Help Please: Problem with the DELL 1850 PowerEdge: 4 Fans running at full tilt !!

Is the cover still off? It will run high if the cover is off or if one of the fans is not working properly. What OS is this running, we can install Openmanage Server Administrator and it will let us see what the fan speeds are.

Hi Josh,

The cover is on.

The OS is: BlueOnyx-5108R-CentOS-6.3

ie, Linux-CentOS-6.3  with BlueOnyx 64 bit server software...

The fans were running at max before I installed the OS.

Thanks

One of the fans has probably failed, causing the others to compensate.

Try reseating all of the fans, if that doesn’t work, install OMSA with these instructions and we can check the fan rpms.

http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Repository/OMSA#Yum_setup

Thanks: So how do I access & clear the hardware logs ?

It might be spinning now, but may not be spinning within the threshold for a warning/error condition.  

Check OMSA to see how the speed matches up with the others and/or with the defined thresholds.

If it is spinning normally, then simply clear the hardware logs and the message should go away and only return if there is a persistent problem with it (speeds too low/high, damaged sensor, etc.).

You can do it through the DRAC (if installed) or through OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA - what OS do you have installed?).

The best way is to install server administrator and clear from the logs tab.

http://ftp.us.dell.com/sysman/OM_5.5.0_ManNode_A00.exe

ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_electronics/esuprt_software/esuprt_ent_sys_mgmt/dell-opnmang-srvr-admin-v5.5_User%27s%20Guide2_en-us.pdf

Page 149

Hi Josh,

Thanks for your advice.

I've removed the top cover and powered up the server, to check the 4 fans:

a: 3 of their indicator lights on the PCB were green.

b: but FAN_1's was amber, and it was not rotating, because it had some stringy-rubbery-white-material jammed between the impeller & its housing, which looked like the remnants of a seal ?

I removed this obstruction, and now:

a: its fan-light is now green.

b: and the fan is now rotating OK.

So I powered down, unplugged, replaced the cover.

Now when plugging in the server: The fan on PSU1 can be heard quite loudly.

And after switching on the server: The server fans run full-on as before,

but only for a few seconds, then they slow down a bit.

However: The 'amber system status indicator' (to the left of the right-hand HDD) is still flashing !

Hi Josh,
Thanks for your latest advice.

I've read the info you gave me in your 1st link: http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Repository/OMSA#Yum_setup

and 2nd link:
ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_electronics/esuprt_software/esuprt_ent_sys_mgmt/dell-opnmang-srvr-admin-v5.5_User%27s%20Guide2_en-us.pdf

However, I'm new the Linux servers, so I'm wondering if there's a simpler way to:
a: check the fan voltages ?
b: check & clear the system-logs ?

If not...
I could do with a detailed step-by-step-idiots-guide of how to actually install 'server administrator' from scratch ?
...I can download it from the link you gave, to my regular PC, and copy that to a USB-Stick, then put that in the servers USB socket ?
...but what then, how do I install it onto the server ?
...where do I install it to ?
...and how do I access it, once it's on the server ?

I've installed the OS mentioned before, ie:
BlueOnyx-5108R-CentOS-6.3 (ie, Linux-CentOS-6.3-64 bit- with BlueOnyx server software)

So as far as I know, on the server, there's no GUI or browser etc,
just the server software that is administered over the net, via a web browser on a client PC.
I currently have command-line root-access via the console, but that will be lost when I add the Admin-web-account in the server software.

Thanks