Acer G320 Series manual

Acer Altos G320 Series User’ s Guide[...]

Changes may be made periodically to the info rmation in this publicat ion without obligation to notify any person of such re vision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary doc uments and publications. This company makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect [...]

iii Notices FCC notice Class A devices do not have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Class B devices have an FCC logo or FCC IDE on the label. Once the class of the device is determined, refer to the following corresponding statement. Class A equipment This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device p[...]

iv Notice: Shielded cables All connections to other computing device s must be made using shielded cables to maintain compliance with FCC regulations. Notice: Peripheral devices Only peripherals (input/out put devices, terminals, pr inters, etc.) certified to comply with the Class A or Class B limits may be attached to this equipment. Operation wit[...]

v Important safety instructions Read these instructions carefully . Save these instructions for future reference. 1 Follow all warnings and instruct ions marked on the product. 2 Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aeros ol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. 3 Do not use this product near wa[...]

vi d If the product does not operat e normally when the operating instructions are followed. Adjust on ly those controls that are covered by the operating instructions sinc e improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition. e If the[...]

Contents Notices iii FCC notice iii Laser compliance statement iv Important safety instructions v 1 System tour 1 Features summary 3 External and internal structure 6 Front panel 6 Rear panel 8 Internal components 10 Mainboard layout 11 Jumper settings 13 Maintenance mode jumper 13 Clear CMOS jumper 14 2 System setup 15 Setting up the system 17 Pre[...]

viii Memory module installation guidelines 37 Removing a DIMM 39 Installing a DIMM 39 Installing an expansion card 41 4 BIOS setup 43 BIOS setup 45 Entering BIOS setup 46 Main 48 Advanced 51 Boot Configuration 52 Peripheral Configuration 53 Drive Configuration 54 Floppy Configuration 56 Event Log Configuration 57 Video Configuration 58 Hardware Mon[...]

ix RAID configuration utility 92 SATA RAID configuration utility 92 SCSI RAID configuration utility 92 Appendix B: SATA RAID configuration 93 Overview 95 Features 95 Configuring arrays 97 RAID CU (configuration utility) 100 Using the RAID CU 100 Configuring arrays and logical drives 102 Configuration guidelines 102 Quick configuration 103 Detailed [...]

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1 System tour[...]

The Acer Altos G320 server is an entry level single-processor general purpose system. The system offers a new standard for flexible productivity ideal for small business or workgroup applications.[...]

3 Featur es summary Listed below are the system’ s key features: Processor • Single LGA775 socket supporting the following Intel ® processors: • Pentium D processor • Pentium 4 processor • Celeron D processor • 256 KB, 1 MB, 2 MB or 2x1 MB L2 cache • 800 or 533 MHz FSB • Supports the following Intel technology 1 : • Intel Dual Co[...]

1 System tour 4 Media storage • 3.5-inch, 1.44 MB floppy drive • DVD-ROM or combo drive • Three 5.25-inch device bays for add-on options: • DA T72 tape drive • AIT tape drive Optional media storage • Supports up to four SA T A or SCSI hard disk drives SA T A controller • Onboard SA T A: Intel ICH7R I/O cont roller supports four SA T A[...]

5 • VGA/monitor port • Serial port • T wo LAN ports (RJ-45) Operating system and software • Operating system options: • Microsoft ® Windows ® Server 2003, X64 edition • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 •N o v e l l ® NetWare ® 6.5 • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0, EM64T • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 • SCO Openserver ™ 5.0.7 ?[...]

1 System tour 6 Exter nal and inter nal structure Fr ont panel No. Component 1 DVD-ROM or combo drive 2 V olume control 3 Headphone/Earphone port 4 DVD-ROM or combo drive activity indicator 5 DVD-ROM or combo drive Stop/Eject button 6 FDD (Floppy disk drive) 7 FDD activity indicator 8 FDD eject button 9 Security keylock[...]

7 Front panel LED indicators Below table lists the LED states on the front panel. 10 Hard disk drive (HDD) activity indicator 11 Power indicator 12 Power button 13 USB 2.0 ports 14 5.25-inch drive bays LED Color Status Description Power Green On Power on Blinking System in ACPI sleep mode. HDD Green Blinking HDD activity Off No HDD activity No. Com[...]

1 System tour 8 Rear panel No. Icon Component 1 Main power supply unit 2 PS/2 keyboard port 3 PS/2 mouse port 4 Serial port 5 VGA/monitor port 6 Gigabit LAN 1 and 2 po rts (10/100/1000 Mbps) 7 USB ports 8 Expansion slot covers 9 Rear system fan[...]

9 LAN LED indicators The LAN port features two LEDs that indicate the status of each port. Below table lists the LED states on the LAN ports. Note: The Intel 8257V NIC (Network Interface C ontroller) has a green indicator and 82541Pl NIC has a yellow indicator on the top- left corner of their corresponding port. LED Color LED State Condition Left G[...]

1 System tour 10 Internal components No. Component 1 Power supply unit 2 CPU and HSFD (heat si nk-fan duct) assembly 3 Mainboard 4P C I s l o t 5H D D b a y s 6 5.25-inch device bays[...]

11 Mainboar d layout The mainboard becomes accessible on ce you open the system. It should look like the figure shown below. No. Description 1 System fan connector 2 +4V power supply connector 3C P U f a n c o n n e c t o r 4 DIMM 1B to 2B sockets 5 DIMM 1A to 2A sockets[...]

1 System tour 12 6 CPU socket 7 +12V power supply connector 8I D E c o n n e c t o r 9F D D c o n n e c t o r 10 SA T A port 2 and 3 connectors 11 SCSI status LED connector 12 Maintenance mode jumper 13 Front panel connector 14 SA T A port 0 and 1 connectors 15 External USB connector 16 Clear CMOS jumper 17 Chassis intrusion connector 18 PCI slots [...]

13 Jumper settings Maintenance mode jumper The J9H3 jumper is a 2-pin jumper blocks that is used to perform system maintenance mode options. The table below lists each jumper option. Pin no. Pin function Description 1-2 Normal boot (default) Allows normal system operation. If the jumper block is removed, the system will attempt to recover the BIOS [...]

1 System tour 14 Clear CMOS jumper The 2-pin jumper blocks in the J9G3 jumper are used to perform clearing of NVRAM and syst em BIOS recovery options. The table below lists each jumper option. Pin no. Pin function Description 1-2 Normal boot (default) All ows normal system operation. 2-3 Clear CMOS (NVRAM) Clear of NVRAM following POST . CMOS setti[...]

2 System setup[...]

This chapter gives you instructions on how to set up the system. Procedures on how to connect peripherals are also explained.[...]

17 Setting up the system Pre-installation r equirements Selecting a site Before unpacking and installing the sy stem, select a suitable site for the system for maximum efficiency . Consider the following factors when choosing a site for the system: • Near a grounded power outlet • Clean and dust-free • Stable surface free from vibration • W[...]

2 System setup 18 Connecting peripherals Refer to the illustration below for sp ecific connection instructions on the peripherals you want to connect to the system. Note: Consult the operating system manual for information on how to configure the network setup.[...]

19 Tur ning on the system After making sure that you have properly set up the system and connected all the required cables , you can now power on the system. T o power on the system, press the power button on the front panel. The system starts up and displays a welcome message on the monitor . After that, a series of POST (power- on self-test) mess[...]

2 System setup 20 Power -on problems If the system does not boot after you have applied power , check the following factors that might have caused the boot failure. • The external power cable may be loosely connected. Check the power cable connection from the power source to the power cable socket on the rear pane l. Make sure that the cable is p[...]

21 T ur ning of f the system There are two ways by which you can turn off the server . These include: T o turn off the server , on th e Windows taskbar click on the Start button, point to Shut Down... , select Shut down from the drop-down window , then click on OK . Y ou can then turn off all peripherals connected to your server . If you cannot shu[...]

2 System setup 22[...]

3 System upgrade[...]

This chapter discusses the precautionary measures and installation procedures you need to know when upgrading the system.[...]

25 Installation pr ecautions Before you install any server component, we recommend that you read the following sections. These se ctions contain important ESD precautions along with pre-installation and post-installation instructions. ESD precautions Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage the processor , disk drives, expansion boards, mainboard, [...]

3 System upgrade 26 W arning! Failure to properly turn off the server befor e you start installing components ma y cause serious damage. Do not attempt the procedures described in the following sections unless you are a qu alified service technician. Post-installation instructions Perform the steps below after installing a server component: 1 See t[...]

27 Opening the server Caution! Before you proceed, make sure that you have turned off the system and all peripherals connected to it. Read the “Pre- installation instructions” on page 25. Y ou need to open the server before you can install additional components. The front bezel and left-side panel are removable to allow access to the system’ [...]

3 System upgrade 28 Unlocking the front bezel A security lock secures the bezel do or to protect the system unit from unauthorized access. Insert the key into the lock and turn it counterclockwise until it points to the unlock icon . Removing the fr ont bezel 1 Remove the left-side panel. See page 27. 2 Slightly bend the plastic retent ion tabs to [...]

29 Installing and removing storage devices The system supports 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch internal storage devices. The system comes pre-installed with a floppy drive and a DVD or a combo drive. The empty 5.25-inch half -height bays allow you to install additional drives such as another DVD drive or a tape drive. T o remove a 5.25-inch storage device: [...]

3 System upgrade 30 T o install a 5.25-inch storage device: Note: If you are installing a storage device on an empty 5.25-inch drive bay , you must remove the bl ank plastic cover on the front bezel first. 1 Observe the ESD precautions an d pre-installation procedures described on page 25. 2 If you are installing a device on an empty 5.25-inch driv[...]

31 Installing and removing a har d disk This section include instructions for installing and removing a hard disk. The three empty HDD bays allow you to install additional HDDs such as another SA T A or SCSI HDD. T o re m o ve a h ard d i s k : 1 Observe the ESD precautions an d pre-installation procedures described on page 25. 2 Disconnect the pow[...]

3 System upgrade 32 T o install a hard disk: 1 Observe the ESD precautions an d pre-installation procedures described on page 25. 2 Push the lever in the direction of the unlock icon (1) , 3 Insert the drive into an empty HDD bay (2) . 4 Make sure that the drive is properly inserted before closing the lever , then push the lever in the direction of[...]

33 Upgrading the pr ocessor This section include instructions for installing and removing a processor and the heat sink-fan duct (HSFD) assembly . Removing the HSFD assembly Important: Before removing a CPU from the mainboard, make sure to create a backup fi le of all important data. 1 Observe the ESD precautions an d pre-installation instructions [...]

3 System upgrade 34 5 Place the HSFD assembly upside down on a flat surface. Note: Wipe off the thermal grease fro m both the HSFD assembly and CPU using an alcohol pad. Removing the CPU 1 Push the socket retainer leve r handle down and away from the socket to release it (1) . 2 Pull the lever to a fully open, upright position (2) . 3 Lift the load[...]

35 Note: Do not touch the socket contacts. 5 If a protective cover is installed on the load plate, remove first before installing the processor . If not, then proceed to step 6. Note: Do not discard the protective processor cover . Always replace the processor cover if th e processor is removed from the socket. 6 Remove the CPU from its protective [...]

3 System upgrade 36 (1) Align the HSFD assembly with the CPU (1) . (2) T ighten the assembly’ s four screws to secure it to the mainboard (2) . (3) Connect the CPU fan cable to its mainboard connector . Refer to “Mainboard layout” on page 11 for the location of the CPU fan connector . 3 Observe the post-installation ins tructions described on[...]

37 Upgrading the system memory This section includes instructions for removing and installing a memory module. Altos G320 has four DDR2-533/667 DIMM slots. Each slot supports 512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB memory modules. The maximum memory capacity is 8 GB. Memory module installation guidelines • The minimum memory configuration is one DIMM, installed in [...]

3 System upgrade 38 • Altos G320 mainboard does not support installation of three DIMMs only . The table below lists the supported memory installation based on the memory interleave configuration: Bank 1 Bank 2 Memory Interleave DIMM 1A DIMM 2A DIMM 1B DIMM 2B 512 MB 1-way 1 GB 1-way 2 GB 1-way 512 MB 512 MB 2-way 1 GB 1 GB 2-way 2 GB 2 GB 2-way [...]

39 Removing a DIMM Before you can install a new DIMM in a socket, remove first any previously installed DIMM from that socket. Important: Before removing any DI MM from the mainboard, make sure to create a backup file of all important data. 1 Observe the ESD precautions an d pre-installation instructions described on page 25. 2 Locate the DIMM sock[...]

3 System upgrade 40 3 Open the clips on the socket. 4 Align then insert the DIMM into the socket (1) . 5 Press the holding clips inward to lock the DIMM in place (2) . Note: The DIMM socket is slotted to ensure proper installation. If you insert a DIMM but it does not fit easily into the socket, you may have inserted it incorrectly . Reverse the or[...]

41 Installing an expansion car d This section explains how to install an expansion card. The onboard expansion slots supports PCI (Perip heral Component Interconnect) and PCI Express cards. PCI Express slot is a new type of interface and differs in length than the conventional PCI/PCI-X slots. Y ou should always install the correct type of plug-in [...]

3 System upgrade 42 9 Secure the card with the bracket lock (6) . 10 Observe the post-installation ins tructions described on page 26. Note: When you turn on the system, the BIOS setup automatically detects and assigns resources to th e new device (applicable only to plug-and-play expansion cards).[...]

4 BIOS setup[...]

This chapter gives information about the system BIOS and discusses how to configure the system by changing the settings of the BIOS parameters.[...]

45 BIOS setup BIOS setup is a hardware configurat ion program built into the system's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). Since most systems are already properly configured and optimized, th ere is no need to run this utility . Y ou will need to run this utility under the following conditions: • When changing the system configuration • When [...]

4 BIOS setup 46 Entering BIOS setup Power on the server to start the sy stem POST process. During bootup, press F2 to enter the BIOS setup screen. Note: Y ou must press F2 while the system is booting. This key does not work during any other time. There are several tabs on the setu p screen corresponding to the six major BIOS menus: • Main •A d [...]

47 •P r e s s F1 for General Help on using the BIOS setup. •P r e s s F10 to save changes and close the BIOS setup. •P r e s s Esc to close the BIOS setup. In the descriptive table following each of the screen illustrations, settings in boldface are the default and sugg ested parameter settings. Note: The BIOS screens shown in the following p[...]

4 BIOS setup 48 Main The Main menu displays basic and important information about the system. These information are necessary for troubleshooting and may be required when asking for technical support. The last two parameters on the screen lets you define the sytem’ s date and time settings. The real-time cl ock keeps the system date and time. Aft[...]

49 SW Single Processor Mode Enables or disables the dual-core processor support. It is recommended that you disable this feature for maximum performance. Disable Enable Processor Speed The processor speed is the speed at which a microprocessor executes instruc- tions. Clock speeds are expressed in megahertz (MHz), with 1 MHz being equal to 1 millio[...]

4 BIOS setup 50 System T ime Sets the time following the hour- minute-second format . V alid values for hour , minute, and second are: Hour: 00 to 23 Minute: 00 to 59 Second: 00 to 59 Parameter Description Option[...]

51 Advanced The Advanced menu contains parame ter values that define how the system behaves on startup. W arning! Be cautious in se tting parameter values in the Advanced menu as any incorrect value may cause the system to malfunction. Press Enter to enter the submenu screen of the parameters shown in the screen below.[...]

4 BIOS setup 52 Boot Configuration The Boot Configuration submenu le ts you specify the preferred settings for system bootup. Parameter Description Option Num-Lock Activates the Nume ric Lock function upon booting. On Off CPU Fan Control Enables or di sables the CPU fan control function. Enable Disable System Fan Control Enables or disables the sys[...]

53 Peripheral Configuration The Peripheral Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings for the system’ s serial and LAN ports. Max CPUID V alue Limit This should be enable d in order to boot legacy operating systems that cannot support CPUs with extended CPUID functions. Disable Enable Display Setup Prompt When this parameter is [...]

4 BIOS setup 54 Drive Configuration The Drive Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings related to the hard disk/s. PCI Express On-board LAN Enables or disables the PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller . Enable Disable PCI On-board LAN Enables or disables the onboard LAN device. Enable Disable Parameter Description Option Use [...]

55 A T A/IDE Mode When set to Enha nced, it will enable all SA T A and P A T A controllers. When set to Legacy , it will enable up to 2 IDE channels for OS that requires legacy IDE operation. Enhanced Legacy Configure S-A T A as Set SA T A to IDE or RAID. This parameter is disabled when the A T A/IDE Mode is not set to Enhanced mode. IDE RAID AHCI [...]

4 BIOS setup 56 Floppy Configuration The Floppy Configuration submenu disp lays the type of floppy drive installed in the server. Parameter Description Option Diskette Controller Enables or disables the floppy controller . Automatic Enable Disable Diskette Write Protect Enables or disables the floppy disk drive (FDD) write protection. Disable Enabl[...]

57 Event Log Configuration The Event Log Configuration submenu lets you specify the appropriate settings for system’ s event handling function. The system event log enables you to record and monitor events that occur in the system (e.g., system temper ature changes, fan stops, etc.) Parameter Description Option View Event Log Opens the system Eve[...]

4 BIOS setup 58 Video Configuration The Video Configuration submenu lets you define the parameter settings related to the video adapter . ECC Event Logging Enables or disables the ECC (Error Correcting Code) event logging function of the system. Enable Disable Mark Event as Read Press Enter to mark all events in the Event log as read. Parameter Des[...]

59 Hard ware Monitoring The Hardware Monitoring submenu di splays the current speed status of the system fans, temperature level of a specified component and voltage levels and status of the monitored voltage.[...]

4 BIOS setup 60 Chipset Configuration The Chipset Configuration submenu le ts you set the memory interleave and node interleave settings, specify settings that are related to the onboard controllers. Parameter Description Option Memory Configuration Offers memory correction and memory timing adjustments. It also provides information about the DIMMs[...]

61 USB Configuration The USB Configuration submenu lets you specify settings for USB devices. Parameter Description Option USB 2.0 Enables the USB 2.0 controller . When set to Disable, other USB options will be grayed out. Enable Disable[...]

4 BIOS setup 62 Security The Security menu allows you to safeguard and protect the system from unauthorized use by se tting up access passwords. Parameter Description Option Supervisor Password Prevents unauthorized access to the BIOS setup utility . Not Installed Installed User Password Secures the system against unauthorized use. Once you set thi[...]

63 Setting the Supervisor/User password: 1 Use the up/down keys to high light a password parameter (Supervisor Password or Us er Password), then press Enter . A password box will appear . 2 T ype a password then press Enter . The password may consist of up to six alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9). 3 Retype the password to verify the first ent[...]

4 BIOS setup 64 Power The Power menu allows you to configure the system’ s power management feature. Parameter Description Option After Power Failure Defines the power state to resume to after a system shutdown that is due to an interruption in AC power . When set to Stay off, the system remains off after power shutdown. When set to Last state, t[...]

65 Wake on LAN from S5 When set to Power on, the system will resume from an S5 state if a PME (Power Management Event) is asserted. When set to Stay off, the system will not resume from an S5 state if a PME is asserted. Stay off Power on Parameter Description Option[...]

4 BIOS setup 66 Boot The Boot menu allows you to set the drive priority during system bootup. It also displays information about the installed storage devices. Parameter Description Option Boot Menu Ty p e N/A Normal Advance Boot Device Priority Specify the boot search sequence during the POST process. V aries Hard Drive Order Specify the devices t[...]

67 Boot to Optical Devices Enables or disables the system to boot from an optical device. Enable Disable Boot to Removable Devices Enables or disables the system to boot from a removable device installed in the system. Enable Disable Boot to Network Enables or disables the system to invoke the boot ROM of the onboard network chip. Enable Disable US[...]

4 BIOS setup 68 Exit The Exit menu displays the various options to quit from the BIOS setup utility . Highlight any of the exit options then press Enter . Parameter Description Exit Saving Changes Saves changes made and close the BIOS setup utility . The F10 key can also be used for this operation. Exit Discarding Changes Exits system setup without[...]

69 Save Custom Defaults Saves the custom settings for all BIOS setup parameters. Discard Changes Discards changes made in the BIOS setup. The F7 key can also be used for this operation. Parameter Description[...]

4 BIOS setup 70[...]

5 T r oubleshooting[...]

This chapter provides possible solutions for specific problems. If you cannot correct the problem, contact your local Acer representative or authorized dealer for assistance.[...]

73 T r oubleshooting This chapter helps you identify an d solve problems that might occur while you are using the system. For any issue, first ensure that yo u are using the latest firmware and files. In addition to the server firmwa re and files, make sure to update any drivers used for components yo u have installed in your system, such as video [...]

5 T roubleshooting 74 First steps checklist • AC power available at the wall outlet? • Are the power supplies plugged in? Check the AC cable(s) on the back of the chassis and at the AC source. • Are all cables correctly connected and secured? • Is the processor fully seated in the socket on the mainboard? • Are all standoffs in the prope [...]

75 Hard ware diagnostic testing This section provides a more deta iled approach to identifying a hardware problem and locating its source. Caution! Before disconnecting any pe ripheral cables from the system, turn off the system and an y external peripheral devices. Failure to do so can cause perm anent damage to the system and/ or the peripheral d[...]

5 T roubleshooting 76 operating system prompt does not appear , see "No Characters Appear on Screen" on page 82. Specific pr oblems and corrective actions The following contains specific proble ms that may arise during the use of your server . Possible soluti ons are listed for each problem. Power indicator does not light. Do the followin[...]

77 • Check that FDD is properly configured. • If you are using the onboard disket te controller , use BIOS setup on page 45 to make sure that onboard “Floppy A” is set to 1.44 MB, 3.5-inch . HDD activity indicator does not light. Do the following: • Make sure the drive is not disabled in the BIOS setup utility . • Make sure the drive’[...]

5 T roubleshooting 78 • Check that relevant switches and jumpers on the drive are set correctly . • Check that drive is properly configured. • Check that onboard IDE controller is enabled in the BIOS setup. ODD tray cannot be ejected. • Insert the tip of a paperclip into the small hole on the ODD drive. Slowly pull the tray out from th e dr[...]

79 • If using RAID configuration with SA T A or SCSI drives, make sure the RAID card is installed correctly . Bootable CD drive is not detected. Make sure the Boot settings in the BIOS setup utility is configured to allow the CD drive to be the first bootable device. New memory modules installed are not detected. Do the following: • Make sure t[...]

5 T roubleshooting 80 Problems with the network Network status indicator does not light. Do the following: • Check the cabling and network eq uipment to make sure that all cables are properly connected. • Reinstall the network drivers. • T ry another port or hub on the switch. Diagnostics pass but the connection fails. • Make sure the netwo[...]

81 Network activity indicator does not light. Do the following: • Make sure the correct network drivers are loaded on the system. • Network might be idle. T ry accessing the server . Server hangs when the drivers are loaded. Change the PCI interrrupt settings. System boots when installing a PCI card. System Server Management featur e require fu[...]

5 T roubleshooting 82 No characters appear on the screen. Check the following: • Is the keyboard functioning? T est it by turning the “Num Lock” function on and off to make sure the Num Lock light is functioning. • Is the video monitor plugged in and turned on? If you are using a switch box, is it switch ed to the correct system? • Are th[...]

83 Characters are distorted or incorr ect. Check the following: • Are the brightness and contrast controls properly adjusted on the video monitor? Refer to the documentation that came with the video monitor . • Are the video monitor’ s signal and power cables properly connected. • Is the video monitor working correctly when plugged into a d[...]

5 T roubleshooting 84 BIOS POST err or beep codes The following table lists the POST er ror beep codes. Prior to system video initialization, BIOS uses these beep codes to inform you of error conditions. The beep code occurs onl y when a critical error occurs or when the BIOS fails to boot to the operating system. Not all error conditions are suppo[...]

85 4-7, 9-11 • I ndicates a fatal error . Consult your dealer or local Acer representative for assistance. • If beep codes are generated even when all PCI cards are absent, consult your system manufacturer’ s technical support. • C heck for a malfunctioning ex pansion card. If beep codes are not generated when all expansion cards are absent[...]

5 T roubleshooting 86[...]

Appendix A: System management utility[...]

This appendix shows you how to install the ASM software package and give s information about the software program and utilities bundled with your server .[...]

89 Overview Y our Altos G320 server supports the following system management utilities: • ASM (Acer Server Manager) This utility allows you to spot er rors or potential trouble spots in the network servers through a single management station. For details go to page 90. • RAID configuration utility The system may be bundled with a utility for ch[...]

Appendix A: System management utility 90 ASM Acer Server Manager is a server management tool. It is specially designed to help spot errors or potential trouble spots in the network servers through a single management station. ASM can send a query to a remote server over the network to request information such as system hardware and software confi g[...]

91 System setup Make sure that the system meets the requirements listed before proceeding. Y ou may also want to ch ange your screen resolution to 800 x 600 or higher for optimum viewing. Installing ASM Agent 1 Log in to the managed server using the Administrator account. 2 Insert the EasyBUILD Management CD into the server’ s ODD. The installati[...]

Appendix A: System management utility 92 RAID configuration utility Caution! Using the RAID configuratio n utility erases all data previously saved in the hard drives. Make sure that you backup important files before starting the configuration process. SA T A RAID configuration utility The SA T A RAID configuration util ity allows you to configure [...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration[...]

This appendix provides a description of the embedded server technology and explains how to use the utility for configuring and managing RAID systems.[...]

95 Overview Embedded with the system BIOS is a configuration utility that provides server RAID technology and enables you to configure disk arrays and logical drives. The embedded server RAID technology supports four SA T A ports. These ports support data transfer rates of up to 3.0 Gbps. Refer to the “Mainboard layout” on page 11 for the locat[...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 96 • Independent support for WC, RC, and UDMA (direct memory access) • Support for Stop On Error during bootup • Support to disable/enable BIOS state Driver features • Special interface for configuration information, configuration changes, and manageability • Optimized disk access • Support for RAID[...]

97 • Automatic resume of rebuilding on restart • Support for manual rebuild • Physical drive roaming • Independent stripe size configuration per logical drive • Ability to create up to eight logical drives per array • Auto-configuration support of newly added physical drive • Support for hot spares • Support for disk coercion • Ar[...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 98 Assigning RAID levels Only one RAID level can be assigned to each array . The table below displays the drives required per RAID level. The factors you need to consider wh en selecting a RAID level are listed in the table below: RAID Level Minimum number of physical drives Maximum number of physical drives 0O[...]

99 10 A combination of RAID 1 and RAID 0. Use for medium- sized databases or any environment that requires a higher degree of fault tolerance and moderate to medium capacity . Provides both high data transfer rates and complete data redundancy . • More disk space required. • Reduces usable disk space to the size of the smallest drive. • Reduc[...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 100 RAID CU (configuration utility) The RAID CU configures disk arrays and logical drives. The CU resides in the BIOS and is independent of the OS. With the CU you can: • Configure physical arrays and logical drives • Initialize logical drives • Rebuild failed drives • Check data consistency Using the R[...]

101 Note: The Configure S-A T A as para meter is disabled when the A T A/IDE Mode is not set to Enhanced mode. (5) Save settings and exit the BIOS setup utility . The system reboots automatically . 2 During bootup, press Ctrl + E to run the RAID configuration utility . Hold down the Ctrl key while you press E . The Management menu appears. Exiting [...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 102 Configuring arrays and logical drives Configuration guidelines W e recommend using drives with the same capacity in a specific array . If you use drives with different capaci ties in an array , the CU treats all these drives as if they have th e capacity of the smallest drive. The number of physical drives [...]

103 • Quick configuration • Detailed configuration For detailed configuration of ar rays and logical drive, you can choose from the following configuration methods: • Easy configuration • New configuration • View/Add configuration. Quick configuration Performing quick configuration The quick installation steps for conf iguring arrays and [...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 104 Detailed configuration Performing detailed configuration Follow the instructions below to c onfigure arrays and logical drives: 1 Start the RAID CU Make sure the Configure SA T A as parameter in the BIOS setup is set to RAID mode. See “Start the RAID CU” on page 104 for detailed instructions. 2 Select a[...]

105 5 Set the RAID level for the logical drive by highlighting RAID , then press Enter . A list of the available RAID leve ls for the current logical drive appears. 6 Select a RAID level, then press Enter . 7 Set the RAID logical drive size and stripe size. 8 When you have defined the cu rrent logical drive, select Accept , then press Enter . 9 Rep[...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 106 The indicator for the selected drive changes from READY to ONLIN A[ array number ]-[ drive number ] . For example, ONLIN A1- 3 means disk drive 3 in array 1. 3 Press Enter after you finish creating the current array . 4 Press F10 to configure logical drives. 5 Set the RAID level for the logical drive by hig[...]

107 Initializing logical drives Y ou can initialize the logical driv es using batch initialization or individual initialization. Batch initialization can simultaneously initialize up to 40 logi cal drives. While indivi dual initialization can initialize single logical drives only . T o initialize logical drives using the batch initialization method[...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 108 5 After the initialization is completed, press Esc to return to the previous menu. When you press Esc while initialization is in progress, the options — Stop, Continue, and Abort app ears. See previous section for detailed explanation.[...]

109 Rebuilding failed disks A manual rebuild is used to rebuild fa iled drives. The CU allows manual rebuild for an individual drive or a gr oup of drives. The rebuilding of a group of drives is done through batch mode. T o rebuild a group of failed drives: 1 Under the Management menu, select Rebuild . A device selection window displays. In the win[...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 110 Checking data consistency The Check Consistency feature verifies the correctness of the redundancy data in the selected l ogical drive and allows the CU to automatically correct any differences found in the data. This feature can be used only on a RA ID 1 logical drive, to verify the data consistency betwee[...]

111 T r oubleshooting Problems and suggested solutions The following table describes possible problems you might encounter while using the CU, along with suggested solutions. Problem Suggested solution Drives are not detected or The system hangs when the adapter ROM for the embedded SA T A software RAID scans the SA T A ports. • Make sure that th[...]

Appendix B: SA T A RAID configuration 112 One of the hard drives in a mirrored (RAID 1) array has failed. Replace the failed drive with another drive that has the same or greater capacity . A new drive with no configuration is installed into the bay which is already part of a mirrored (RAID 1) array . Run the RAID configuration utility to configure[...]

Appendix C: SCSI RAID configuration[...]

This appendix explains how to use the SCSI RAID configuration utility for creating a RAID volume in SCSI drives.[...]

115 Configuring the SCSI/SCSI RAID HBA This section shows how to create a RA ID 1 (mirror) volume. This feature requires the installation or presen ce of a LSI Logic 53C1030 SCSI controller . Using the SCSI HBA setup utility During bootup, press Ctrl+C to enter the LSI Logic Configuration screen. Loading the HBA default settings 1 In the LSI Logic [...]

Appendix C: SCSI RAID configuration 116 WARNING: Data on driv e will be LOST! Press DELETE if data loss OK or any other key to cancel. 6 Press the Delete key to ignore. 7P r e s s Esc , then select Save changes then exit this menu . 8 T o close the utility and reboot th e server , follow the steps below: (1) Press Esc , then select Exit the Configu[...]

117 Using the MegaRAID configuration utility T urn on the system. When prompted, press Ctrl+M to enter the MegaRAID configuration utility . After a few seconds, the Management menu appears. Loading the RAID card default setting 1 Under the Management menu, select Objects , then select Adapter . The current adapter settings appear . 2S e l e c t Fac[...]

Appendix C: SCSI RAID configuration 118 3S e l e c t YES . In the menu, the selected drive’ s indicator will change from READY to HOTSP . 4 Press Esc to end the array configuration. 5S e l e c t YES to Save Configuration , then press any key to return to the Configuration menu. Initializing a RAID volume 1 Press Esc to return to the Management me[...]

119 Index A Acer Server Manager (ASM) 90 system requirements 90 ASM Agent 90 ASM Console 90 system setup 91 install ASM Agent 91 install ASM Console 91 B BIOS POST error beep codes 84 BIOS setup 45 Advanced 51 Boot 52 Chipset 60 Drive 54 Event Log 57 Floppy 56 Hardware 59 PCI 61 Peripheral 53 USB 61 Video 58 Boot 66 entering 46 Exit 68 Main 48 Powe[...]

120 configure logical drives 102 consistency check 110 easy configuration 104 initializing drives 107 new configuration 105 option 103 detailed configuration 104 quick configuration 103 rebuilding drives 109 view/add configuration 105 RAID level 102 rear panel 8 rebuild 109 rebuilding drives 109 S SATA configuration 98 assigning 98 assigning RAID l[...]