Sun SPARC Enterprise M9000-32 Server
 
Sun SPARC Enterprise M9000-64 Server
 
Sun SPARC Enterprise M8000 Server
 

PLA-Support>Sun Systems>SPARC>Enterprise>SN-SPARC: Mx000
 

In this Document

Purpose

Troubleshooting Steps

AC-input grid failure results in a-symmetric Power Supply Units (PSUs) losing power

Internal setup failure scenarios

Disconnected, unseated or damaged internal connecting wiring between base cabinet and base power cabinet

Missing or loose 48VDC power bus bar brackets

How to check DPF without powering down platform

Oracle Confidential PARTNER - Available to partners (SUN).
Reason: troubleshooting assistance

Applies to:

Purpose

A SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Server, installed with a Dual Power Feed (DPF), is expected to survive the failure of a single  AC-input grid, both with single-phase AC input as with three-phase AC input.  In case your SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Server, installed with a Dual Power Feed (DPF) ,  runs into an un-expected outage during the failure of a single  AC-input grid, this document will describe how to troubleshoot internal bits of DPF setup, without shutting down the entire platform. 

To properly install, or to troubleshoot the SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Server DPF setup while powered off, make sure everything related to the DPF is installed and connected as described in the SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Servers Installation Guide • October 2012, chapter 3.3.2 Connecting the Power Cabinet .

To troubleshoot the SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Server DPF setup while powered, we will describe specific failure scenarios below, and describe how to go and check for the correct DPF setup to be in place.

Troubleshooting Steps

AC-input grid failure results in a-symmetric Power Supply Units (PSUs) losing power

If you lose a complete AC-input grid, you should observe one of the following behaviors:

• all PSUs in the base cabinet and all PSUs in the expansion cabinet lose power, all PSUs in the base power cabinet and all PSUs in the expansion power cabinet remains up and running
• all PSUs in the base cabinet and all PSUs in the expansion cabinet remain running, all PSUs in the base power cabinet and all PSUs in the expansion power cabinet lose power

Any other behavior implies the external AC cables are incorrectly connected. Please check and correct all external AC-input wiring.

Internal setup failure scenarios

From here on in this document, it is assumed:

• external AC-input wiring is matching what is described in the SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Servers Installation Guide • October 2012, chapter 3.3.2 Connecting the Power Cabinet .
• grid 0 is providing AC-input power to the base cabinet, and to the expansion cabinet if present
• grid 1 is providing AC-input power to the base power cabinet, and to the expansion power cabinet if present
• our configuration has a base cabinet and a base power cabinet

Please find a list of possible failure scenarios. At the end of the list of possible scenarios, it will be described how to go and check the DPF setup, without powering down the platform.

Disconnected, unseated or damaged internal connecting wiring between base cabinet and base power cabinet

Damaged internal wiring on an operational platform is extremely unlikely. If connectors of internal wiring, as described in step 11 of the SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Servers Installation Guide • October 2012, chapter 3.3.2 Connecting the Power Cabinet, get unseated or never have been connected properly in the first place, one or more of the following events can be observed:

• XSCF reports all PSUs in power cabinet to be missing or faulty
• with both AC-input power grid 0 and AC-input power grid 1 providing AC-input power, still all base cabinet PSUs are lacking AC-input power
• losing AC-input power grid 0 results in a failing Clockboard
• losing AC-input power grid 1 results in a failing Clockboard
• losing AC-input power grid 0 result in a failing XSCF

Missing or loose 48VDC power bus bar brackets

Missing or loose 48VDC power bus bar brackets will prevent 48VDC, as generated by the PSU in the base power cabinet, to flow to the domain components in the base cabinet. All PSUs in the base power cabinet are working fine, the XSCF does not report any issues. If the AC-input power grid 0 fails, all PSUs in the base cabinet will stop providing 48VDC to the domain components , and due to the missing power bus bar brackets, no 48VDC will be provided to the equipment in the base cabinet, and all domains will immediate stop, without a warning and without a graceful shutdown. Proper installation of 48VDC power bus bar brackets is described in step 4 and step 10 of the SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Servers Installation Guide • October 2012, chapter 3.3.2 Connecting the Power Cabinet.

How to check DPF without powering down platform

Close all doors of the SPARC Enterprise M8000/M9000 Server and lock them. This will prevent you from accidently disturbing the platform operation by touching cables or breakers.  You will need to get a ladder or any other tool to be able to look at the very top of the base power cabinet. You will need a torch to be able to see inside the base power cabinet.

In the top of the base power cabinet, there is a rectangular area with ventilation holes. Through the holes in the corner that is closest to the center of the machine, you should be able to get  a view of the internal wiring and the 48VDC bus bar brackets:

Now move closer to the corner of the ventilation grill that is closest to the center of the platform .....

Identify which ventilation hole can best be used ....

Use a good digital camera to zoom in to get the details we need:

Looking at the final photograph we can clearly see where the 48VDC power bus bar brackets should be located. If you do not see these on your platform, take the appropriate action to get the situation corrected. Be aware that it will be hard to see all the internal wiring connectors, as some of the wiring at the top of the cabinet will block your view.

This is an example of missing busbar brackets:

This is an example of installed busbar brackets:

This solution has no attachment