UNSOLVED
PE2300 error light blinking
We have a PE2300 at my work and I am the defacto IT guy for it. Recently the error light on the front panel started blinking. It comes on burung boot up while the RAID is initializing. Based on what I have found online it either for a failure or an anticipated failure. If course this system predates my takeover of the machine, and the people who set up the system are long gone. I tried to run the dell server assistant to run the diagnostics, but it wont run since the BIOS is set to HD boot only. I found the diagnostic disks for the system on the dell site but cant boot to floppy for the same reason in the BIOS. The bios is p/w protected and the person who set that is long gone. Is there any way to get past the BIOS p/w so I can change the boot order? I'd prefer to not clear the CMOS (if it is even an option) because I dont want to have hope I get the rest of the settting correct. Ive tried guessing obvios p/w's but those have failed.
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Posted March 14th, 2007 20:00
First you'll want to run the log to text utility to read the logs, you can PM me or contact tech support to get the utility. This utility can also clear the logs.This may be as simple as a chassis intrusion detection. (Put the covers back on see if the light goes out.)Do both the ESM and the BIOS updates at the same time.Dell-GaryS315
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Posted March 14th, 2007 20:00
That worked. I was able to clear the p/w. After running the diagnostics I got teh error ESM2 system board sensor check-ESM: fail. Looking around the site I found something that said to make sure to use EMS firmware 3.8 or greater, we are running 3.4, were can I d/l the newer version?315
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Posted March 15th, 2007 13:00
the server is running win2000 server. The system bios you linked is for 2003. Will it work?315
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Posted March 15th, 2007 14:00
Yes, we have updates that are placed on floppy and boot to the floppy so can be O/S independant.(I personally recommend this method, no anti virus or anti spyware to force a shutdown in the middle of your BIOS update this way, and yes, I did once have a desktop bios update that ran from the os get inturrupted by webroot spysweeper... instant boat anchor :smileysad: )Dell-GaryS315
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Posted March 15th, 2007 15:00
use the A42cust.exe...The file is compatible with the following systems running the following operating systemsSystems Operating systemsPowerEdge 2400 (none listed)PowerEdge 2450
PowerEdge 6400
PowerEdge 6450
PowerEdge 2300
PowerEdge 4300
PowerEdge 4350
PowerEdge 4400
PowerEdge 6300
PowerEdge 6350Fixes and EnhancementsSBP(System Backplane)
- Fixed front panel LED blinking problem with a faulty hard drive.
(when the drive recovers from failure the LED continued to blink)Dell-GaryS
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Posted March 15th, 2007 15:00
The linked version of the ESM is not compatible with the poweredge 2300 server.78
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Posted March 15th, 2007 20:00
wow you are fast to reply. I was just hopping back on to say that I got it to run after I booted and old win98 startup disk. Tomorrow I'll see if I can finally find out what the light is on for, but the firmware issues are taken care of now.315
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Posted March 15th, 2007 20:00
I've got a personal PE2300 at home (W2k server) I'll try to see if I can duplicate your error tonight.Make sure you don't have both FAST and openmanage array manager installed, they both try to use the same API call.Dell-GaryS315
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Posted March 15th, 2007 20:00
WHen I try to use the referenced files I get the error "Warning! API library not found ir is not installed"Right now I wish we actually had an IT person to do this. But your help so far has been excellent, thanks.
DELL-GaryS
777 Posts
315
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Posted March 14th, 2007 18:00
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>