screen is black

[noorkoteb]

im trying to run a ibm x3650 7979 server i had a problem with the raid a few hours ago but that was fixed after rebooting once or twice the screen went black D: no errors show up in the light path diagnostic all parts seem to be working well but the screen has nothing on it its just asleep i tried a different screen still didn't work what part is in charge of the screen in a server what could be the problem? also id like to add that i updated the Bios firmware and raid firmware not sure if that has anything to do with it and if so how could i fix that

 

[mfenn]

Try turning the server all the way off and removing power for 30 seconds. Then reapply power and see if it boots correctly.

 

[XavierMace]

Are you using the front or rear VGA port? And did this occur immediately after the BIOS update or did it boot successfully after the BIOS update?

 

[noorkoteb]

so i tried the pulling the power then reconnecting nothing happened.

i tried the rear and front neither one is working. the bios did boot successfully a few times before this happened the system seems to be working.
i'm getting no errors in the light path diagnostics.

 

[Ketchup]

Have you tried to remote into it since this started?

In other words; is it not booting, or just not giving a video signal?

 

[noorkoteb]

I Don't Know what you mean by "remote into it" i'm assuming you mean connecting through my network to it. I don't know how to do that, and don't think i set something up for that.

i think its booting correctly i'm not sure but i don't see any errors in the light path diagnostics. I don't get video signal since i start the system. The screen just never turns on iv'e tried multiple monitors.

 

[Ketchup]

How about different video cables?

And yes, since it's a server, I assumed you would have a remote connection to it.

 

[noorkoteb]

yea the other monitor had a different cable which i know works.

 

[Burpo]

If video has failed, they're cheap to replace.. <$100 on ebay for a whole server..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-System-...160587?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item4d1e70570b
or <$100 for just a board
http://www.serverworlds.com/ibm-x3650-system-board-43w8250/

IF you're in the states..

 

[noorkoteb]

what are reasons for video failure?
also would a used system board off ebay also work or does it have to be new?

 

[ultimatebob]

An even cheaper solution would be a throw a cheap low profile PCI Express video card in there and use that for video.

Besides the video output, does the system boot up? If you had an OS installed before the system failed, do the hard drive lights look like it's trying to load the OS from disk?

 

[Burpo]

If you're comfortable with installing a board, there seems to be quite a few on ebay.. Buy from a seller w/good feedback.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-xSeries...96144?pt=US_Server_Boards&hash=item4d2ac773b0

 

[Ketchup]

What was the condition of the server when you got it? Did it come with any kind of warranty? You aren't going to find a new motherboard for that, but a good used one should work, assuming that is the problem. Hard to tell how far it is getting without video output.

Do the fans ever spin down?

 

[noorkoteb]

it doesn't have a warranty it came used from a n ebay seller same one in the link up there it ran really good for months. It might be the condition im running the server in isn't correct im not in a data center. I run this thing at home. what do you mean "do the fans spin down" the fans work i know that

i feel that it is actually working the drives are blinking the fans are working normally and the system realizes when there is something wrong. It might just be video i might try the pci card because i don't want to install a board, but is there a way to make sure

what kind of pci card should i get i don't know what a pci does too XD can you please tell me im kinda a noob when it comes to this
if the pci doesn't work i might replace the board

 

[mfenn]

If you just bought the server, I'd contact the seller and see if you can send it back for a refund/replacement.

 

[noorkoteb]

i didn't just buy it ive been running it for a few months i don't believe the seller sold it with an issue

 

[Burpo]

Any low profile card with VGA port (so you don't have to change cable)..
example
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-Nvidia-...164?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item339c204efc

 

[ultimatebob]

Any low profile card with VGA port (so you don't have to change cable)..
example
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-Nvidia-...164?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item339c204efc

It looked like that system only has x16 PCI Express slots, so you'll need one in that form factor.

But yeah, that card should work.

 

[Ketchup]

So possibly a silly question noorkoteb, but why do have have such a machine? Just learning with it, or do you have it for a specific task?

Before you start throwing money into it, you may want to check the service manuals for this machine. I believe this is yours:
http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5070426#6
For example, take the top cover off (if you haven't already) and see what the status of the motherboard LEDs is.

You could always get a PCI riser card, but that may be more than you want to spend.

Also, I don't know if you saw this, but there may be some ideas for you here:
https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/...topic?id=77777777-0000-0000-0000-000014833058

 

[ultimatebob]

So possibly a silly question noorkoteb, but why do have have such a machine? Just learning with it, or do you have it for a specific task?

Before you start throwing money into it, you may want to check the service manuals for this machine. I believe this is yours:
http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5070426#6
For example, take the top cover off (if you haven't already) and see what the status of the motherboard LEDs is.

You could always get a PCI riser card, but that may be more than you want to spend.

Also, I don't know if you saw this, but there may be some ideas for you here:
https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/...topic?id=77777777-0000-0000-0000-000014833058

He said that he already checked the Lightpath diagnostics and said that they aren't pointing to a specific issue.

Good question, though... What are you using this server for?

 

[Ketchup]

He said that he already checked the Lightpath diagnostics and said that they aren't pointing to a specific issue.

Good question, though... What are you using this server for?

Yes, any lights on the board should result in a light on the Light path diagnostics panel IIRC, but thought I would mention it JIK.

 

[noorkoteb]

I have taken the cover off multiple times i know what most of it is but i dont know where i could find that light for video on the board.

the reason i have this server is because i needed a cheap way to build my minecraft server before hosting it im trying to make a big server with 10 different types of servers(towny,factions,mini-games,etc...) so to build all this i didn't want to pay a lot of money hosting when i'm getting no donations to keep the hosting up so i bought this server my team and I have been working on it for months worked really good we were also very close to finishing when this happened i backed up everything to a flash drive lucky.

I found a PCI card but it has no VGa or any output i don't know what that's for

regarding the link of that pci above are all pci's the same what i mean is will it fit in the server's pci or is this special?

another thing does it need drivers? because how will i install the drivers with no screen?

 

[ultimatebob]

I have taken the cover off multiple times i know what most of it is but i dont know where i could find that light for video on the board.

the reason i have this server is because i needed a cheap way to build my minecraft server before hosting it im trying to make a big server with 10 different types of servers(towny,factions,mini-games,etc...) so to build all this i didn't want to pay a lot of money hosting when i'm getting no donations to keep the hosting up so i bought this server my team and I have been working on it for months worked really good we were also very close to finishing when this happened i backed up everything to a flash drive lucky.

I found a PCI card but it has no VGa or any output i don't know what that's for

regarding the link of that pci above are all pci's the same what i mean is will it fit in the server's pci or is this special?

another thing does it need drivers? because how will i install the drivers with no screen?

No, there are several different types of PCI slots. In your case, it looks like you need a low profile x16 PCI Express for your replacement video card. Otherwise, the card won't fit.

It will need drivers once you're booted into Windows, but it should work as a low resolution VGA card until you install them.

 

[Ketchup]

If you want to try a new video card for the pci-express slots, something like this should work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133372
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814139069

If you are ok with a used card, the one Burpo mentioned should also work.

 

[Ketchup]

I hope you got a good price on it. Because for your use you could build a machine a lot faster than a 7-year-old Xeon (so a Xeon version of a Core 2) with 2 GB or memory for not much, and would be a lot cheaper to work with when you encounter problems. And I do hope the video is all it is, but if you find other issues like with the 2 GB ECC DDR2 or the SAS drives, it may not be worth the investment for your purpose.