Description
This alert or event is generated when a management module such as Remote Supervisor Adapter or ASM processor detects that the state of a system fan has changed with respect to its manufacturer-defined revolutions per minute (rpm) thresholds, but the precise fan instance cannot be determined.
Cooling is from front to rear, with air being inducted over the storage devices, blown over the electronic and power components, and vented through the rear of the system. For proper cooling of the system, all fans must be working properly; there are no backups for redundancy.
Fan speed is also monitored and managed by BMC (Baseboard Management Controller), and fan failure is reported through the logs in the BMC or RSA-II (Remote Supervisor Adapter). To ensure proper operations, keep the firmware and the device driver current. See the "Additional information" section below for the download location.
Causes
These are possible causes for this failure:
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An unidentified fan is defective.
"
The fan does not have the right voltage to operate.
"
An object got inside the fan and caused it to stop.
"
The fan is not connected or seated properly.
Implications
If one fan fails, the remaining fans in the system spin at their maximum speed to compensate for the loss. However, this response will not provide adequate long-term cooling. Therefore, to prevent the system from overheating, replace any failed fans as soon as possible.
Resolutions
1. Place a service call and shut down the system as soon as possible.
2.
Gather as much information about the failure as possible, and identify the fan.
"
Consult the Hardware Maintenance manual and Troubleshooting Guide.
"
Retain the full logs recorded by the systems management software (such
as IBM Director Server). Information in the logs such as the instance ID (or
Device ID), when available, can help you to identify the particular component
that experienced the problem.
3.
If you are a trained person and have the authority, open the system and take these actions:
"
Locate the fan.
"
Confirm that the fan's power cable is plugged in properly.
"
Check for any foreign objects around the fan, and make sure the fan is properly seated.
"
Disconnect or remove the fan.
"
Replace the fan or order a replacement.
NOTE: If you are investigating or replacing the fan while the system is running, do not keep the system open for a long period of time. Keeping the system open could impede system cooling, which requires a proper internal air flow.
Additional information
To find additional troubleshooting help, visit the "IBM Support & downloads" Web site, select "System x" for "Browse products for support" panel. At "Support & downloads quick start" page, select your product for "Choose your products", and "Troubleshooting" for "Choose your page", then select "View your page" for "See your results". To narrow the results, search with keywords that are related to this article, such as "fail", "Chassis", etc. in the "Search support" field at the right panel.
To download the latest firmware or drivers, visit the "Fix Central" Web site, select "System x" for "Product Group" (from the pull-down lists), select your product for "Product" (from the pull-down lists), select your product machine type for "Product" (from the pull-down lists), and select your operating system for "Operating system" (from the pull-down lists). You can refine the search by selecting the category of the download of your interest from the "Refine results" list.
To find the replacement part number (or the FRU number) for the component replacement, visit the "BladeCenter and System x Product Information - Servers" Web site, select your product from "IBM System x products" table. Then select "System service parts listing" for your product.
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