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Model Name : R920 Part Number: MU.R2900.001 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.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this device does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the device off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: •...
Remarque à l'intention des utilisateurs canadiens Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme a la norme NMB-003 du Canada. Laser compliance statement The CD or DVD drive used with this computer is a laser product. The CD or DVD drive's classification label (shown below) is located on the drive.
• EN60950-1:2001 + A11:2004 • RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC on the Restriction of the Use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Director, Acer Computer (Shanghai) Limited Server Acer R920 R920xx ("x" = 0~9, a~z, A~Z or blank)
Declaration of conformity for EU countries Hereby, Acer, declares that this PC series is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC. Russian regulatory certification compliance...
viii Information for your safety and comfort Safety instructions Read these instructions carefully. Keep this document for future reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product. Turning the product off before cleaning Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners.
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• Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. • To avoid damage of internal components and to prevent battery leakage, do not place the product on a vibrating surface.
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• Use the product only with the supplied power supply cord set. If you need to replace the power cord set, make sure that the new power cord meets the following requirements: detachable type, UL listed/CSA certified, type SPT-2, rated 7 A 125 V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent, 4.6 meters (15 feet) maximum length.
Disposal instructions Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment, please recycle. For more information on the Waste from Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) regulations, visit http://global.acer.com/about/sustainability.htm.
Tips and information for comfortable use Computer users may complain of eyestrain and headaches after prolonged use. Users are also at risk of physical injury after long hours of working in front of a computer. Long work periods, bad posture, poor work habits, stress, inadequate working conditions, personal health and other factors greatly increase the risk of physical injury.
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Taking care of your vision Long viewing hours, wearing incorrect glasses or contact lenses, glare, excessive room lighting, poorly focused screens, very small typefaces and low-contrast displays could stress your eyes. The following items provide suggestions on how to reduce eyestrain. •...
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Developing good work habits Develop the following work habits to make your computer use more relaxing and productive: • Take short breaks regularly and often. • Perform some stretching exercises. • Breathe fresh air as often as possible. • Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body. Warning! We do not recommend using the computer on a couch or bed.
Notices FCC declaration of conformity Laser compliance statement Macrovision copyright protection notice CE Declaration of conformity Declaration of conformity for EU countries Russian regulatory certification compliance Information for your safety and comfort Safety instructions Tips and information for comfortable use 1 System tour Features summary External and internal structure...
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3 System upgrade Installation precautions ESD precautions Pre-installation instructions Post-installation instructions Opening the server Removing and installing the front bezel Removing and installing the top cover Removing and installing the processor air baffle Configuring hot-pluggable components Removing and installing a hard disk drive Removing and installing the system fan Removing and installing a power supply Removing and installing a PCI card...
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LAN Configuration System Acoustic and Performance Configuration Security menu Server Management menu Console Redirection System Information Intel Remote Management Module Information Boot Options menu Boot Manager menu Error Manager menu Exit menu Upgrading the BIOS 5 System troubleshooting Troubleshooting Resetting the system Problems following initial system installation First steps checklist Hardware diagnostic testing...
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xviii SAS configuration utility SAS RAID configuration utility Index...
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The Altos R920 is a powerful, feature-rich platform designed to deliver superior performance, scalability, and flexibility to meet the needs of various network environments. It is specially suited for minimizing system downtime and maintaining mission critical applications accessible.
Features summary This section lists the impressive computing features of the Altos R920 system. Processor • Supports one to four physical processors • Quad-core Intel • Dual-core Intel ® • 64-bit Intel Xeon™ processors with 2 x 4 MB L2 cache •...
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• Memory reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features - Memory scrub engine - Memory mirroring - Memory sparing Note: For more information on system RAS features, refer to “Appendix B: Memory configuration” on page 163. Media storage • One 5.25-inch device bay supports: •...
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Integrated Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) module • Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) 2.0 compliant • In-band and out-band server management • Acer Remote Management Card/3 Revision 2 (ARMC/3 R2) module (optional) • High performance KVM redirection • Includes a dedicated NIC port •...
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• Server management utilities and applications • Acer Server Manager (ASM) • Acer EasyBUILD™ (includes SAS RAID Configuration Utility) • Acer eBusiness Value Pack 2 Reserved for remote management of server. This requires installation of an ARMC/3 R2 module. 3 For more information on how to install and use ASM and EasyBUILD utilities, refer to the manual on the EasyBUILD DVD.
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Power supply • Two 110/220-volts,1570-watt hot-swap (1+1) redundant power supply modules System fan • Two hot-swap redundant front system fan modules • Four hot-swap redundant rear system fan modules (two rear fans optional)
1 System tour External and internal structure Front bezel The front bezel provides an interface for system management via status LED indicators. The light pipes on the backside of the front bezel allow the system status LEDs to be monitored when the front bezel is closed.
Front panel Item Icon Component DVD drive bay 5.25-inch drive bays VGA/monitor port USB 2.0 ports Control panel Hot-swap system fan modules Hot-plug HDDs...
Internal components Item Component DVD drive bay Processor air baffle Memory board Plastic PCI slot divider and PCI slots Rear system fan modules Mainboard...
System boards Mainboard The mainboard becomes accessible once you open the system. It should look like the figure shown below. Item Description Dual Ethernet ports I/O expansion module slot Item Description Front panel connector Power distribution board (PDB) signal connector 1 System tour...
Control panel The Altos R920 system supports either the button control panel, providing basic functionality, or the LCD control panel, which adds additional server management features. Both control panels utilize a combination of control buttons, status LED indicators, along with I/O ports, to centralize system control, monitoring, and accessibility.
Button control panel Item Icon Component HDD (hard disk drive) activity indicator LAN1 status indicator displays network activity in either LAN ports on the mainboard. LAN2 status indicator displays network activity in either LAN ports on the optional I/O expansion module. Status/fault indicator Power indicator System ID indicator...
LCD control panel (optional) Item Icon Component LCD display Scroll up button Scroll down button Back button Select button System ID indicator Power indicator Power button Status/fault indicator LAN1 status indicator displays network activity in either LAN ports on the mainboard. LAN2 status indicator displays network activity in either LAN ports on the optional I/O expansion module.
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Control panel button function overview The following table list and describe the function of the control buttons available on the control panel. Control button Function NMI button Puts the server in a halt-state for diagnostic purposes and allows you to issue a non-maskable interrupt. After using the interrupt, a memory download can be performed to determine the cause of the problem.
System LED indicators This section describes the different LED indicators located on • Control panel • Hot-plug HDD carrier • Hot-swap fan module • Hot-plug power supply module • LAN port • Hot-plug PCI Express slot • Memory board...
Control panel LED indicators The following table list and describe the LED indicators available on the mini or optional full-function control panel. Item Color indicator Green activity Green Amber Amber Amber System Description status status — HDD is installed and functioning correctly.
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Item Color indicator LAN1, Green LAN2 status Green — Status/ ·— fault Green Green Amber Amber System Description status status • LAN1 • Network activity active • LAN2 • Network activity active Blinking Active Network access Idle No activity Not Ready •...
Item Color indicator Power — Green — Green Green System ID Blue — Hot-plug HDD carrier LED indicators Item Color Status Amber Flashing Amber + Alternate green flashing System Description status status Power off System is not powered on. Power on System has power applied to it.
Item Color Status Green Flashing Hot-swap fan module LED indicators Color indicator Fan good — Fan fault Amber Description HDD is installed and working correctly. HDD is active. • No HDD is installed. • HDD is initiated but has no current activity.
Hot-plug power supply module LED indicators Item Color indicator Power good Green Fault Amber AC OK Green Status Description System has power applied to it. • Power rail failure. • Power supply is in a latched state. AC power cord is plugged into an active AC power source.
LAN port LED indicators Item Color indicator Status Green Speed — Green Amber Hot-plug PCI Express slot LED indicators The PCI slots 1 and 2 have a LED indicator to display the PCI hot-plug status. Color Status indicator Power Power off Green, Power on Green,...
Color Status indicator Attention Normal Amber, Attention Amber, Locate blinking Memory board LED indicators The LEDs on the memory board indicate the status of the memory board power and DIMM. Item LED indicator Power good DIMM 1 to 8 fault Description Normal operation Power failure or operational problem...
Acer Altos R920 system • Acer EasyBUILD • Acer eBusiness ValuePack • Acer Altos R920 accessory box If any of the above items are damaged or missing, contact your dealer immediately. Save the boxes and packing materials for future use.
Connecting peripherals Refer to the illustration below for specific connection instructions on the peripherals you want to connect to the system. Note: Consult the operating system manual for information on how to configure the network setup. 110/220 V 110/220 V 2 System setup...
Turning on the system After making sure that you have properly set up the system, applied power, and connected all the necessary peripherals, you can now power on the system. Remove the front bezel. Press the power button. The system starts up and displays a welcome message on the monitor.
Note: If the system does not turn on or boot after pressing the power button, go to the next section for the possible causes of the boot failure. If the POST finds any problems, the system will emit a beep code followed by an error message displayed on the monitor.
Configuring the system OS The Altos R920 system comes with Acer EasyBUILD that allows you to conveniently install your choice of operating system. To start using EasyBUILD, follow the steps below. Locate the EasyBUILD DVD included in the system package.
Turning off the system There are two ways to turn off the server—via software or via hardware. The software procedure below applies to a system running on a Windows OS. For other OS shutdown procedures, refer to the related user documentation. To turn off the system via software: Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on the attached keyboard or click the Start on the Windows taskbar.
Installation precautions Before you install any server component, we recommend that you read the following sections. These sections contain important ESD precautions along with pre-installation and post-installation instructions. ESD precautions Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage the processor, disk drives, expansion boards, motherboard, memory modules and other server components.
Pre-installation instructions Perform the steps below before you open the server or before your remove or replace any component. 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.
Opening the server Caution! Before you proceed, make sure that you have turned off the system and all peripherals connected to it. Read the “Pre- installation instructions” section on page 40. You need to open the server before you can install additional components.
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3 System upgrade To install the front bezel: Slide the front bezel onto the chassis.
Removing and installing the top cover To remove the top cover: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Loosen the two captive screws located on the faceplate of the chassis (A). Slide the top cover toward the back of the chassis until the tabs on the cover disengage with the slots on the chassis.
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To install the top cover: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Place the top cover on the chassis so that the tabs on the cover align with the slots on the chassis (A). Slide the top cover toward the front of the chassis until it is fully closed.
Removing and installing the processor air baffle To remove the processor air baffle: You will need to remove the processor air baffle to perform the following procedures. • Removing and installing a heat sink • Removing and installing a processor •...
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To install the processor air baffle: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Insert the front of the processor air baffle (A) under the two metal tabs at the front of the baffle (B), just below the SAS backplane board.
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Lower the rear of the baffle into place (A), making sure the guides on each side of the air baffle will correctly engage in the left and right chassis slots (B). Push down the air baffle to ensure it is fully seated. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40.
Configuring hot-pluggable components Hot-pluggable components are the components that can be removed and replaced while the system is powered on. For this server model, it refers to the following components. • Hard disk drive • System fan assembly • Power supply •...
The system supports eight hot-plug drive carriers. Each carrier holds a standard 2.5-inch SAS hard drive. Note: Use only Acer-qualified HDDs. To purchase an HDD, contact your local Acer representative. Caution! To ensure proper airflow and server cooling, all drive bays must contain either a carrier with a hard drive installed in it or a hard disk carrier cover.
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HDD carrier, then remove the disk from the HDD carrier. Keep the screws for later HDD installation. To install an HDD: Note: To purchase an HDD carrier, contact your local Acer representative. Perform steps 1 through 5 of the “To remove an HDD” section on page 49.
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Remove the four screws that secure the air baffle to the HDD carrier (A). Remove the air baffle from the HDD carrier (B). Save the air baffle and screws for later use. Remove the HDD from its protective packaging. Install a hard disk on the HDD carrier, then secure it with the four screws (A) that came with the HDD carrier (B).
Use the lever to push the HDD carrier until it docks into place, then close the HDD carrier lever (B). Setup the new hard drive’s RAID configuration. For related instructions, refer to “RAID configuration utilities” on page 177. Removing and installing the system fan The system has two cooling fan assemblies —...
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Determining fan status Each fan or fan assembly has an amber LED to indicate a failed fan condition. If the amber LED is on, the fan assembly needs to be replaced. The LED remains off during normal operation. To remove the front system fan assembly: Observe the ESD precautions described on page 39.
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Push the handle closed until it clicks into place (B). To remove a rear system fan: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Locate the fan assembly you are replacing. If a fan in the assembly has failed the amber LED will be lit. Grasp the fan by the finger holes and squeeze together, then lift the fan upward.
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To install a rear system fan: Warning! To ensure proper system cooling, the replacement of a failed system fan module should be completed within one minute. If necessary, remove the old rear system fan. See previous section. Lower the new fan into the fan bay. Push down on the fan until it clicks into place.
Removing and installing a power supply The server has two power supply bays on the rear panel that accept hot-swap redundant power supply modules. The system ships out with at least one power supply module installed. Power supply redundancy is available if two power supplies are installed.
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To remove a power supply: Caution: Power supply hot-swap operations should be performed only if a failure occurs in the power supply. Observe the ESD precautions described on page 39. Remove the AC power cord from the power supply. Press down on the latch to release the power supply handle (A). Open the handle on the power supply (B).
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To install a power supply: If necessary, remove the old power supply. See previous section. With the handle in the open position, push the power supply in the bay fully (A). Rotate the handle to the closed position (B). Tighten the thumbscrew to secure the power supply (C). Plug the power cord into the AC receptacle on the power supply.
Removing and installing a PCI card Important: Only PCI add-in cards in PCI slots 1 and 2 are hot-pluggable. If you are installing or removing a PCI card from PCI slot 3 through 7, see page 82 for more information. Caution: Expansion slot covers must be installed over all vacant slots to maintain the electromagnetic emission characteristics of the server and to ensure proper system cooling.
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Open the yellow caution plate (A). Rotate the slot retention latch on the rear of the card slot upward (B). Release the vertical edge of the card and pull it away from the chassis (C). Store the card in an antistatic protective wrapper. If installing a new PCI card, see “To install a new PCI hot-plug PCI card”...
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Note: Press the attention button again within five seconds to abort the hot-plug operation. Make sure that the power LED on the rear of the PCI slot is turned off before disconnecting any cables attached to the card. Open the yellow caution plate (A). Rotate the slot retention latch on the rear of the card slot upward (B).
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To install a new hot-plug PCI card: If your server is operating, use your OS to power down the PCI slot. Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Open the yellow caution plate (A). Rotate the slot retention latch on the rear of the card slot upward (B).
Configuring cold-pluggable components Cold-pluggable components are the components that require the system to be powered down before you can remove or replace them. The cold-pluggable components installed in the server include. • DVD drive • 5.25-inch drive • Processor • Memory board assembly •...
Removing and installing the DVD drive To remove the DVD drive: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Disconnect the power and SATA cables from the SATA-to-IDE converter board on the rear of the media device (A). Press the blue release latch on the media device carrier (B). Slide the media device from the front opening in the faceplate of the system (C).
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Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. To install the DVD drive: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. If necessary, remove the old DVD drive. See previous section. Remove the new drive from its protective packaging. Attach the SATA-to-IDE converter board to the new media device (A).
Installing a 5.25-inch drive The 5.25-inch drive bay allows you to install a tape drive to provide the system with additional storage capacity. To install a 5.25-inch drive: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Push the tabs on both sides of the carrier filler panel (A). Hold the tabs in while pulling the carrier filler panel from the bay (B).
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Slide the 5.25-inch peripheral device into the server until it clicks into place. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40.
Processor configuration guidelines Observe the following guidelines when replacing or installing a processor. • Use only Acer-qualified processors. • The CPU 1 socket must always be populated. If no processor is installed in this socket, the system will fail to boot.
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Remove the thermal blank. (1) Loosen the four screws on the thermal blank. (2) Pull the thermal blank away from the CPU socket. (3) Store the thermal blank in a protective bag. Remove the new processor from its protective packaging. Install the new processor.
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(2) Position the processor over the socket, matching the two triangle markers (A) and lining up the processor pins with the socket (B). (3) Press the retainer lever down to lock the processor in place. Apply thermal grease. Apply approximately 0.1 ml of the thermal grease compound to the top of the processor.
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(2) Tighten the screws in the order shown, approximately one full turn at a time until each is evenly tightened. Do not fully tighten one screw at a time. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. To remove a processor: Important: Before removing a processor from the mainboard, make sure to create a backup file of all important data.
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(2) Pull the heat sink away from the CPU socket. (3) Lay down the heat sink in an upright position—with the thermal patch facing upward. Do not let the thermal patch touch the work surface. (4) Use an alcohol pad to wipe off the thermal grease from both the heat sink and processor.
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(2) Pull out the processor from the socket. (3) Store it in an antistatic bag. If you are not installing a new processor, reinstall the processor thermal blank to maintain proper airflow within the chassis. If you going to install a new processor, perform instructions described in “To install a new processor”...
Removing and installing a memory board assembly The server supports up to four memory boards. At least one memory board and two FBDIMMs must be installed for the server to function. Each memory board supports eight DIMM slots and a DIMM fault LED for each FBDIMM that is used to report DIMM failures and error conditions.
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Lift the latches on the memory board to disengage the memory board from the mainboard (A). Lift the memory board by the latches (B). Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40.
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To install the memory board assembly: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Locate an empty memory board slot. Add or replace memory DIMMs as needed. For instructions, see “Installing and removing DIMM modules” section. Lift the memory board latches to the fully open position. Insert the memory board until latches are securely locked.
Installing and removing DIMM modules The server’s memory board supports eight DIMM slots. Each slot supports 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4 GB DDR2-667 (PC2-5300) FBDIMM modules. The server’s maximum memory capacity is 128 GB. DIMM module configuration guidelines Observe the following guidelines when replacing or installing DIMM modules to the memory boards.
DIMM population guidelines The following rules apply when adding DIMMs to the memory boards. • DIMMs must be populated beginning with memory board A, DIMM slots A1 and A2. • All DIMM slots must be populated with either a DIMM or a DIMM thermal blank.
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To install DIMMs in the memory board: Caution! Use extreme care when installing a DIMM. Applying too much pressure can damage the connector. DIMMs are keyed and can be inserted in only one way. Note: DIMM slots on the memory board must be installed only in certain configurations.
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Open the clips on the DIMM slot(s) (A). Align (B) then insert the DIMM into the socket (C). Push down on the top edge of the DIMM. Make sure the holding clips lock the DIMM in place (D). Visually check that each latch is fully closed and correctly engaged with each DIMM slot (E).
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To remove DIMMs on the memory board: Before you can install a new DIMM in a socket, remove first any previously installed DIMM from that socket. Important: Before removing any DIMM from the memory board, make sure to create a backup file of all important data. Caution! Use extreme care when removing DIMMs.
Removing and installing a non-hot-plug PCI card PCI cards installed in slots 1 and 2 are hot-pluggable. If you are adding or removing a card from one of these slots, you can do so without powering down the server. For information, refer to page 59. To remove a non-hot-plug PCI card: Caution! Damage to the system occurs if power is not removed from the system prior to removal or installation of non-hot-plug...
Configuring server management components Altos R920 system provides an upgrade path to advanced server management capabilities through installation of the following components. • I/O expansion module • ARMC/3 R2 module Installing and removing the I/O expansion module The optional I/O expansion module is a vertical riser with a dedicated management Ethernet port, and additional dual-gigabit Ethernet ports.
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Insert the module into the I/O expansion module slot on the mainboard. Make sure that the card is properly seated (D). Rotate the retention latch downward. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. 3 System upgrade...
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To remove the I/O expansion module: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Rotate the retention latch on the rear of the I/O expansion module slot upward (A). Pull the board away from the chassis (B). Store the board in an antistatic bag. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40.
Installing and removing the ARMC/3 R2 module The optional ARMC/3 R2 module provides server management firmware and functionality for the system. To install the ARMC/3 R2 module: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Remove the I/O expansion module. Perform instructions described in “To remove the I/O expansion module”...
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Install the ARMC/3 R2 NIC module. (1) Attach the ARMC/3 R2 NIC module to the I/O expansion module. (2) Secure the ARMC/3 R2 NIC module to the I/O expansion module with the two screws provided. A R M C / 3 N I C Install the ARMC/3 R2 module.
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10 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. To remove the ARMC/3 R2 module: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Remove the I/O expansion module. Perform instructions described in “To remove the I/O expansion module” section on page 85. Set the I/O expansion module on a static controlled surface with components facing up.
Configuring the hardware RAID components Altos R920 system supports SAS hardware RAID through installation of of a SAS module. With the addition of the following components to the SAS module enhanced RAID capability is enabled. • RAID activation key • RAID cache •...
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Align then insert the SAS module in the SAS module slot on the mainboard. Make sure that the edge of the card is properly seated (A). Press down on the card until the metal bracket on the card is flush with the chassis (B) and locks into place (C).
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Attach the SAS expander cables to the SAS connector A (A) and the SAS connector B (B) on the adapter. Attach the SES cable to the SES connector on the SAS module (C). Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. To remove the SAS module: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39.
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Disconnect any cables attached to the SAS module. While pushing back on the slot divider latch, pull the SAS module away from the chassis. Store the card in an antistatic bag. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 40. 3 System upgrade...
Installing and removing the RAID activation key and RAID cache The optional RAID activation key and RAID cache enables enhanced RAID functionality on the SAS module. The RAID cache serves as memory for the SAS controller, and as a disk cache to store write data to the drives.
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To remove the RAID activation key and RAID cache: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Remove the processor air baffle. Perform instructions described in “To remove the processor air baffle” section on page 45. Remove the SAS module. Perform instructions described in “To remove the SAS module”...
Installing and removing the RAID BBU If power to the SAS controller on the SAS module drops below specifications, the optional RAID BBU maintains the contents of the DIMM by keeping the cache in self-refresh mode until power is restored. After power is restored, the data is safely written to the drives, maintaining the integrity of the disk array.
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To remove the RAID BBU: Perform the pre-installation instructions described on page 39. Remove the processor air baffle. Perform instructions described in “To remove the processor air baffle” section on page 45. Remove the SAS module. Perform instructions described in “To remove the SAS module”...
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This chapter gives information about the system BIOS and discusses how to configure the system by changing the settings of the BIOS parameters.
BIOS overview The Aptio Setup Utility is a hardware configuration program built into the 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. •...
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 does not work during any other time. BIOS setup menus There are several tabs on the setup screen corresponding to the eight primary BIOS menus.
BIOS setup keyboard commands Use the following commands to navigate through the Setup Utility. • Left and Right arrow keys - Move between selections on the menu bar. • Up and Down arrow keys - Move the cursor to select an item. •...
Main menu 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. Parameter Description Logged in as Displays the security account used to enter the Setup...
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Parameter Description Processor Type Specification of the processor currently installed in the server. Processor clock speed in GHz or MHz. Core Frequency Number of processors currently installed in the server. Count Memory Size Total size of system memory detected during POST. Quiet Boot When enabled, the BIOS splash screen displays during startup.
4 System BIOS Advanced menu The Advanced menu display submenu options for configuring the function of various hardware components. Select a submenu item, then press Enter to enter to access the related submenu screen.
Processor Configuration Parameter Description Core Frequency Frequency at which the processors currently run in. System Bus Frequency of the processor front side bus. Frequency Enhanced Intel When enabled, this feature allows the OS SpeedStep Tech to reduce power consumption. When disabled, the system operates at maximum processor speed.
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Parameter Description Adjacent Cache When enabled, cache lines are fetched in Line Prefetch pairs (even line + odd line). When disabled, only the current cache line required is fetched. Simulated MSI Enables or disables the simulation of Support Message Signal Interrupt (MSI) support. Note: This feature can be enabled in the case where there is no OS support for MSI.
Memory Configuration Parameter Description Total Memory Total amount of onboard memory in MB or GB. The memory size is automatically detected by BIOS during the POST. If you install additional memory, the system automatically adjusts this parameter to display the new memory size.
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Parameter Description Current Displays either one of the following memory Configuration configuration: • Maximum performance mode - System memory is configured for optimal performance and efficiency. No RAS features are enabled. • Single channel mode - System memory is functioning in a reduced efficiency fail-safe mode.
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Memory RAS and Performance Configuration Parameter Description Memory Indicates if system memory is configured Mirroring for memory mirroring. Possible Memory Indicates if system memory is configured Sparing Possible for memory sparing. Select Memory Provides options for configuring Memory RAS. The possible options for Configuration this menu item are: •...
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Parameter Description Snoop Filter The Snoop Filter component monitors and controls the data transactions between memory and the processor. FSB High Enables or disables optimize front side Bandwidth bus for higher bandwidth when 1333 Optimization MHz FSB processor(s) is installed. Note: Some applications will benefit with this option enabled.
Mass Storage Controller Configuration Parameter Description SAS Option Enables or disables the onboard SAS controller option ROM. SATA Mode When set to IDE, system supports up to 4 SATA ports with Parallel ATA emulation. When set to AHCI, system supports all SATA ports using the Advanced Host Controller interface.
Serial Port Configuration Parameter Description Serial A Enable Enables or disables the onboard serial A port. Address Set the base I/O address for serial A port. Set the interrupt request line for the serial A port. Serial B Enable Enables or disables the onboard serial B port.
Parameter Description Set the interrupt request line for the serial B port. USB Configuration Parameter Description Detected USB Indicates the number of USB devices. Devices USB Controller When enabled, all onboard USB controllers will be turned on and accessible by the OS. When disabled, all onboard USB controllers will be turned off and inaccessible by the OS.
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Parameter Description Port 60/64 Enables or disables the I/O port 60/64h Emulation emulation support. This parameter is enabled for complete USB keyboard legacy support for non-USB aware OS. Device Reset Select the number of seconds POST waits Timeout for the USB mass storage device after the start unit command.
PCI Configuration Parameter Description Memory Select the start of the reserved memory Mapped I/O region for PCI memory mapped I/O space Start Address that ends at 4 GB. Note: Depending on the system configuration, this option may impact the amount of system memory detected by an OS without Physical Address Extension (PAE) support.
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Parameter Description Dual Monitor Select a graphic controller as a primary Video boot device. Note: This parameter will be disabled when the Onboard Video is set to Disabled. Slot <n> ROM Controls execution of the add-in adapter option ROM during POST. Note: If set to disabled, the adapter may not be used to boot the system.
LAN Configuration Parameter Description Intel (R) I/OAT Enables or disables the onboard LAN’s I/O Acceleration Technology. The I/O AT accelerates TCP/IP processing for onboard NICs, delivers data movement efficiencies across the entire server platform and minimizes system overhead. Onboard NIC1 Enables or disables the load of embedded or NIC2 ROM option ROM for onboard network controller.
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Parameter Description I/O Riser Load the embedded option ROM for the I/O Board NIC expansion module network controllers. Note: If disabled, the I/O expansion module (NIC1 and NIC2) cannot be used to boot or wake the system. I/O Riser Enables or disables the I/O expansion module Board NIC1 or network controller.
System Acoustic and Performance Configuration Parameter Description Throttling Closed loop allows the system to achieve Mode higher performance by monitoring system temps and adjusting bandwith. Open loop does not rely on a thermal sensor on the board and sets up a static level which equates to a fixed bandwidth.
Security menu The Security menu allows you to safeguard and protect the system from unauthorized use by setting up access passwords. Parameter Description Administrator Indicates the status of the administrator password. Password Status User Password Indicates the status of the user password. Status Administrator password prevents unauthorized access to Administrator...
Parameter Description Front Panel When enabled, the front panel power Lockout and reset buttons will be locked. The power and reset operation must be controlled via system management interface. TPM State Shows the current state of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) device. When set to no operation, there are no Administrative changes made to this parameter.
Changing a system password Use the up/down keys to highlight either change password parameters (Set Administrator Password or Set User Password) then press Enter. Type the original password then press Enter. Type a new password then press Enter. Retype the password to verify the first entry then press Enter again.
Server Management menu The Server Management submenu lets you specify the appropriate settings for the system’s event handling function. Parameter Description Resume on AC Defines the mode of operation if a power Power Loss loss occurs. When set to Stay Off, the system remains off after power shutdown.
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Parameter Description FRB-2 Enable When enabled, the BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) will reset the system if BIOS does not complete the POST before the FRB-2 (Fault Resilient Boot) timer expires. OS Boot Enables or disables the BIOS timer. It helps Watchdog to determine if the OS has loaded Timer...
Console Redirection Parameter Description Console Define the serial port used for server Redirection management tasks. Flow Control* Set hardware flow control. Baud Rate* Set the serial port transmission speed. Terminal Type* Set character formatting used for console redirection. Option Disabled Serial Port A Serial Port B None...
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Parameter Description Legacy OS Enables or disables the legacy OS Redirection* redirection (i.e. DOS) on the serial port. If it is enabled the associated serial port is hidden from the legacy OS. * These fields are not shown on the above screenshot. 4 System BIOS Option Enabled...
4 System BIOS Intel Remote Management Module Information The Remote Management Module submenu displays information about the firmware revisions and network devices.
Boot Options menu The Boot Options menu allows you to set the network device priority during system bootup. It also displays information about the installed storage devices. Parameter Description Boot Timeout Sets the automatic boot time-out value. Note: A value of 65535 will disable the timeout completely.
4 System BIOS Boot Manager menu The Boot Manager menu lets you set the device priority during system bootup. The server will attempt to boot from the first device on the list. If the first device is not available, it will continue down the list until it reaches an available device.
Error Manager menu The Error Manager menu lets you view the system POST errors detected by the system. Parameter Description Error Code Displays the POST error beep codes. Severity Major severity requires user intervention but does not stop system boot. Minor severity do not require user intervention or stop the booting of the system.
Exit menu The Exit menu displays the various options to quit from the BIOS setup. Highlight any of the exit options then press Enter. Parameter Save Changes and Exit Discard Changes and Exit Save Changes Discard Changes Load Default Values Description Saves changes made and close the BIOS setup.
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Parameter Save as User Default Values Load User Default Values Description Saves current values to be restored later. Restores previously saved user default values.
Upgrading the BIOS The upgrade utility allows you to upgrade the BIOS in the flash memory. To prepare to upgrade the BIOS, you need to record the current BIOS settings and download the BIOS image file to a temporary folder on your hard drive or a USB flash memory device. To record the current BIOS settings: Run BIOS setup.
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This chapter provides possible solutions for specific problems. If you cannot correct the problem, contact your local Acer representative or authorized dealer for assistance.
SAS drivers. If you are unable to resolve your server problems on your own, contact your dealer or local Acer representative for assistance. Resetting the system Before going through in-depth troubleshooting, attempt first to perform reset the system using one of the methods below.
First steps checklist • AC power available at the wall outlet? • Are the power supplies plugged in? Check the power cable(s) on the back of the chassis and at the AC source. • Are all cables correctly connected and secured? •...
Hardware diagnostic testing This section provides a more detailed approach to identifying a hardware problem and locating its source. Caution! 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.
Specific problems and corrective actions The following contains specific problems that may arise during the use of your server. Possible solutions are listed for each problem. Power indicator does not light. Do the following: • Make sure the power button on the front panel is turned on. •...
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Server boot does not complete POST. Do the following: • Make sure the processor is properly seated. • Check the BIOS release notes to ensure the BIOS installed on the platform supports the stepping and the family of processors currently installed. •...
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• Check that drive is properly configured. • Check that onboard IDE controller is enabled in the BIOS Setup Utility. ODD tray cannot be ejected. • Insert the tip of a paperclip into the small hole on the ODD drive. Slowly pull the tray out from the drive until the tray is fully extended then remove the disc.
New memory modules installed are not detected. Do the following: • Make sure the memory modules are properly seated on the memory board’s DIMM slots. • Make sure the memory modules comply with the system requirements. • Make sure the memory modules have been populated according to the system requirements.
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Diagnostics pass but the connection fails. • Make sure the network cable is securely attached. • Make sure you specify the correct frame type in the NET.CFG file. The controller stopped working when an adapter was installed. • Make sure the cable is connected to the port from the onboard network controller.
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• Try a different version of the software to see if the problem is with the copy you are using. • Make sure all cables are properly connected. • If other software runs correctly on the system, contact your vendor about the defective software.
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Verify that the video controller board is fully seated in the mainboard connector. Reboot the system for changes to take effect. If there are still no characters on the screen after you reboot the system and POST emits a beep code, write down the beep code you hear.
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• Is the fan’s power connector properly connected to the mainboard? • Is the front panel board cable connected to both the mainboard’s front panel board connector? • Are the power supply cables properly connected to the mainboard? • Are there any shorted wires caused by pinched cables or have power connector plugs been forced into power connector sockets the wrong way?
Rack installation information 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. Rack installation precautions Follow the rack manufacturer's safety and installation instructions for proper rack installation.
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• Elevated operating ambient temperature The maximum operating temperature of the system is 35 °C (95°F). Careful consideration should be given to installing the system in an environment compatible with the 35 °C (95°F) maximum ambient temperature. • Reduced airflow The amount of airflow required for the safe operation of the equipment should not be compromised when installing the system in a rack.
Rack mount configuration The Altos R920 server system should be mounted into a rack cabinet. A rack rail and CMA (cable management arm) kit is available for installing system to a rack cabinet. The figure below shows the Altos R920 system in a rack-mount position.
Vertical mounting hole pattern The four vertical rails of the system rack contain mounting holes arranged in a manner shown in the figure below: The system occupies 4U in the rack. Count the U positions and hole numbers from the bottom up. The distance from the center of two holes with closer spacing to the center of the next pair is equivalent to 1U.
Installing the system into the rack Caution! To minimize the chances of injuries, make sure that two or more people help in installing the server. To install the system into a four-post rack: Remove the inner rails from the mounting rails. (1) Extend the inner rail from the mounting rail until the rail release latch clicks.
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Note: Using screws other than those supplied in this rack-mount kit to attach the rails will void the warranty, Acer cannot be held responsible for any damage for incorrect installation. (1) Align the screw holes of the inner rail to the server screws (A).
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Install the mounting rails to the rack posts. (1) Determine the vertical position in the rack. Refer to “Vertical mounting hole pattern” on page 154 for more information. (2) Align and insert the mounting rail into the rack posts’ mounting holes (A). (3) Make certain the proper mounting holes on the rack post are selected.
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Appendix A: Rack mount configuration (6) Fully extend the mounting rails on the rack.
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Install the server into the rack. Caution! To avoid personal injury, care should be taken when pressing the inner rail release latches and sliding the component into the rack. (1) Carefully align the inner rails attached to the server with the fully extended mounting rails on the rack.
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Attach the CMA (cable management arm) to the rear of the server. The CMA allows you to tie-wrap all cables to and from the system. As you slide the system in and out of the rack, the CMA collapses and extends, keeping the cables untangled and attached to the system.
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(6) Connect the power, peripheral and networking cables into their appropriate ports. Refer to “Connecting peripherals” on page 32 for detailed instructions. (7) Route all cables through the cable clips.
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This chapter provides details on how to configure the system memory boards. Recommended memory board and FBDIMM installation order and FBDIMM population order tables are also included.
Introduction The system’s memory architecture supports up to four memory boards organized by branches and channels. The MCH (memory controller hub) on the north bridge has two branches with branch 0 going to channels 0 and 1 or memory board A and B, and branch 1 to channels 2 and 3 or memory board C and D.
The memory boards connect to the mainboard through the memory board slots A, B, C, and D (Each slot support the x16 PCI Express mechanical slot, refer to “Mainboard” on page 12 for the location of the memory board slots.). Each memory board is equipped with eight DIMM slots that supports 1 GB, 2 GB, or 4 GB DDR2-667 MHz (PC-5300) FBDIMM modules.
FBDIMM module population order Single and dual channel population The tables below list the suggested FBDIMM module population for normal configuration. Population with one memory board DIMM slot Memory board A Memory board B Memory board C Memory board D 1 to 2 2 x 1 GB 1 to 4...
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Population with four memory boards DIMM slot Memory board A Memory board B Memory board C Memory board D 1 to 2 2 x 1 GB 1 to 4 4 x 1 GB 1 to 6 6 x 1 GB 1 to 8 8 x 1 GB 1 to 2...
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Memory sparing population The tables below list the suggested FBDIMM module population for memory sparing configuration. Population with two memory boards DIMM Memory board Memory board slot* 1 to 2 2 x 1 GB 2 x 1 GB 1 to 4 4 x 1 GB 4 x 1 GB 1 to 6...
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Memory mirroring population The table below list the suggested FBDIMM module population for memory mirroring configuration. Population with four memory boards DIMM Memory board Memory board slot 1 to 2 2 x 1 GB 2 x 1 GB 1 to 4 4 x 1 GB 4 x 1 GB 1 to 6...
Memory configuration The BIOS configures the system memory into the best possible configuration after comparing the current FBDIMM population with the desired memory configuration selected by the user in System BIOS. Possible configurations are: • Dual-channel mode (Maximum performance mode) •...
Press Y to confirm. The server reboots to activate the changes. Single-channel mode Single-channel mode is a failsafe mode when the installed memory configuration is incompatible with dual-channel operation. In this mode, only Branch 0, Channel 0 is operational with all other FBDIMMs disabled automatically.
Memory sparing mode Sparing is only supported in a lock-stepped (dual-channel) configuration. Memory sparing is the use of a lock-stepped FBDIMM rank on a memory branch to provide a backup in case any other lock- stepped FBDIMM rank on the same branch exceeds a user-selectable Memory ECC Correctable Error threshold in a fixed time period.
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Dual-ranked memory sparing When a dual-ranked FBDIMM is used as spare, the BIOS can independently select a physical rank on that FBDIMM as the spare unit and utilize the other physical rank as a normal unit. This selective sparing ensures maximization of available memory while still providing RAS.
Memory mirroring mode Memory mirroring is a high availability mode providing a redundant image of the system memory. Two identical images of memory data are maintained, providing maximum redundancy. Mirroring is achieved across Branch 0 and Branch 1 such that one of these branches is the primary image and the other the secondary.
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Set the Select Memory RAS Configuration to Mirroring. Return to the Memory Configuration menu option. • Make sure Current Configuration indicates Memory Mirroring Mode. If the option indicates Current Memory Configuration, you may need to install more memory to meet the requirements of the selected configuration. •...
Overview The system may be equipped with a SAS or SAS RAID configuration utility (depending on your system configuration). You can use these utilities for configuring the internal hard disks. Caution: Creating a RAID volume erases all data previously saved in the hard drives.
SAS configuration utility This section briefly shows how to create mirror with LSI 1078 integrated SAS. Starting the SAS configuration utility To start the SAS Configuration Utility, press CTRL+C when you see the SAS BIOS during POST. Loading the factory default settings In the SAS Configuration Utility, press Alt+N to enter the Global Properties.
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Initializing the RAID volume You can skip this procedure if you selected to create a new IM array (or pressed D) while performing the creating a RAID 1 volume with a hot spare disk section. After you create a new IM array, no synchronization will be performed.
SAS RAID configuration utility This section briefly shows how to launch the SAS RAID configuration utility, load the factory default setting, and create a RAID volume using the SAS RAID configuration utility. Starting the SAS hardware RAID configuration utility To start SAS RAID Configuration Utility, press CTRL+G when you see the RAID BIOS during POST.
11 Now you can reboot the system and install the Operating System. Select Exit and click Yes. 12 Press <Ctrl+Alt+Del> to reboot the system. Assigning a hot spare disk Launch the Configuration menu. Select a free disk marked as Ready and listed under Physical Drives. Select Make Hotspare and click Go.
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Appendix C: SAS and SAS RAID configuration utilities...
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Index Numerics 5.25-inch drive installing ARMC/3 R2 specifications ARMC/3 R2 module installing removing BIOS menus Advanced LAN Configuration Mass Storage Controller Configuration Memory configuration PCI Configuration Processor configuration Serial Port Configuration System Acoustic and Performance Configuration USB Configuration Boot Manager Boot Options Error Manager Exit...
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DVD drive front bezel front system fan assembly hot-plug PCI card I/O expansion module memory board non-hot-plug PCI card power supply processor processor air baffle processor air duct RAID activation key RAID BBU RAID cache rear system fan SAS module top cover internal components LED indicators...
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SAS module installing removing setting up the system preinstallation requirements specification chipset control panel graphic interface I/O ports integrated hardware RAID media storage memory subsystem networking PCI I/O power supply processor SAS controller serial ATA port server management system fan storage devices installing 5.25-inch drive replacing DVD drive...