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.
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.
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.
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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.
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 Backplane layout 2 System setup Setting up the system Preinstallation requirements Connecting peripherals Turning on the system Power-on problems...
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viii Replacing the CD-ROM drive Installing 5.25-inch drives Upgrading the CPU To install the heatsink fan assembly and CPU To remove the heatsink fan assembly and CPU Upgrading the system memory DIMM population guidelines To remove a DIMM To install a DIMM Installing an expansion card Installing a SCSI module Installing a power supply module...
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Specific problems and corrective actions Appendix A: System management utility System requirements System setup RAID configuration Appendix B: Acer Altos G5350 rack installation guide Setting up the system rack System rack installation Vertical mounting hole pattern Installing the system into the rack...
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The Acer Altos G5350 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...
Features summary Listed below are the system’s key features: Processor • Dual AMD Opteron™ single or dual core processors • Supports AMD 64-Bit technology Chipset • AMD 8131™ (I/O bridge) • AMD 8111™ (South bridge) Memory • Supports DDR 333(PC2700) or DDR 400(PC3200) Registered ECC memory modules •...
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1 System tour • Easy-swap • Hot-plug • Supports up to four SATA hard disk drives SCSI controller (optional) • Adaptec AIC-7902, two channel Ultra320 SCSI controller • Supports two SCSI 68-pin connector • Supports disk mirroring Networking • Intel 82541Gl chipset Baseboard Management Controller (optional) •...
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• Gigabit LAN port (RJ-45) Operating system and software ® ® • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, X64 edition ® ® • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 ® ® • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server (SP4) • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 X64 ®...
Front panel Icon Component Description CD-ROM drive Stop/ Press this button to open the CD Eject button drive tray. CD-ROM drive When the LED indicator is lit, there activity indicator is activity in the CD drive. CD-ROM drive Disk drive for reading CD-ROMs. Volume control Adjusts the volume of the CD drive.
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1 System tour Icon Component Description Hard disk activity Indicates the status of the system hard drive. indicator System status The indicator lights up green when the system is operating normally. indicator When the a system fault is present, the indicator blinks or lights up amber.
Front panel LED indicators Below table lists the LED states on the front panel. Color Status Description Power Green Power on Blinking System in ACPI sleep mode. Green System in normal mode. Status Green Blinking • Defective CPU • Defective DIMM Amber Blinking •...
1 System tour Color Status Description Green Network is established. Blinking • Network activity. • Network is established and running at its supported speed. Network link is not established. 1 The Status LED is activated when the BMC controller is installed on the mainboard. To purchase a BMC controller, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/.
Rear panel Icon Component Description Power supply Allows installation of a hot-swap module bay redundant power supply module. The hot-swap redundant power supply module may include three LEDs that will indicate its operating status. Note: Though the system supports two hot-swap power supply module bays, the system comes bundled with only a single power supply module.
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1 System tour Icon Component Description USB ports Connects to USB devices. Serial port Connects to serial devices. Parallel/printer Connects to parallel devices. port VGA/monitor Connects to monitors. port Gigabit LAN Connects to network cables. ports (10/100/ 1000 Mbps) Expansion slots For installing expansion cards.
Internal components Component Power supply module (610-watts) Rear system fan Mainboard, CPU and heat sink fan assembly PCI bus slot Four-bay hot-plug HDD cage 1 Though the system supports two hot-swap power supply modules, the system comes bundled with a single 610-watt power supply module only. You have the option to purchase an extra power supply module to provide the system with a redundant pow- er source.
1 System tour System boards Mainboard layout The mainboard becomes accessible once you open the system. It should look like the figure shown below.
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Code Description Top: PS/2 mouse port Bottom: PS/2 keyboard port USB3 USB ports COMA1 Serial A port LPT1 Parallel/printer port VGA1 VGA/monitor port Gigabit LAN ports (RJ-45) ATX2 Power supply connector CPU2 CPU 2 socket CPU FAN2 CPU fan 2 connector ATX1 Power supply connector PWR FAN1...
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1 System tour Code Description F_PANEL1 Front panel LED connectors USB1 Front USB connectors IDE2 Secondary IDE connector IDE1 Primary IDE connector BAT1 CMOS battery U109 ITE8712 chipset GSMI1 BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) connector FDD1 FDD connector COMB Serial B port PCI_6 PCI slot 5, 6 (PCI 32-bit/33 MHz) VGA jumper (enabled/disabled)
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Code Description PCI-X 1 and 2 bus speed jumper SMBUS1 System Management Bus connector WOM1 WOM (Wake On Modem) connector...
1 System tour 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 Rear Front Code Description SCSI HDD connectors C bus interface connector 4-pin power cable connector SAF-TE ID SAF-TE ID jumper...
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Code Description LED indicator jumper Jumper setting: SHORT 1-2 — Link LED on SHORT 2-3 — Link LED dark 792D_ID1 792D_ID1 ADDR select jumper Close 1-2 — 5EH (default) Close 2-3 — 5AH 68-pin SCSI data cable connector...
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1 System tour SATA backplane layout Rear Front Code Description SATA HDD connectors SAF-TE heartbeat LED and Manufacturing function jumper BPB No. jumper Jumper setting: SHORT 1-2 — 1st BPB SHORT 2-3 — 2nd BPB LED indicator Jumper setting: SHORT 1-2 — Link LED on SHORT 2-3 —...
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Code Description 4-pin power cable connector C bus interface connector...
• Acer Altos G5350 system • Acer EasyBUILD • Acer Altos G5350 accessory box • System keys If any of the above items are damaged or missing, contact your dealer immediately. Save the boxes and packing materials for future use.
2 System setup 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.
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.
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2 System setup The system starts up and displays a welcome message on the monitor. After that, a series of power-on self-test (POST) messages appears. The POST messages indicate if the system is running well or not. 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.
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.
2 System setup Configuring the system OS The Altos G5350 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 System CD included in the system package.
Server setup Aside from its tower configuration, the Altos G5350 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/.
2 System setup Turning off the system There are two ways by which you can turn off the server. These include: 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.
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.
3 System upgrade 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.
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 35. You need to open the server before you can install additional components.
3 System upgrade Opening the bezel door A security lock secures the bezel door to protect your system unit against unauthorized access. To open the bezel door: Insert the key into the lock and turn it clockwise until it points to the unlock icon Pull open the bezel door.
Installing the four-bay hot-plug HDD cage The Altos G5350 consists of two HDD bays that accept the following HDD cages: • Hot-plug SCSI HDD cage •...
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To install the hot-plug SCSI HDD cage Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Remove the HDD cage bay cover. See page 39. Remove the screw that secures the cover to the empty HDD bay (1), then detach the cover (2). Install the hot-plug cage.
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3 System upgrade (1) Hold the hot-plug cage with both hands, then slide the cage into the housing with the backplane facing the rear of the chassis. The cage is locked to the chassis with an audible click. (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...
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(2) SCSI HDD power cable Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36. Important: When you are detaching the hot-plug cage from the chassis, make sure to first remove all hard disks from their carriers. For instructions, see “Installing an additional hard disk into the hot-plug HDD cage carrier”...
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3 System upgrade To install the easy-swap SCSI HDD cage The easy-swap SCSI HDD cage is an optional four-bay internal HDD enclosure without a SCSI backplane board. Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Remove the HDD cage bay cover. See page 39. Remove the screw that secures the cover to the empty HDD bay, then detach the cover.
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(2) SCSI HDD power cable Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36. Important: When you are detaching the easy-swap cage from the chassis, make sure to first remove all cables attached to the hard disks. Change the RAID configuration of your hard disk. For details on how to change the RAID configuration of your hard disk, go to “Appendix C: SCSI RAID configuration”...
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3 System upgrade To install the hot-plug SATA HDD cage Note: Before installing a hot-plug SATA HDD cage in your system, make sure you install a SATA RAID controller. Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Remove the HDD cage bay cover.
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(1) Hold the hot-plug cage with both hands, then slide the cage into the housing. The cage is locked to the chassis with an audible click. Connect the following cables to their corresponding connectors on the SATA RAID backplane, mainboard and adapter: (1) Attach the SATA data cable to the SATA HDD connector on the backplane (1), then connect the other end of the cable to the SATA connector on the SATA RAID controller.
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3 System upgrade (2) Attach the system’s power cable to the SATA power cable connector on the backplane (2). Note: The SATA RAID backplane data cables must be installed and removed in the following order: SATA0, SATA1, SATA2, and SATA 3. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
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To install the easy-swap SATA HDD cage The easy-swap SATA HDD cage is an optional four-bay internal HDD enclosure without a SATA backplane board. Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Remove the HDD cage bay cover. See page 39. Remove the screw that secures the cover to the empty HDD bay, then detach the cover.
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3 System upgrade (1) Hold the easy-swap cage with both hands, then slide the cage into the housing. The cage is locked to the chassis with an audible click. (2) Locate and attach the power (1) and SATA (2) cables to their corresponding connectors on the SATA hard drive and SATA RAID controller.
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Important: When you are detaching the easy-swap cage from the chassis, make sure to first remove all cables attached to the hard disks. Change the RAID configuration of your hard disk. For details on how to change the RAID configuration of your hard disk, go to “Appendix C: SCSI RAID configuration”...
3 System upgrade Removing the four-bay hot-plug HDD cage Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Disconnect the data and power cables from the backplane. Push the release slider all the way up to eject the hot-plug HDD cage (1).
Installing an additional hard disk into the hot-plug HDD cage carrier Note: To purchase a hard disk carrier, contact your local Acer representative or order directly from http://www.acer.com/. Important: You need not remove the four-bay hot-plug HDD cage from the chassis to install a hard disk into its carrier. Carefully pull out the hard disk carrier cover (1).
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3 System upgrade Install a hard disk on the hard disk carrier (1), then secure it with the four screws that came with the hard disk carrier (2). Insert the new hard disk carrier into the cage with the lever still extended (1).
Replacing the CD-ROM drive Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Disconnect the power and IDE cables from the old drive. Push the lever in the direction that points to the unlock icon (1), then pull the drive out of the chassis (2).
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3 System upgrade Install a new 5.25-inch drive into the drive bay (1), then push the lever in the direction that points to the lock icon (2). Connect the power and IDE cables to the new drive. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
Installing 5.25-inch drives The two empty 5.25-inch drive bays allow you to install additional drives such as another backup hard drive, CD-ROM drive, or a tape drive. These provide the system with additional storage capacity. To install a 5.25-inch tape drive Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35.
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3 System upgrade Install a tape drive into the drive bay (1), then push the lever in the direction that points to the lock icon (2). Connect the power and IDE cables to the tape drive. Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
Upgrading the CPU This section includes instructions for installing and removing a CPU and heatsink assembly. To install the heatsink fan assembly and CPU The mainboard supports dual 940 processor socket for AMD Opteron™ processors. The system comes bundled with only a single AMD Opteron processor leaving one CPU socket empty.
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3 System upgrade Press down the retainer lever to lock the CPU in place (2). Apply approximately 0.1ml of the thermal grease compound to the top of the CPU. Move the handle of the retaining clip slightly in a direction away from the heatsink.
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11 Move the handle of the retaining clip back toward the heatsink base (3). 12 Connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the mainboard. Refer to “Mainboard layout” on page 14 for the location of the CPU fan connector. 13 Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36.
3 System upgrade To remove the heatsink fan assembly and CPU Important: Before removing a CPU 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 35. Warning! The heatsink becomes very hot when the system is on.
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Note: Wipe off the thermal grease from both the heatsink-fan assembly and CPU using an alcohol pad. To detach the CPU from its socket, follow the steps below: (1) Pull the CPU socket retainer lever to the fully open, upright position (1).
Upgrading the system memory This section includes instructions for removing and installing a dual in-line memory module. Altos G5350 has eight DIMM slots. Each CPU controls four DIMM slots. The DIMM slots support dual channel DDR 333 and 400 Registered ECC memory modules.
DIMM population guidelines Warning! For the system to function, DIMM modules must be installed or removed in matched pairs, following the slot sequence listed below. DIMM modules of the same type, size and manufacturer must be installed in the same colored DIMM slots.
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3 System upgrade Below table lists the suggested sample configurations for the processors: Single Processor CPU 1 CPU 2 (empty) DIMM 1 DIMM 2 DIMM 3 DIMM 4 DIMM 5 DIMM 6 DIMM 7 DIMM 8 512 MB — — —...
3 System upgrade To remove a DIMM Before you can install a new DIMM in a socket, first remove any previously installed DIMM from that socket. 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 35.
To install a DIMM Warning! DIMM of the same type, size and manufacturer must be installed into the same colored DIMM slots. Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Locate the DIMM slots on the mainboard. Open the clips on the socket.
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3 System upgrade To reconfigure the system memory The system automatically detects the amount of memory installed. Run the BIOS setup to view the new value for total system memory and make a note of it.
Installing an expansion card This section explains how to install an expansion card. The onboard expansion slots supports PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) and PCI-X cards. To install an expansion card Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Locate an empty expansion slot on the mainboard.
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3 System upgrade Press the PCI slot lock lever on the rear panel of the server (4). Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36. 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).
Installing a SCSI module This section explains how to install a SCSI module. The onboard SCSI module connector supports SCSI modules. To install a SCSI module Observe the ESD precautions and pre-installation procedures described on page 35. Locate the SCSI module connector on the mainboard. Remove the three screws on the mainboard.
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3 System upgrade Secure the card to the mainboard with three screws you removed earlier (3). Observe the post-installation instructions described on page 36. 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).
Installing a power supply module To install the hot-swap power supply module The Altos G5350 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.
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3 System upgrade Remove the screw securing the cover of the empty power supply module bay, then detach the cover. 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.
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Press the module handle to secure the power supply module to its bay. Verify that the power indicators on both the main power supply and on the newly installed redundant power supply are illuminated (green).
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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 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: •...
4 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: •...
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• 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. •...
4 BIOS setup 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.
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Parameter Description Processor Speed The processor speed is the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions. Clock speeds are expressed in megahertz (MHz), with 1 MHz being equal to 1 million cycles per second. The faster the clock, the more instructions the CPU can execute per second.
4 BIOS setup 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.
CPU Configuration The CPU Configuration submenu displays CPU settings such as type, actual speed, cache size and other CPU related settings. Parameter Description Option Processor Type Type of processor currently installed in the server. Processor The processor speed is the speed at Speed which a microprocessor executes instructions.
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4 BIOS setup Parameter Description Option CPU ID ID number of the CPU. Level 1 Cache Total amount of first-level cache mem- ory or the internal fast-accessed memory size (i.e., the memory integrated into the CPU). Level 2 Cache Total amount of the second-level cache memory that comes with the CPU.
Memory Configuration The Memory Configuration submenu displays the type and size of DRAM installed in DIMM slots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The Not Installed setting indicates that there is no DDR DRAM installed.
4 BIOS setup IDE Configuration The IDE Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings related to the hard disk/s. Parameter Description Option Primary IDE Specifies the current configuration Master of the IDE device connected to the master port of the primary IDE channel.
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Parameter Description Option Secondary IDE Specifies the current configuration Master of the IDE device connected to the master port of the secondary IDE channel. Press Enter to access the Secondary Master submenu. Secondary IDE Specifies the current configuration Slave of the IDE device connected to the slave port of the secondary IDE channel.
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4 BIOS setup Primary/Secondary/Third/Fourth IDE Master/Slave These items let you select the IDE hard disk parameters that the system supports. Parameter Description Option Type Drive type Auto None CD-ROM ATAPI Removable IDE Removable User Multi-Sector Selects the Multi-Sector transfer mode. 16 Sectors Transfers Disabled...
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Parameter Description Option LBA Mode Selects the hard disk drive translation Enabled Control method. For drivers with more than Disabled 504 MB, LBA mode is necessary. 32-bit I/O Enables or disables the 32-bit data Disabled transfer function Enabled Transfer Select a transfer mode to enhance hard Fast PIO 4 Mode disk performance.
4 BIOS setup Floppy Configuration The Floppy Configuration submenu displays the type of floppy drive installed in the server. Parameter Description Option Legacy Diskette Floppy disk drive type 1.44/1.25 MB, 3.5-inch Disabled...
Chipset Configuration The Chipset Configuration submenu lets you set the memory interleave and node interleave settings. Parameter Description Option DRAM Bank Auto Bank Interleave allows the memory Interleave Disabled controller to group two DIMM banks into one large array. If set to Auto, each node with two identical DIMMs is set up to use bank interleave.
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4 BIOS setup Parameter Description Option NMI Asset Enables or disables the PCI bus parity Enabled error support. Disabled...
I/O Device Configuration The I/O Device Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings for the system’s parallel and serial ports. Parameter Description Option Serial Port A When Enabled allows you to configure Enabled the serial port settings. When set to Disabled Auto allows the server’s BIOS or OS to Auto...
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4 BIOS setup Parameter Description Option Serial Port B Indicates the serial port 2 address and Auto IRQ setting. Disabled Enabled Parallel Port Indicates the parallel port address. Auto Disabled Enabled Mode Sets the operation mode for the Output only parallel port.
PCI Configuration The PCI Configuration submenu lets you specify settings that are related to the onboard controllers. Parameter Description Option Onboard NIC Enables or disables the onboard LAN PXE Disabled function. Enabled Onboard SCSI Enables or disables the onboard SCSI Enabled Device controller.
4 BIOS setup USB Configuration The USB Configuration submenu lets you specify settings for USB devices. Parameter Description Option Onboard USB Enables or disables the onboard USB Enabled controller controller Disabled USB BIOS Enable this parameter when you intend to Enabled Legacy use a USB device in a Non-Plug and Play...
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 System Product...
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4 BIOS setup Parameter Description BMC Firmware Version of the BMC (Baseboard Management Version Controller) firmware. SDR Version Version of the SRDR (Spatial Data Repository) firmware. FRU Version Displays the field replacement unit information.
Power The Power menu allows you to configure the system’s power management feature. Parameter Description Option ACPI-aware OS Indicates whether the system’s OS supports the ACPI standard of power management. Resume on AC Defines the power state to resume to after Last State Power Loss a system shutdown that is due to an...
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4 BIOS setup Parameter Description Option Power Button When set to Instant On/Off, the system On/Off Mode automatically turns off when the power Wake/ button is pressed for less than 4 seconds. Sleep When set to 4-Sec. Override, the system enters the suspend mode when the power button is pressed for less than 4 seconds.
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.
4 BIOS setup Boot Settings Configuration The Boot Settings Configuration submenu lets you specify the preferred settings for system bootup. Parameter Description Option Quick Boot Allows the system to boot faster by Enabled Mode skipping some POST routine. Disabled Boot When this parameter is enabled, it allows Disabled Diagnostic...
Boot Device Priority The Boot Device Priority submenu lets you specify the boot search sequence during the POST process. BIOS setup will display an error message if the drive(s) specified is not bootable. Parameter Description 1st Boot Device Sets the device from which the system will first attempt to boot up.
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4 BIOS setup Parameter Description 3rd Boot Device Sets the device from which the system will attempt to boot up when the first and second attempts failed. Press Enter to enter the Hard Disk Drives submenu. The Hard Disk Drives submenu lets you specify the devices that will be considered as the primary and secondary hard drives.
Security The Security menu allows you to safeguard and protect the system from unauthorized use by setting up access passwords. Parameter Description Option Supervisor Prevents unauthorized access to the Clear Password BIOS setup utility. User Password Secures your system against Clear unauthorized use.
4 BIOS setup Parameter Description Option Password on Select Enabled to activate security Disabled boot check during POST. Enabled Fixed disk Sets the control level of the hard disk Normal boot sector drive. Write Protect Diskette access Sets the control level of the floppy Supervisor drive.
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Enter the current password then press Enter. Press Enter twice without entering anything in the new and confirm password fields. After doing this, the system automatically sets the User password parameter to Not Installed.
4 BIOS setup 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 Exit Saving Saves changes made and close the BIOS setup. Changes Exit Discarding Discards changes made and close the BIOS setup.
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Parameter Description Save Changes Saves changes made in the 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.
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 Press Soft boot reset to clear the system memory and reload the Ctrl+Alt+Del operating system. Cold boot reset. Turn the system power off and then on. Power off/on This clears system memory, restarts POST, reloads the operating system and halts power to all peripherals.
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"...
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? •...
5 Troubleshooting 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.
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 124. Specific problems and corrective actions The following contains specific problems that may arise during the use of your server.
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5 Troubleshooting • 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”...
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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.
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5 Troubleshooting 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. •...
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• 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.
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This appendix shows you how to install the ASM software package and gives information about the software program and utilities bundled with your server.
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Your Altos G5350 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 131.
Appendix A: System management utility 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.
System setup Make sure that your system meets the requirements listed above before proceeding. You may also want to change your screen resolution to 800 x 600 or higher for optimum viewing. Installing ASM Agent Follow the steps below: Log in to the managed server using the Administrator account. Insert the EasyBUILD Management CD into the server’s CD-ROM drive.
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Appendix A: System management utility 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.
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.
Setting up the system rack Important! Observe the electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions indicated on page 35 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.
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Appendix B: Acer Altos G5350 rack installation guide • 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.
System rack installation The Altos G5350 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/.
Appendix B: Acer Altos G5350 rack installation guide 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 5U in the rack. Count the U positions and hole numbers from the bottom up.
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Screw types used The following screws are used in the assembly of the Altos G5350 system and bundled rack-mountable components: Screw type and Figure Usage part number #8-32 x 0.25 inch Securing the inner mounting rails to the system Hex head...
Appendix B: Acer Altos G5350 rack installation guide 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 foot stands from the server.
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Remove the inner rails from the mounting rails. 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. The rack brackets attach the mounting rails to the server.
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Appendix B: Acer Altos G5350 rack installation guide Attach the inner rails to the mounting shelf. (1) Align the inner rails to both sides of the mounting shelf (1). (2) Secure the rails to the mounting shelf using the ten #8-32 screws (see page 141) from the rack mount kit (2).
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(2) Secure the server to the mounting shelf using four thumbscrews on the rear of the mounting shelf (2). 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.
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Appendix B: Acer Altos G5350 rack installation guide Install the M6 cage nuts (see page 141) into the rail. (1) Insert the lower lip of the cage nut over the bottom of the opening at the back of a rail.
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Install the mounting rails to the rack by using four M6 x L10 metal screws (see page 141) for each mounting rail. Extend the middle sliding piece of each mounting rail forward until you hear a click sound.
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Appendix B: Acer Altos G5350 rack installation guide Install the server shelf assembly into the rack. (1) Carefully align the inner rails attached to the mounting shelf with the fully extended mounting rails on the rack. (2) Press the release latch on both sides of the mounting shelf (1).
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(1) Attach the cable arm to the rear of the system using two M4 x L8 metal screws and nuts (see page 141). (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 141).
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Appendix B: Acer Altos G5350 rack installation guide (4) Insert the power, peripheral and networking cables into their appropriate ports (1). Refer to “Connecting peripherals” on page 26 for detailed instructions. (5) Bundle all cables to the cable arm using the cable clamps (2).
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.
Appendix C: SCSI RAID configuration 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.
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.
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Appendix C: SCSI RAID configuration 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.
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Index installing cage installing hard disk removing cage front bezel front panel LED indicators Acer Server Management (ASM) system requirements hot-plug HDD LED indicators ASM Agent hot-swap power supply module ASM Console installing Acer Server Manager (ASM) system setup install ASM Agent installing cage install ASM Console easy-swap...
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create RAID 1 SATA board layout rear panel SCSI backplane layout system memory reconfiguring system upgrade SCSI module ESD precautions installing installation precautions setting up the system post-installation instructions preinstallation requirements preinstallation instructions specification additional media storage SATA HDD cage SCSI HDD cage troubleshooting baseboard management controller...