Dell 1950 - degraded link width error

Question

HI

one of our servers went down in the night. I connected to its KVM and it shows after BMC on bios:

degraded link width error: embedded i/o bridge device 1
expected link width is x4
actual link width is x1

I've been to our data centre and brought the machine to back the office. I've tried replacing the smaller PCI-E riser which didnt help, I've ordered the larger PCI-E riser to see if swapping that out helps.

I've too tried disconnecting the backplane and removing the SAS6 card but the error still comes up?

Any pointers to help fix the issue?

DELL-Chris H · Accepted Answer

ChrisDuk112,

This is likely due to an issue with the PCI risers, cards or slots, What are the PCI cards you have currently installed, other than the SAS6 controller? Try removing all the cards, after reseating the risers, and then try booting. If same error then try swapping with known good risers, if you have any other 1950's with the same riser layout. If replacing the larger riser doesn't resolve the issue then it is likely an issue being caused by the motherboard.

Let me know what you find.

chrisduk112 · Answer

HI

I have replaced both rises (long and short) with new ones today.

Their is no cards we've installed, both risers had no hardware connected.

We tried removing the SAS6 controller but it still gave the error.

DELL-Chris H · Answer

The issue is likely to be within the motherboard itself then.

chrisduk112 · Answer

I have one on priority delivery tomorrow. I'll keep you updated!

Its a pain having to change motherboard as we use onboard NICs and having to rebind all the IPs will be a pain to do! but i will be glad to get it working again.

chrisduk112 · Answer

HI I swapped out the motherboard which fixed the issue.

PowerEdge Hardware General

Dell 1950 - degraded link width error

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