Dell server won't boot

[drjones]

Hi, have a client with an old Dell PowerEdge 1800, server 2003.

It's their old server; they have two others that replaced it, but one of the people in the office needs to get a file off this old box.

I had her plug it back in to power, and it seems like she may have overloaded a circuit because she said a bunch of other stuff shut off but then immediately came back on.

The server won't boot. The green power indicator on the front just blinks steadily, the ethernet on the back shows green, and I can feel air coming out of the PSU fan, but it just won't boot.

Dell's site says that means the system is in "standby mode" - wtf?

It has been unplugged & sitting in its cage for almost a year now. I have tried pulling all power & letting it sit, hold the power button down, etc, but no help.

How can I get this to boot? Did something maybe get fried when she plugged it into the power strip?

Thanks

 

[compnet]

If you just need files off, can't you plug the HDD in to another computer??

I think some of the motherboards I order come with basic power on trouble shooting, maybe you could find a helpful pamphlet like that on the interwebs if you want to get the server going.

Not trying to be a dick... but so far you've pretty much posted -

"Server won't turn on, I unplugged it and plugged it back in, and then held the power button! HALP!"

 

[altrenda]

Is it blinking green or amber?
Amber means bad psu.

 

[NYJimbo]

one of the people in the office needs to get a file off this old box.

Pull the drive, slave it and find the file. Do you really want to bring a dead machine back to life just to grab a file ?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If it's a Dell 1800....it is a larger server, these usually had RAID controllers with multiple SCSI drives attached and setup in volumes. So it's not as simple as yanking a drive from a desktop computer and slaving it. If it was a Dell SC800 server..basically a glorified dimension desktop...yeah, probably just has PATA drives. But an 1800 was a bigger boy that ran SCSI and I think later models some SAS. (basically it's an old old server).

Now....if they have some other Dell servers..you can take the RAID controller out....along with the drives, keep them in order...attach (slave) that setup on another working server...and similar to slaving a desktop HDD...you've slaved another RAID volume..and can go in and pluck what you need.

But first, with this dead server...I'd run through basic troubleshooting steps. Reseat connections, does it have redundant power supplies? if so, yank 'n reset, swap, remove each. Reseat memory, reseat the RAID controller, all HDD connections, molex, if they're hot swap drives reseat them too.

 

[drjones]

If it's a Dell 1800....it is a larger server, these usually had RAID controllers with multiple SCSI drives attached and setup in volumes. So it's not as simple as yanking a drive from a desktop computer and slaving it. If it was a Dell SC800 server..basically a glorified dimension desktop...yeah, probably just has PATA drives. But an 1800 was a bigger boy that ran SCSI and I think later models some SAS. (basically it's an old old server).

Now....if they have some other Dell servers..you can take the RAID controller out....along with the drives, keep them in order...attach (slave) that setup on another working server...and similar to slaving a desktop HDD...you've slaved another RAID volume..and can go in and pluck what you need.

But first, with this dead server...I'd run through basic troubleshooting steps. Reseat connections, does it have redundant power supplies? if so, yank 'n reset, swap, remove each. Reseat memory, reseat the RAID controller, all HDD connections, molex, if they're hot swap drives reseat them too.

Yes this....I'm about 99% sure it has some form of RAID.

Honestly, this isn't a critical issue so I think I may just tell her she's SOL. I don't think the file she needs is worth all this trouble. If it was something simple, then maybe...if the server fires back up after being unplugged from electricity over the weekend, she's in luck...otherwise.....sorry...

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If it was something simple, then maybe...if the server fires back up after being unplugged from electricity over the weekend, she's in luck...otherwise.....sorry...

It often is something simple....it's common for servers..that have been running 24x7 for years on end, to have issues powering back up if they've been shut down for a bit. Typically not a big deal, sometimes thermal creep causes a connection get weird, or a RAID volume kicks offline...just has to be forced back online. Usually a component didn't go up and die....just make take a little bit of simple coaxing to get her back up. It's common..shouldn't be a show stopper.

Err...how about restoring from backups of this server? There were backups....yes?

 

[TenYardFight]

Yes this....I'm about 99% sure it has some form of RAID.

Honestly, this isn't a critical issue so I think I may just tell her she's SOL. I don't think the file she needs is worth all this trouble. If it was something simple, then maybe...if the server fires back up after being unplugged from electricity over the weekend, she's in luck...otherwise.....sorry...

Dr Jones, please do these very quick suggestions and report back how it goes. I'm curious. If not, why post at all?

 

[LandonTech]

I know I'm late answering this, but I would also suggest to call Dell server support. Regardless if the Dell server is in or out of warranty Dell will provide phone support to you at no cost. They are the experts and I always rely on their expertise in these delicate situations. Also, whenever a client is keeping an old or retired server, we always make sure the server power cables are connected to an outlet, battery backup etc, so power is trickling to it. Keeping electricity trickling to it will keep the raid controller battery and cmos battery charged. Good luck.

 

[HankArnold]

Definitely call Dell Support

I know I'm late answering this, but I would also suggest to call Dell server support. Regardless if the Dell server is in or out of warranty Dell will provide phone support to you at no cost. They are the experts and I always rely on their expertise in these delicate situations. Also, whenever a client is keeping an old or retired server, we always make sure the server power cables are connected to an outlet, battery backup etc, so power is trickling to it. Keeping electricity trickling to it will keep the raid controller battery and cmos battery charged. Good luck.

I agree 1000% about calling Dell support. I remember the first time I called on an out of date server and the tech was very friendly and told me that phone support was still free and I would be charged only if there were parts or on-site service needed. This, coupled with the level of expertise, is the main reason I still recommend Dell servers over HP. I can't recall a single problem that wasn't resolved in a single call (at no charge).