Dead Server

[igor948]

I know this is a hardware issue, not an OS issue, but I could think of no better group of brains to help me.

I got a DELL Power Edge 2650 given to me. So I added some RAM and HDD and put Kubuntu on it, pending my download of BEL-SUSE.
Install went fine. I played around for an hour, then shut down (and unplugged) the server and went to work. THe following morning, I got up early to install BEL-SUSE. The server will not turn on.

I've taken out the new RAM....nothing.........reseated the power supplies.......nothing.......reseated the HDD's........nothing.
I hear a subtle "click" when I plug in the power supplies, but the switch won't turn the thing on. Has anyone experienced this??? I suspect that it might be the microswitch is bad, but I have had no luck after a couple days of googling. I have been a Network Administrator for years, and never saw a server do this before. (I even checked the electrical outlets).

Suggestions from anyone would be appreciated. I am excited about trying out the BEL-SUSE distro, but cannot.

Thanks,

Igor948

[ClareOldie]

A large number of motherboards have a LED on them which lights up when power is applied to the PSU ... even though the PC is not switched on.
Does yours have such a LED and does it light?

Does the PSU have an on/off switch that may not be making contact? Try toggling it a few times without power attached and then try to switch on with power attached.

Check again the seating of the PSU cable/s to the m/board ...... if they are lifted just a little that may be sufficient to cut power from the m/board.

Is there any noise coming from the HDD when the PC is powered on?

Eventually it may come down to checking the PSU itself with a digital meter or such.

BTW ... I had some strange things happen when a Dell Poweredge battery went dead ... don't remember what now, but it was not what one might reasonably expect is all I can say. Might be worth looking at too.

First of course ....... check the power lead ..... especially if it is the one that came with the unit

[igor948]

Clare,

Thanks for the suggestions. THe lead is OK. There is NO noise from the HDD. I found (once I RTFM) that there are obscure power lights. I will take your suggestion about the battery and just replace it because they are cheap. There are no on/off switches on the PSUs. I suspect the microswitch for the server itself or the PSUs. I will report back when I have time to try your suggestions.

Thanks a bunch,
Igor948

[igor948]

UPDATE: totally gutted the server and cleaned....now I have green indicator lights on PSU. I also get Green indicator lights on mobo when plugged in. Still does NOTHING when I push the switch....have new PSUs ordered, going to pick up battery and looking into replacing the microswitch assembly. Will let you guys know what transpires in case someone else has this issue.

Thanks,
IGor948

[igor948]

ANOTHER UPDATE: Not the PSUs. Have been tied up with my studies, I just got my "control panel" (the LED front panel and microswitch assy). Hopefully I will have time to install tomorrow.

[bigbear]

I've had a couple of older machines lately pop up with similar behavior. Been a bit busy lately too troubleshoot them, just pulled them offline, just a couple test machines in my little shop.

Keep us informed please. be interested to see where you get to on this.

Big Bear

[igor948]

RESOLUTION AT LAST!

Finally resolved my mysterious server power issue...I would've never guessed in a million years what it was.
I ordered a power switch control panel assembly. There is a ribbon cable that connects the control panel assembly to the backplane circuit board. It was that ribbon cable that was bad.

My replacement control panel came with a new cable. I did not replace it, and the new assy did not work, so I thought that while I was still down, "Hey, might as well put in the new cable, it can't hurt anything"....and VOILA! It fired right up. So all I can figure is that I was passing a control voltage, but not switch signal.

[igor948]

PS.....Thanks to those that made suggestions and encouraged me not to give up!! That's why I admire the people on this board

[ClareOldie]

I do so like to see persistence rewarded.

Congrats on solving the puzzle!