant power supply (optional) ® 2000 Server (SP4) ® Server 2003 1 System tour...
Page 17: External And Internal Structure
LCD display cover (for ePanel module) Bezel door Front panel LED indicator Security keylock 1 The ePanel module is not included with your system. To purchase an ePanel mod- ule, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.ac- er.com/.
Page 18: Front Panel
Front panel Icon Component CD-ROM drive Stop/ Eject button CD-ROM drive activity indicator CD-ROM drive Volume control CD-ROM drive Headphone/ Earphone port 1 System tour Description Press this button to open the CD drive tray. When the LED indicator is lit, there is activity in the CD drive.
Page 19 Icon Component 5.25-inch drive bays Power indicator Hard disk activity indicator System status indicator LAN1 activity indicator LAN2 activity indicator Service ID indicator Service ID button Four-bay hot-plug HDD cage HDD bay USB ports Hot-plug HDD access indicator Hot-plug HDD power indicator Description Two empty 5.25-inch drive bays...
Page 20 Icon Component ePanel module cover Power button FDD activity indicator FDD (Floppy disk drive) FDD Eject button For more information about the status of the LED indicator, see Front panel LED indicators table on page 11. or more information about the status of the hot-plug HDD indicator, see Hot-plug HDD LED indicators table on page 12.
Page 21: Front Panel Led Indicators
Front panel LED indicators Below table lists the LED states on the front panel. Color Power Green Status Green Green Amber Amber Green Amber Status Description Power on Blinking System in ACPI sleep mode. System in normal mode. Blinking • Defective CPU •...
Page 22 Color LAN1 and 2 Green Service ID Blue button Hot-plug HDD LED indicators Below table lists the possible disk drive states. Power HDD Status (Color) HDD not None present HDD present Green HDD failure Amber HDD rebuild Green Amber Status Description Network is established.
Page 23: Rear Panel
Rear panel Icon Component Power supply module bay (empty) PS/2 mouse port PS/2 keyboard port Description Allows installation of a hot-swap redundant power supply module. Note: Though the system supports two hot-swap power supply module bays, the system comes bundled with only a single power supply module.
Page 24 Icon Component USB ports Serial port Parallel/printer port VGA/monitor port Gigabit LAN ports (10/100/ 1000 Mbps) Service ID indicator Service ID button Expansion slots Ventilation slots Keyhole PCI slot lock lever Rear system fan Main power supply AC power indicator 1 System tour Description Connects to USB devices.
Page 25 Icon Component Main power supply fail indicator Main power supply cable connector Description Indicates status of the the hot- swappable power supply module or any PSU (power supply unit) internal fan fault condition (amber). Connects to the power cable.
Page 26: Internal Components
Internal components Component Power supply module (550-watts) Rear system fan Rear system fan release latch Air baffle PCI bus slot 1 Though the system supports two hot-swap power supply modules, the system comes bundled with a single 550-watt power supply module only. You have the option to purchase an extra power supply module to provide the system with a redundant power source.
Page 27: System Boards
System boards Mainboard layout The mainboard becomes accessible once you open the system. It should look like the figure shown below. Code Description Top: PS/2 mouse port Bottom: PS/2 keyboard port USB 2.0 ports...
Page 28 Code D14 - D21 JP17 J18, J20 J23, J24, J26 JP26 JP24 JP25 Description Top: Parallel/printer port Bottom: Serial port Bottom: VGA/monitor port Gigabit LAN ports (RJ-45) Broadcom BCM5721 Gigabit chipset (LAN1) ID LED ID button Broadcom BCM5721 Gigabit chipset (LAN2) CMOS battery Port 80 BIOS self-diagnostic LED connector BMC debug jumper...
Page 29 Code Description JP27 Clear CMOS, Clear password and BIOS recovery jumper ROMB (RAID on motherboard) firmware chipset Flash ROM BIOS chipset SATA 0 - Serial ATA connectors SATA 1 Intel IOP332 chipset DDR-I DIMM slot (for ROMB cache) SCSI status LED connector LSI 53C1030 SCSI chipset SCSI Channel B connector JP23...
Page 30 Code J3 and J4 J5 and J8 J9 and J11 J12 and J14 JP31 Description Intel E7520 MCH (Memory Controller Hub) chipset CPU 2 fan connector CPU 1 fan connector CPU 1 socket CPU power connector Power supply connector DIMM 1B to 1A sockets DIMM 2B to 2A sockets DIMM 3B to 3A sockets DIMM 4B to 4A sockets...
Page 31: Jumper Settings
Jumper settings The table below lists the mainboard jumper settings. Jumper Setting JP27 JP17 JP13 Function Clear CMOS settings Clear password settings Enable BIOS recovery BMC diagnostics settings BMC recovery settings HDD LED LAN1 activity LED LAN2 activity LED Power LED Power button Reset button...
Page 32: Backplane Layout
Backplane layout The backplane attached to the four-bay hot-plug HDD cage provides a convenient interface between the SCSI or SATA drives and the mainboard. SCSI backplane layout Front Description 120-pin SAF-TE connector 80-pin SCSI data cable connectors 68-pin SCSI data cable connector J1 Backplane jumper header SCSI power cable connector SCSI HDD management cable connector (I...
Page 33 SATA backplane layout Front Code Description SATA HDD connectors SAF-TE heartbeat LED and Manufacturing function jumper SATA data cable connector SAF-TE connector 10-pin power cable connector Backplane setup header SATA cage management cable connector (I Backplane peering cable connector Rear C bus)
Page 34: Saf-Te Board Layout
SAF-TE board layout The SAF-TE board connects to the HDD cage’s backplane. It monitors the backplane’s temperature and voltage condition and the status of the SCSI hard drives. Description GEM 318p SAF-TE chipset Configuration switch SAF-TE configuration settings (SW1) The SAF-TE board’s pre-assigned ID is SCSI ID 6. The table below shows the board’s configuration settings.
Page 35: System Setup
2 System setup...
Page 36 This chapter gives you instructions on how to set up your system. Procedures on how to connect peripherals are also explained.
Page 37: Setting Up The System
TV transmitters, etc. Checking the package contents Check the following items from the package: • Acer Altos G710 system • Acer Altos G710 User’s Guide • Acer EasyBUILD • Acer Altos G710 accessory box •...
Page 38: Connecting Peripherals
Connecting peripherals Refer to the illustration below for specific connection instructions on the peripherals you want to connect to your system. Note: Consult the operating system manual for information on how to configure the network setup. 2 System setup...
Page 39: Turning On The System
Turning on the system After making sure that you have properly set up the system and connected all the required cables, you can now power on the system. To power on the system: Open the bezel door. Press the power button.
Page 40 The ePanel module is not included with your system. To purchase an ePanel module, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/. Aside from the POST messages, you can determine if the system is in good condition by checking if the following occurred: •...
Page 41: Power-On Problems
Power-on problems If the system does not boot after you have applied power, check the following factors that might have caused the boot failure. • The external power cable may be loosely connected. Check the power cable connection from the power source to the power cable socket on the rear panel.
Page 42: Configuring The System Os
Configuring the system OS The Altos G710 comes with Acer EasyBUILD conveniently install your choice of operating system. To start using EasyBUILD, follow the steps below. Locate the EasyBUILD System CD included in the system package. With your system turned on, gently press the CD-ROM drive Stop/ Eject button.
Page 43: Server Setup
To purchase a rack mount kit, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/. The figure below shows the Altos G710 server in a rack-mount position. For instructions on tower-to-rack configuration, refer to “Appendix B:...
Page 44: Turning Off The System
Turning off the system There are two ways by which you can turn off the server. These include: • To turn off the system from Windows To turn off the server, on the Windows taskbar click on the Start button, point to Shut Down..., select Shut down from the drop-down window then click on OK.
Page 45 Power Off button again to confirm host POWER OFF! message appears. (4) Press the Navigation key to shutdown the system. Note: The ePanel module is not included with your system. To purchase an ePanel module, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/.
Page 46 2 System setup...
Page 47: System Upgrade
3 System upgrade...
Page 48 This chapter discusses the precautionary measures and installation procedures you need to know when upgrading the system.
Page 49: Installation Precautions
Installation precautions Before you install any server component, we recommend that you read the following sections. These sections contain important ESD precautions along with preinstallation and post-installation instructions. ESD precautions Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage your processor, disk drives, expansion boards, motherboard, memory modules and other components.
Page 50: Post-Installation Instructions
Warning! Failure to properly turn off the server before you start installing components may cause serious damage. Do not attempt the procedures described in the following sections unless you are a qualified service technician. Post-installation instructions Observe the following after installing a server component: See to it that all components are installed according to the described step-by-step instructions.
Page 51: Opening The Server
Opening the server Caution! Before you proceed, make sure that you have turned off your system and all peripherals connected to it. Read the “Preinstallation instructions” on page 39. You need to open the server before you can install additional components.
Page 52: Removing The Bezel
Tilt to the right (3), pull it up (4) then move it away from the chassis. Removing the bezel Loosen the two thumbscrews on the bezel (1). Simultaneously depress the plastic retention tabs to release the latches (2). Pull down the cover to a 45° angle, then gently detach it from the chassis (3).
Page 53: Removing The Left-Side Panel
Removing the left-side panel Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 39. Remove the bezel door and the bezel. Refer to the preceding sections for detailed instructions. Loosen the three thumbscrews located at the end of the side panel closest to the front panel (1).
Page 54 Pull out the air baffle to remove it from the chassis (3). Caution! After completing the component upgrade/replacement procedures, do not forget to reinstall the air baffle before replacing the chassis panels. Doing otherwise will reduce the system’s cooling efficiency which can adversely affect performance or cause damage due to overheating.
Page 55: Configuring The Four-Bay Hot-Plug Hdd Cage
The Altos G710 consists of two HDD bays that accept two four-bay hot- plug SCSI or SATA HDD cages. The system comes bundled with only a single four-bay hot-plug SCSI or SATA HDD cage leaving one bay empty.
Page 56 (2) Locate and attach the following cables clamped on the side of the chassis to their corresponding connectors on the SCSI backplane: Important: If a four-bay hot-plug SCSI HDD cage is already installed in the top HDD bay, you must block the J1 jumper. Set pins 1 and 2 to close.
Page 57: Installing The Four-Bay Hot-Plug Sata Hdd Cage
69 and for instructions on how to install the RAID controller into the PCI slot. To purchase a SATA RAID controller, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/. Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 39.
Page 58 (3) Attach the system’s power cable to the SATA power cable connector on the backplane (4). (4) Attach the SATA backplane SAF-TE cable to the JP3 connector on the backplane (5), then connect the other end of the cable to the I C connector on the RAID controller.
Page 59: Installing A Hard Disk Into The Four-Bay Hot-Plug Hdd Cage Carrier
Installing a hard disk into the four-bay hot-plug HDD cage carrier Note: You need not remove the four-bay hot-plug HDD cage from the chassis to install a hard disk into its carrier. Press your finger to the drive release lever (1), then pull out the hard disk carrier from the cage (2).
Page 60 Install a hard disk on the hard disk carrier (1), then secure it with the four screws you have removed earlier (2). Insert the hard disk carrier into the cage with the lever still extended. Push the lever back until it clicks into place. Make sure that the drive is properly inserted before closing the lever.
Page 61: Replacing Storage Devices
Replacing storage devices The system supports one 3.5-inch and three 5.25-inch internal storage devices. The system comes pre-installed with a floppy drive and a CD-ROM drive. The two empty 5.25-inch drive bays allow you to install additional drives such as another CD-ROM drive or a tape drive. These provide the system with additional storage capacity.
Page 62 Remove the three screws that hold the old drive to the drive carrier (1) then pull it out (2). Install a new FDD to the drive carrier (1), then secure it with the three screws you have removed earlier (2). 3 System upgrade...
Page 63: Replacing The Cd-Rom Drive
Insert the drive carrier with the newly-installed FDD into the drive bay. Connect the IDE and FDD cables to the new drive. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. Replacing the CD-ROM drive Note: If you are installing a new drive in an empty drive bay, skip steps 2 to 4.
Page 64 Press the release bracket on both sides of the drive carrier (1) before pulling it out from the chassis (2). Remove the eight screws that hold the old drive to the drive carrier then pull it out. Install a new 5.25-inch drive to the drive carrier then secure it with the eight screws you have removed earlier.
Page 65 Insert the drive carrier with the newly-installed 5.25-inch drive into the drive bay. Connect the power and IDE cables to the new drive. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40.
Page 66: Upgrading The Cpu
Upgrading the CPU This section includes instructions for installing and removing a CPU and heatsink assembly. Installing the heatsink and CPU The mainboard supports dual FC-mPGA4 (Flip Chip Micro Pin Grid Array) 604 processor socket for Intel comes bundled with only a single Intel Xeon processor leaving one CPU socket empty.
Page 67 Press down the retainer lever to lock the CPU in place (2). Apply approximately 0.1ml of the thermal grease to the top of the CPU. Align the heatsink on top of the CPU (1). Using the screwdriver, tighten the heatsink’s four screws to secure it to the mainboard (2).
Page 68: Removing The Heatsink And Cpu
10 Connect the CPU fan cable to the CPU fan (0 or 1) connector on the mainboard. Refer to “Mainboard layout” on page 17 for the location of the CPU fan connector. 11 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. Removing the heatsink and CPU Important: Before removing a CPU from the mainboard, make sure to create a backup file of all important data.
Page 69 (2) Pull out the CPU from the socket (2).
Page 70: Upgrading The System Memory
DDR2 400 memory modules have 240-pin DIMM modules and are not backward-compatible with DDR1. The Altos G710 provides eight DDR2 DIMM slots in dual memory channels. DIMM 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A are connected to memory channel A. DIMM 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B are connected to memory channel B. The maximum memory capacity is 16 GB DDR2 400 memory.
Page 71 DIMM modules of identical type, banking and stacking technology, and manufacturer should be installed in the Altos G710 system. Memory configurations for the DDR2 DIMMs The memory modules of identical type, banking, stacking and manufacturer must be installed and removed in the following order: •...
Page 72: Memory Sparing
Memory sparing and mirroring configuration cannot be used simultaneously. Memory Sparing To provide a more fault tolerant system, Altos G710 includes specialized hardware to support fail-over to a spare DIMM device in the event that a primary DIMM in use exceeds a specified threshold of runtime errors.
Page 73: Removing A Dimm
DIMM DIMM DIMM DIMM 1 GB 1 GB 1 GB 1 GB 2 GB 2 GB 2 GB 2 GB 512 MB 512 MB 512 MB 512 MB 1 GB 1 GB 1 GB 1 GB 2 GB 2 GB 2 GB 2 GB Memory Mirroring...
Page 74 Important: Before removing any DIMM from the mainboard, make sure to create a backup file of all important data. Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 39. Locate the DDR2 DIMM slots on the mainboard. Press the holding clips on both sides of the socket outward to release the DIMM.
Page 75: Installing A Dimm
Installing a DIMM Caution! When using multiple memory modules it is recommended that you AVOID using modules from different manufacturers or that run at different speeds from each other. Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 39. Locate the DDR2 DIMM slots on the mainboard.
Page 76: Reconfiguring The System Memory
Note: The DIMM slot is slotted to ensure proper installation. If you insert a DIMM but it does not fit easily into the socket, you may have inserted it incorrectly. Reverse the orientation of the DIMM and insert it again. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40.
Page 77: Installing The Altos Raid-Enabler (Optional)
Note: The Altos RAID-enabler (iButton) is not included with your system. To purchase an Altos RAID-enabler (iButton) and iTBBU, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http:/ /www.acer.com/. The Altos RAID-enabler (iButton) works in association with the DDR DIMM or iTBBU to subsequently store data from the HDD to the DIMM.
Page 78 3 System upgrade (4) Insert the Altos RAID-enabler (iButton) into the socket and ensure that it is seated completely (3). .
Page 79: Installing An Expansion Card
Installing an expansion card This section explains how to install an expansion card. The onboard expansion slots supports PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)/ PCI-X and PCI Express cards. To install an expansion card Note: PCI Express slot is a new type of interface and differs in length than the conventional PCI/PCI-X slots.
Page 80 Press the PCI slot lock lever on the rear panel of the server (5). Note: If you are installing I/O cards in the x4 PCI Express slot, secure the bracket with a screw before replacing the air baffle. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. Note: When you turn on the system, the BIOS setup automatically detects and assigns resources to the new device (applicable only to Plug-and-Play expansion cards).
Page 81: Installing A Power Supply Module
Installing a power supply module The Altos G710 power subsystem consists of two hot-swap power supply module bays that accept 550-watt hot-swap redundant power supply modules. The system comes bundled with only a single power supply module leaving one power supply module bay empty. You have the option to purchase an extra power supply module to provide your system with a redundant power source.
Page 82: To Install A Redundant Power Supply Module
To install a redundant power supply module Remove the screw securing the cover of the empty power supply module bay, then detach the cover. 3 System upgrade...
Page 83 Hold the handle on front of the power supply module and press your thumb on the release latch. Slide the power supply module into the empty bay until you feel resistance. Press the module handle to secure the power supply module to its bay.
Page 84: Replacing The Easy-Swap System Fan
Replacing the easy-swap system fan This section explains how to install an easy-swap system fan. The server accommodates two easy-swap system fans. Removing an easy-swap system fan Caution! To reduce the risk of personal injury, avoid contact with the fan when the blades are still moving. Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 39.
Page 85: Installing An Easy-Swap System Fan
Installing an easy-swap system fan Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 39. Insert the fan in an empty fan bay then press it firmly in place. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40.
Page 86: Installing An Epanel Module (Optional)
Installing an ePanel module (optional) An optional ePanel module is available for the Altos G710 server system. Note: ePanel is not included with your system. To purchase an ePanel module, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/.
Page 87 Remove the bezel. Refer to “Removing the bezel” on page 42 for instructions. Remove the ePanel module cover from the bezel by the following steps: (1) Remove the two screws that hold the module cover to the bezel (1). Set the screws aside. (2) Remove the module cover (2).
Page 88 Attach the other end of the ePanel power cable to the module’s ePanel power cable connector (7). 10 Align the ePanel module in the ePanel bay (1). Make sure that the module is properly seated. 11 Secure the ePanel with the two screws removed earlier (2). For more information on how to use the ePanel module, see “Appendix D: ePanel”...
Page 89: Bios Setup
4 BIOS setup...
Page 90 This chapter gives information about the system BIOS and discusses how to configure the system by changing the settings of the BIOS parameters.
Page 91: Bios Setup
BIOS setup BIOS setup is a hardware configuration program built into your system's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). Since most systems are already properly configured and optimized, there is no need to run this utility. You will need to run this utility under the following conditions: •...
Page 92: Entering Bios Setup
Entering BIOS setup Power on the server to start the system POST process. During bootup, press F2 to enter the BIOS setup screen. Note: You must press F2 while the system is booting. This key combination does not work during any other time. There are several tabs on the setup screen corresponding to the six major BIOS menus: •...
Page 93 • Use the Enter key to display a submenu screen. Note: When a parameter is preceeded by a >, it means that a submenu screen is available. • Press F1 for General Help on using the BIOS setup. • Press F10 to save changes and close the BIOS setup. •...
Page 94: Main
Main The Main menu displays basic and important information about the system. These information are necessary for troubleshooting and may be required when asking for technical support. These entries are for your reference only and are not user-configurable. The last two parameters on the screen lets you define the sytem’s time and date settings.
Page 95 Parameter Description SMBIOS Version Version of the SMBIOS. SMBIOS (System Management BIOS) allows you to check your system’s hardware without actually opening it up. Hardware checking is done via software checkpoints during start up. System Time Sets the time following the hour-minute-second format.
Page 96: System Information
System Information The screen below appears when you select System Information from the Main window. The System Information menu displays basic information about the system. Parameter Front Side Bus Speed CPU Socket1 Description The front side bus speed is the speed at which the CPU communicates with the mainboard and other parts of the system.
Page 97 Parameter Description CPU Socket2 Indicates a processor is currently installed in the CPU 2 socket. Refer to “Mainboard layout” on page 17 for the location of the CPU 2 socket. Processor Type Type of processor currently installed in the server. Processor Speed The processor speed is the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions.
Page 98: Total Memory
Parameter Keyboard (PS2, USB) Total Memory The screen below appears when you select Total Memory from the System Information window. The Total Memory menu displays the type and size of DRAM installed in DIMM slots 1A, 1B, 2A,2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B.
Page 99: Product Information
Product Information The screen below appears when you select Product Information from the Main window. The Product Information menu displays general data about the system, such as the product name, BIOS version, mainboard ID, serial number, etc. These entries are for reference only and are not user-configurable.
Page 100: Advanced
Advanced The Advanced menu contains parameter values that define how the system behaves on startup. Warning! Be cautious in setting parameter values in the Advanced menu as any incorrect value may cause the system to malfunction. Press Enter to enter the submenu screen of the parameters shown in the screen below.
Page 101: Peripheral Configuration
Peripheral Configuration The Super I/O Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings for the system’s parallel and serial ports. Parameter Description Serial Port 1 Indicates the serial port 1 address and (Address/IRQ) IRQ setting. Serial Port 2 Indicates the serial port 2 address and IRQ setting.
Page 102 Parameter Description Parallel Port Sets the operation mode for the Mode parallel port. When set to Normal mode, allows normal speed one-way operation. When Bi-Directional, allows normal speed operation in a two way mode. EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port) allows bi-directional parallel port operation at maximum speed.
Page 103: Ide Configuration
IDE Configuration The IDE Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings related to the hard disk/s. Parameter Description IDE Configuration Enables or disables the integrated IDE. When this parameter is set to P-ATA mode with the SATA Running Enhanced Mode also enabled, it enables support for PATA IDE mode.
Page 104 Parameter Description S-ATA Running Enables or disables the PATA and Enhanced Mode SATA device support. Primary IDE Specifies the current configuration Master of the IDE device connected to the master port of the primary IDE channel. Press Enter to access the Primary IDE Master submenu.
Page 105 Primary/Secondary/Third/Fourth IDE Master/Slave These items let you select the IDE hard disk parameters that the system supports. Parameter Description Device Type of IDE device. Vendor Vendor of the selected IDE device. Size Capacity of the selected device. Type Drive type Option Auto CD-ROM...
Page 106 Parameter Description LBA/Large Selects the hard disk drive translation Mode method. For drivers with more than 504 MB, LBA mode is necessary. Block Mode Enhances disk performance depending on the hard disk in use. If you set this parameter to Auto, BIOS setup automatically detects if the installed hard disk drive supports the Block Mode function.
Page 107: Floppy Configuration
Floppy Configuration The Floppy Configuration submenu displays the type of floppy drive installed in the server. Parameter Description Floppy A Floppy disk drive type Option 1.44 MB, 3.5-inch Disabled...
Page 108: Pci/Pnp Configuration
PCI/PnP Configuration The PCI/PnP Configuration submenu lets you specify the settings for the PCI devices. Parameter Description Reset Resource BIOS setup stores the configuration data of Assignment Plug and Play devices in NVRAM (Non-volatile Random Access Memory). When this parameter is set to Yes, current data is deleted and a new set of information is created during the next system bootup.
Page 109: Boot Settings Configuration
Boot Settings Configuration The Boot Settings Configuration submenu lets you specify the preferred settings for system bootup. Parameter Description Quick Boot Allows the system to boot faster by skipping some POST routine. Option Enabled Disabled...
Page 110 Parameter Description Quiet Boot Enables or disables the Quiet Boot function. When set to Enabled, BIOS setup is in graphical mode and displays only an identification logo during POST and while booting. After booting, the screen displays the operating system prompt (such as DOS) or logo (such as Windows 95).
Page 111 Parameter Description Wait for 'F1' if When this item is enabled you will be Error prompted to press F1 when an error is detected during boot up. MPS Revision Version of the multiprocessor specifications. Memory Test When enabled, this parameter allows the system to perform a RAM test during the POST routine.
Page 112: Onboard Devices Configuration
Onboard Devices Configuration The Onboard Devices Configuration submenu lets you specify settings that are related to the onboard controllers. Parameter Description Onboard LAN1 Enables or disables the onboard LAN1 Device controller. Onboard LAN2 Enables or disables the onboard LAN2 Device controller.
Page 113: Server Management Configuration
Server Management Configuration The Server Management Configuration submenu lets you specify the appropriate settings for the system’s event handling function. The system event log enables you to record and monitor events that occur in the system (eg., system temperature changes, fan stops, etc.). Parameter Description Version of the BMC (Baseboard...
Page 114 Parameter Description NMI Assert Enables or disables the PCI bus parity error support. Reset When this parameter is enabled, only the Disabled the system’s healthy memory size is Memory displayed during the POST process. Memory When this item is set to Mirror, only half of Mirror/Spare the memory capacity will be detected by the system OS.
Page 115 Parameter Description PCI Device PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is Event a 32-bit bus that supports a 64-bit Logging extension for new processors, such as Pentium processors. It can run at clock speeds of 33 or 66 MHz. When this parameter is enabled, any PCI device error will be recorded in the event log.
Page 116: Remote Access Configuration
Remote Access Configuration The Remote Access Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings for the system’s serial ports. Parameter Description Remote Access Enables or disables remote serial access. Serial Port Assigns a serial port to be used for Number connecting to the console.
Page 117 Parameter Description Post-Boot Enables or disables the BIOS console Support redirection during system boot up. Terminal Type Selects the console type. VT-UTF8 Com- Enables or disables the VT-UFT8 bination Key combination keys for remote station Support configuration and management. The combination keys for remote station management are listed in the table below.
Page 118 ANSI Escape Sequence <Esc><Shift>oz <Esc><Shift>oa Home <Esc>[<Shift>h <Esc>[<Shift>k <Esc>[2 <Esc>[3 Page Up <Esc>[5 Page Down <Esc>[6 Up Arrow <Esc>[<Shift>a Down Arrow <Esc>[<Shift>b Right Arrow <Esc>[<Shift>c Left Arrow <Esc>[<Shift>d Reset <Esc><Shift>b 4 BIOS setup Windows Platform Design Note <Esc>! <Esc>@ <Esc>h <Esc>k <Esc>+ <Esc>-...
Page 119: Power
Power The Power menu allows you to configure the system’s power management feature. Parameter Description ACPI-aware OS Indicates whether the system’s OS supports the ACPI standard of power management. Power When this parameter is enabled, it allows Management some OS, such as Windows 95/98, to implement APM (Advanced Power Management) functions.
Page 120 Parameter Description AC Lose Defines the power state to resume to after Handling a system shutdown that is due to an interruption in AC power. When set to Last State, the system will return to the active power state prior to shutdown.
Page 121: Boot
Boot The Boot menu allows you to set the drive priority during system bootup. It also displays information about the installed storage devices. Press Enter to enter the submenu screen of the parameters shown in the screen below. Boot Device Priority The Boot Device Priority submenu lets you specify the boot search sequence during the POST process.
Page 122 Parameter Description 1st Boot Device Sets the device from which the system will first attempt to boot up. 2nd Boot Device Sets the device from which the system will attempt to boot up when the first attempt failed. 3rd Boot Device Sets the device from which the system will attempt to boot up when the first and second attempts failed.
Page 123: Hard Disk Drives
Hard Disk Drives The Hard Disk Drives submenu lets you specify the devices that will be considered as the primary and secondary hard drives.
Page 124: Removable Devices
4 BIOS setup Removable Devices The Removable Devices submenu displays the type of removable devices installed in the system.
Page 125: Atapi Cd-Rom Devices
ATAPI CD-ROM Devices The ATAPI (Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface) CD-ROM submenu displays the type of ATAPI CD-ROM installed in the system.
Page 126: Security
Security The Security menu allows you to safeguard and protect the system from unauthorized use by setting up access passwords. Parameter Description Supervisor Prevents unauthorized access to the Password BIOS setup utility. User Password Secures your system against unauthorized use. Once you set this password, you have to type it whenever you boot the system.
Page 127: To Set A Supervisor/User Password
Parameter Description Change Press Enter to change the Supervisor Supervisor password. Password Password When this item is set to Setup, the Check system will ask for the password every time you run the BIOS Setup utility. When set to Always, the system will awalys ask for the password every time it boots.
Page 128: To Remove The User Password
Retype the password to verify the first entry then press Enter again. To remove the User password Use the up/down keys to highlight the Clear User Password parameter then press Enter. Enter the current password then press Enter. Press Enter twice without entering anything in the new and confirm password fields.
Page 129: Exit
Exit The Exit menu displays the various options to quit from the BIOS setup. Highlight any of the exit options then press Enter. Parameter Description Save Changes Saves changes made and close the BIOS setup. and Exit Discard Discards changes made and close the BIOS setup. Changes and Exit Discard...
Page 130 4 BIOS setup...
Page 131: Troubleshooting
5 Troubleshooting...
Page 132 This chapter provides possible solutions for specific problems. If you cannot correct the problem, contact your local Acer representative or authorized dealer for assistance.
Page 133: Resetting The System
Resetting the system Before going through in-depth troubleshooting, attempt first to perform reset your system using one of the methods below. To do this Soft boot reset to clear the system memory and reload the operating system. Cold boot reset. Turn the system power off and then on. This clears system memory, restarts POST, reloads the operating system and halts power to all peripherals.
Page 134: Problems Following Initial System Installation
5 Troubleshooting Problems following initial system installation Problems that occur at initial system startup are usually caused by an incorrect installation or configuration. Hardware failure is a less frequent cause. If the problem you are experiencing is with a specific software application, see "There is problem with the application software"...
Page 135: First Steps Checklist
First steps checklist • AC power available at the wall outlet? • Are the power supplies plugged in? Check the AC cable(s) on the back of the chassis and at the AC source. • Are all cables correctly connected and secured? •...
Page 136: Hardware Diagnostic Testing
Hardware diagnostic testing This section provides a more detailed approach to identifying a hardware problem and locating its source. Caution! Turn off devices before disconnecting cables: Before disconnecting any peripheral cables from the system, turn off the system and any external peripheral devices. Failure to do so can cause permanent damage to the system and/or the peripheral devices.
Page 137: Confirming Loading Of The Os
Confirming loading of the OS Once the system boots up, the operating system prompt appears on the screen. The prompt varies according to the operating system. If the operating system prompt does not appear, see "No Characters Appear on Screen" on page 130. Specific problems and corrective actions The following contains specific problems that may arise during the use of your server.
Page 138 • Make sure the FDD and signal cables are properly connected. • Check that relevant switches and jumpers for the FDD are set correctly. • Check that FDD is properly configured. • If you are using the onboard diskette controller, use BIOS setup on page 81 to make sure that onboard “Floppy A”...
Page 139 CD drive cannot read a CD. Do the following: • Make sure you are using the correct type of CD. • Make sure the CD is properly seated in the drive. • Make sure the disc is unscratched. • Make sure all cables are connected to the CD drive. New memory modules installed are not detected.
Page 140 Server hangs when the drivers are loaded. • Change the PCI interrrupt settings. External device connected to a USB connector does not work. Do the following: • Reduce the number of external devices connected to a USB hub. • Refer to the documentation that comes with the device. There is problem with the application software.
Page 141 • Remove all add-in cares and see if the system boots. If successful, add the cards back in one at a time with a reboot between each addition. • Make sure the memory modules comply with the system requirements. • Make sure the memory modules have been populated according to the system requirements.
Page 142 5 Troubleshooting...
Page 143: Appendix A: System Management
Appendix A: System management...
Page 144 This appendix shows you how to install the ASM software package and gives information about the software program and utilities bundled with your server.
Page 145 Your Altos G710 server supports the following system management utilities: • ASM (Acer Server Management) This utility allows you to spot errors or potential trouble spots in the network servers through a single management station. For details go to page 137.
Page 146: Asm
Acer Server Management is a server management tool. It is specially designed to help spot errors or potential trouble spots in the network servers through a single management station. ASM can send a query to a remote server over the network to request information such as system hardware and software configuration, system resource usage, and system performance.
Page 147: System Setup
For detailed instructions on installing ASM Agent, refer to the ASM User’s manual. To launch the program, on the Windows taskbar click on the Start button, point to Programs, select Acer Server Management Suite then click ASM Agent. Installing ASM Console...
Page 148 Appendix A: System management To launch the program, on the Windows taskbar click on the Start button, point to Programs, select Acer Server Management Suite then click ASM Console.
Page 149: Epanel
Altos G710 configuration information. You can view the server’s system information, system health, system resource utilization, and customize the ePanel based on your personal requirements and preferences. For detailed information on how to use the ePanel utility, see...
Page 150: Raid Configuration
RAID configuration The SCSI RAID configuration utility allows you to change the default RAID configuration, such as the system volume of your hard disk. Caution! Using the RAID Configuration utility erases all data previously saved in the hard drives. Make sure that you backup important files before starting the configuration process.
Page 151: Appendix B: Acer Altos G710
Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide...
Page 152 This appendix shows you how to set up the Altos G710 server in a rack mount configuration.
Page 153: Setting Up The System Rack
Setting up the system rack Important! Observe the electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions indicated on page 39 when perfoming the following procedures. Do not attempt the procedures described in the following sections unless you are a qualified technician. Equipment rack precautions Follow the rack manufacturer's safety and installation instructions for proper rack installation.
Page 154 Appropriate consideration should be given when connecting the supply circuit to the system to avoid any circuit overload. The system name plate rating should be used when addressing concerns about circuit overload. Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide...
Page 155: System Rack Installation
System rack installation The Altos G710 server system can also be mounted in a rack-model position. A rack mount kit is available for customers who want to convert a tower-mounted system to rack-model design. To purchase a rack mount kit, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/.
Page 156: Vertical Mounting Hole Pattern
When installing components, you must start your measurement from the center of the two holes with closer spacing. Otherwise, the screw holes on the component may not match those on the rack. Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide...
Page 157: Screw Types Used
Screw types used The following screws are used in the assembly of the Altos G710 system and bundled rack-mountable components: Screw type and Figure part number #8-32 x 0.25 inch Hex head #6-32 0.25 inch M4 x L8 M4 nut...
Page 158: Installing The System Into The Rack
(1) Lay the server on its side on a flat, stable surface (1). (2) Remove the screws that hold the foot stands to the bottom of the chassis (2). Keep these for later use. Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide...
Page 159 (3) Pull the stands from the server (3). Remove the inner rails from the mounting rails by following the steps below: Note: The rack mount kit contains a bag of screws, two sets of side handles, rack brackets and mounting rails. The side handles are attached to the sides of the server.
Page 160 Make sure the release latches are at the front of the system. Attach the side handles to the server by following the steps below: (1) Align the two side handles to the top and bottom sides of the server. Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide...
Page 161 (2) Secure the side handles to the server using the eight hex head #6-32 screws (see page 147) from the rack mount kit. Set the server aside. Install the rack brackets to the rack by following the steps below: (1) Align the rack brackets to the mounting rail until the six screw holes become visible.
Page 162 (3) Repeat this process to install the other cage nuts in their appropriate locations. Install the mounting rails to the rack by using four M6 x L10 metal screws (see page 147) for each mounting rail. Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide...
Page 163 10 Extend the middle sliding piece of each mounting rail forward until you hear a click sound. 11 Install the server into the rack by following the steps below: (1) Carefully align the inner rails attached to the server with the fully extended mounting rails on the rack.
Page 164 The optional cable carm allows you to tie-wrap all cables to and from the system. As you slide the system in and out of the rack, the cable arm collapses and extends, keeping the cables untangled and attached to the system. Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide...
Page 165 (1) Attach the cable arm to the rear of the system using two M4 x L8 metal screws and nuts (see page 147). (2) Install two cage nuts into the rail to which the cable arm is to be attached. (3) Extend the cable arm enough to attach it to the rail using two M6 x L10 metal screws (see page 147).
Page 166 (4) Insert the power, peripheral and networking cables into their appropriate ports (1). Refer to “Connecting peripherals” on page 28 for detailed instructions. (5) Bundle all cables to the cable arm using the cable clamps (2). Appendix B: Acer Altos G710 rack installation guide...
Page 167: Appendix C: Scsi Raid Configuration
Appendix C: SCSI RAID configuration...
Page 168 This appendix shows you how to create a RAID volume in your SCSI drives.
Page 169: Configuring The Scsi/Scsi Raid Hba
Configuring the SCSI/SCSI RAID HBA This section shows how to create a RAID 1 (mirror) volume. This feature requires the installation or presence of a LSI Logic 53C1030 SCSI controller. Using the SCSI HBA setup utility During bootup, press Ctrl+C to enter the LSI Logic Configuration screen.
Page 170: Using The Megaraid Configuration Utility
If you change the settings in the Hot Spare field, the following messages appear: WARNING: Data on drive will be LOST! Press DELETE if data loss OK or any other key to cancel. Press the Delete key to ignore. Press Esc, then select Save changes then exit this menu. To close the utility and reboot the server, follow the steps below: (1) Press Esc, then select Exit the Configuration Utility.
Page 171: Creating A Raid 1 Volume
Creating a RAID 1 volume After rebooting the server, press Ctrl+M to enter the MegaRAID Configuration screen. The Management menu appears. Select Configuration. The Configuration menu appears. Select New Configuration, then select YES. An array selection window displays the devices connected to the current controller. Use the arrow keys to select a specific drive, then press the spacebar to associate the selected drive with the current array.
Page 172 When initialization is complete, press any key to continue. Press Esc to return to the Management menu. To exit the utility and reboot the server, follow the steps below: (a) In the Management menu, press Esc. (b) Select YES. (c) Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to reboot the server. Install an Operating System to the RAID array.
Page 173: Appendix D: Epanel
Appendix D: ePanel...
Page 174 This appendix gives information on how to use the ePanel utility. ePanel utility allows you to view and configure the server’s system configuration information.
Page 175: Overview
Overview ePanel lets you see at a glance the Altos G710 configuration information. You can view the server’s system information, system health, system resource utilization, and customize the ePanel based on your personal requirements and preferences. The configuration program built into the ePanel allows you configure the network settings, view general data about the server and power off or restart the server.
Page 176: Installing Epanel
Installing ePanel Before you begin installation, make sure you have a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server (SP4) or Windows Server 2003 OS running on your system. Install the ePanel Device Driver: (1) Insert the EasyBUILD Reource CD into the server’s CD-ROM drive. The EasyBUILD Resource CD window appears. (2) Double-click the ePanel Driver folder.
Page 177 (1) Insert the EasyBUILD Manual CD into the server’s CD-ROM drive. The EasyBUILD Utility & Manual CD window appears. (2) Double-click the Acer ePanel folder. (3) Click Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1, the path to the .Net installer appears. (4) Click Setup. The installation wizard will be initialized.
Page 178 (1) Insert the EasyBUILD Manual CD into the server’s CD-ROM drive. The EasyBUILD Utility & Manual CD window appears. (2) Double-click the Acer ePanel folder. (3) Select an agent compatible with your OS. Click ePanel Agent for Windows Server 2003 or ePanel Agent for Windows 2000.
Page 179 (3) On the left pane, click the Add/Remove Windows Components option. The Windows Components Wizard window appears. (4) Select the Management and Monitoring Tools check box. (5) Click Details. The Management and Monitoring Tools window appears.
Page 180 (6) Select the Simple Network Management Protocol check box. (7) Click OK. (8) Click Next. The Completing the Windows Components Wizard window appears. (9) Click Finish. (10) Click Close to exit Add/Remove Programs window. Install ASM Agent: (1) Insert the EasyBUILD Management CD into the server’s CD-ROM drive.
Page 181 (2) Click the Server Box License agreement window appears. (3) Click Accept. The EasyBUILD Management CD window appears. icon from the main menu. The...
Page 182 (4) Double-click the G710 folder, then click ASM Agent for G710. (5) Click Setup. The installation wizard will be initialized. (6) Click Next. You will be requested to enter your name and company. Appendix D: ePanel...
Page 183 (7) Click Next. You will be prompted to choose a destination directory. (8) Click Next to accept the default location. The Select Features window appears.
Page 184 (9) Select the feature you want to install, then click Next. The following dialog box appears. (10) Click Yes to allow SNMP packets from any host. The following dialog box appears. (11) Click Yes. The SNMP service needs to be stopped to install/uninstall ASM Agents message appears.
Page 185 (13) Click OK. The InstallShield Wizard Complete window appears. (14) Select the Yes, I want to restart my computer now radio button. (15) Click Finish.
Page 186: Epanel Module
ePanel module The module boasts of a true-color high resolution LCD screen. A configuration program is built into the ePanel board allowing you: • Configure the network settings • View general data about the server such as: • System information, •...
Page 187 Icon Exit Function Use this key to switch between functions. Use this key to close a submenu or return to the main menu.
Page 188: Epanel Main Menu
After powering on the Altos G710, the server starts up and initialize the POST process. After completing the system startup is complete, the ePanel main menu appears. The main menu include the following options: • Info •...
Page 189: Monitor
• S/W & F/W Ver. The S/W & F/W option lets you view the software and firmware version information for the BIOS, system OS, Agent and ePanel firmware. • Asset Configuration This option displays basic system hardware information. Monitor The Monitor menu displays information about the hardware utilization levels for the processor, memory, and hard disk.
Page 190 • Memory This option displays the system’s memory information including total size, used and utilization of the system memory. • The HDD option displays system hardware information including volume status, drive capacity, and utilization level. • Fan Speed This option displays the current speed status of the system fans. Appendix D: ePanel...
Page 191 • Voltage This option displays the voltage levels and status of the monitored voltage. • Temperature This option displays the current temperature level of a specified component. System status monitoring System status is indicated by color-coded icons. The status icon turns green when the component is operating normally.
Page 192: Network
Network The Network menu displays the system’s current network configuration. • Net & IP Info The Net & IP Info option displays the current network configuration. • Network Setting This option allows you to view or configure the settings for server’s IP, subnet mask, gateway IP and DNS address for either the LAN 1 or LAN2 host.
Page 193 Note: By default, the time interval for setting the server’s DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) option is 60 seconds. When you change network settings of the NIC 1 host, the server will wait for 20 to 60 seconds to get the IP address from the DHCP server. You can then change the network settings of the NIC 2 host after 60 seconds have elapsed.
Page 194 orientation from horizontal for full tower to vertical for rack- model. • Edit Date This option is used to set the date and time format settings. • Password This option allows you to safeguard and protect the server from unathorized use by setting up access passwords. The security password should consist of 1 —...
Page 195 Shut Down This option is used to power off or restart the system. Important: Altos G710 cannot be turned off or restarted from the ePanel LCD display when it is running in Safe Mode. To power off the server, see page 34 for the detailed instruction.
Page 196 Appendix D: ePanel...
Page 197 Index Acer Server Management (ASM) system requirements ASM Agent ASM Console system setup install ASM Agent install ASM Console Altos RAID-enabling key installing BIOS setup Advanced Boot Settings Floppy Onboard Devices PCI/PnP Peripheral Remote Access Boot ATAPI CD-ROM Devices Boot Device Priority...
Page 198 MegaRAID utility assign hot spare create RAID 1 initialize RAID volume RAID volume initialization SCSI HBA utility load default load default settings SCSI RAID HBA utility create RAID 1 rear panel setting up the system preinstallation requirements specification graphics interface I/O ports management controller media storage...

Acer Altos G710 User Manual

1 System Tour

2 System Setup

3 System Upgrade

4 BIOS Setup

5 Troubleshooting

Appendix A: System Management

Appendix B: Acer Altos G710

Appendix C: SCSI RAID Configuration

Appendix D: Epanel

Quick Links

Related Manuals for Acer Altos G710

Summary of Contents for Acer Altos G710

Table of Contents