Boot up after power failure

Question

We recently had a power failure at the office. The failure was several hours long so the systems shutdown before battery power failed. When the power was restored though the two PowerEdge 2500SC servers we had did not boot up. I had to go in and press the power button on both servers. The servers are bought running Windows 2000 Server and using the built-in UPS power management of Windows to monitor the battery backups.

I checked the BIOS for a relavant setting but couldn't find out. I also check the power options in Windows and didn't find a setting that could have an effect.

What could be the cause of this problem?

DELL-Mark A · Answer

Hi,

Dell Servers are not designed to power up without pressing the power button, unless accessing the server using the Dell Remote Assistant Card (DRAC).

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ChevronTexaco · Answer

What about a Dell Optiplex running Windows NT 4.0? Is there anyway to make it automatically power up after power has been restored from a power failure?

DELL-Mark A · Answer

Hi,Some Optiplex systems and most Dimension systems have an option in the System BIOS called AC Power RecoveryAC Power Recovery — Determines what happens when AC power is restored to the computerOff (default) — Computer remains off when AC power is restored On — Computer starts when AC power is restored Last — Computer returns to the AC power state existing at the time that AC power was lost To determine if your particular system supports this feature, check the system documentation, located at: <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed / replaced from this post by Dell> Thanks for using the Dell | Talk ForumsHours 01:00 PM until 11:00 PM CST, Monday-ThursdayDell PowerEdge Server E-support and Services____Please include a Service Tag Number in _________all posts for the most accurate response.____

CAH-Y12 · Answer

'Dell Servers are not designed to power up without pressing the power button, unless accessing the server using the Dell Remote Assistant Card (DRAC).' I have a PE 1650 and 2650 attached to the same UPS.  After a long power outage, the 1650 automatically restarted, and the 2650 did not.  So, your statement confuses me.  Is restarting automatically after  power restoration now a feature on some PE servers, but not all of them?  Or do I just need to perform a BIOS update? thanks,

derrick_sakai · Answer

I have 1 - PE 1550, 3 - PE 2650, and a PE 2500. When performing a power down test with my UPS, upon powering up, only the PE 1550 did not power up automatically. From what you are saying, I have 4 defective servers, right? Should I call Dell to have your technicians fix this onsite for us? What is the fix?

Conversley, could I get a tech to break the one that is working properly so that I can have all my servers power-up after a power failure and really utilize my UPS?

Derrick

JLondon999 · Answer

Bump...I have a PowerEdge 1600SC Server that won't restart after a power failure. My UPS is doing it's job of properly shutting down the server, but how about it starting back up again automatically. There are times when I'm travelling and no one is in the office to 'push the power button'...and I'm dependent on using Remote Desktop while on the road.

mmainprize · Answer

Yes this is strange, i also have seen the PE power up after a power outage or if i plug them in but not all of the same models do it and i have found no setting in BIOS for it. I guess it is something in the power supply or in the mother board.   Out of the last two jobs i had four PE1800's the two on the first job one would start up when the power cord was connected every time and the other would not. On the last job both would not auto start when the power cord was connected.

derrick_sakai · Answer

I have not tried this yet but this might help: APC Article # 2929: http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2929&p_created=1057853424&p_sid=QMnfSCei&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MSZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuYV9pZCZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PTI5Mjk*&p_li=&p_topview=1 and from MS: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;819760 Good luck, Derrick Sakai

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Boot up after power failure

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