Procedure: Understanding the system status from the LEDs: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2

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To determine the system status using the LED indicators on the node, use this procedure.

About this task

The system status LEDs, which are visible on the front of the node, can show one of several states, as described in Table 1.

A detailed view of the system state is provided in the Monitoring sections of the management GUI and by the service assistant. If neither the management GUI nor the service assistant is accessible, use this procedure to determine the system status using the LED indicators on the node.

Table 1. LED state descriptions used in the node
State description Detail
Off The LED is continuously not lit.
Flashing slowly The LED turns on and off at a frequency of 1 Hz: It is on for 500 ms, then off for 500 ms, then repeats.
Flashing The LED turns on and off at a frequency of 2 Hz: It is on for 250 ms, then off for 250 ms, then repeats.
Flashing fast The LED turns on and off at a frequency of 4 Hz: It is on for 125 ms, then off for 125 ms, then repeats.
On The LED is continuously lit.
Blinking The LED is lit to indicate some activity, then turns off. The rate and duration that the LED is lit depends on the rate and duration of the activity.

Procedure

Complete the following steps to understand when a node canister is not participating in the system, and what remedial action to take.

  1. Identify the nodes for the system you are troubleshooting.
  2. Use Table 2 to check the status of each power supply unit (PSU) in a node.
    Table 2. Understanding the power supply unit LEDs
    LED state Action
    Fault (amber) AC power (green)
    On (any) Replace the power supply unit. To replace a PSU, see Removing and replacing a power supply unit: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.
    Off On The power supply is functioning normally, providing power to the enclosure.
    Replace the power supply unit. To replace a PSU, see Removing and replacing a power supply unit: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.
    Off Replace the power supply unit. To replace a PSU, see Removing and replacing a power supply unit: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.
    The power supply is not receiving power from the power outlet through the power cord. To power on the system, connect the power supply to an outlet in use for the power cord and turn on the power outlet.
  3. If at least one PSU is providing power to the node, use Table 3 to check the status of the node canister in that enclosure.
    Table 3. Understanding the node canister status LEDs
    LED state Description
    Power (green) Fault (amber)
    Off (any) Power is not being provided by any power supply unit (PSU) in the node, or power is coming from the battery in the canister.

    If at least one PSU is powering the enclosure, the canister or the node midplane might be faulty.

    It is likely that the enclosure midplane is faulty. Reseat the node canister. For information on reseating a node canister, see Removing and replacing the node canister in the node: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.

    If the condition persists, the node canister might need to be replaced. For more information, see Removing and replacing a faulty node canister: SAN Volume Controller 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.

    Flashing slowly Power is available, but the canister is powered off. The main CPU is not running.

    Restart the node canister. For information on restarting a node canister, see Removing and replacing the node canister in the node: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.

    Flashing fast The node canister is doing a self test during start-up.

    Wait for the canister to complete its start-up sequence.
    On Off The node canister is in standby mode. The system software is not running.

    It is safe to remove or reseat the canister, as described in Removing and replacing the node canister in the node: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.
    The node canister is in candidate state. The node is not doing I/O in the system.
    Unless indicated by the battery status LED, it is safe to reseat the canister. See Table 4.

    If the node canister is in candidate state, determine whether you must recover the system or create a new system.
    The node is doing an emergency shutdown operation, using the battery for power, after detecting a loss of power from the power supply units.

    Wait for the emergency shutdown operation to complete. There was most likely a loss of input power to both node power supply units and the system restarts when the input power is restored. Otherwise, there might be a fault the node canister, node midplane, or power supply units.
    The system software is running, and the node canister is participating in the system.

    The canister must not be removed.

    This is the normal operational LED state.
    On Flashing The node canister is in standby mode. The system software is not running.

    It is safe to remove or reseat the canister.
    The Identify function for this canister has been activated. To determine if it is safe to remove the canister, use the management GUI or service assistant to turn off the Identify function, then check the node canister status LEDs again.
    On Flashing The Identify function for this canister has been activated.

    The node is doing an emergency shutdown operation, using the battery for power, after detecting a loss of power from the power supply units.

    Wait for the emergency shutdown operation to complete. There was most likely a loss of input power to both node power supply units and the system restarts when the input power is restored. Otherwise, there might be a fault in the power supply units or the node canister.
    On Flashing The Identify function for this canister was activated.

    To determine if it is safe to remove the canister, use the management GUI or service assistant to turn off the Identify function, then check the node canister status LEDs, again.
    On On The system software is not running. The BIOS might have detected a fault.

    It is safe to remove or reseat the canister.

    Try reseating the canister, as described in Removing and replacing the node canister in the node: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.

    If the canister still shows this fault, replace the node canister. For information on replacing a node canister, see Removing and replacing a faulty node canister: SAN Volume Controller 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.

    On On The node is in service state. It is safe to remove or reseat the canister.
    See Table 4 to determine whether the battery charge is insufficient.

    Use the service assistant to identify any node errors or to determine what to do, see Node errors.

    If the node is able to communicate with the configuration node, there might also be an error alert in the system event log, in which case you should run the associated fix procedure.
    On On The node is in service state.

    There is a code update in progress.

    The canister must not be removed.

    No action is required until the code update completes.
    On On The software is running but there might be an error alert in the event log, such as error code 550.

    The canister must not be removed.

    If possible, go to the management GUI and run the fix procedure for the error alerts listed there. If this is not possible, refer to the service actions for node error 550.
    Table 4. Understanding the node canister battery status LEDs
    LED state Description
    Fault (amber) Status (green)
    On On A battery fault exists that caused the node canister to do an emergency shutdown operation (storing its cache data to the system disk). The node canister is in service state or is going into service state. The service assistant shows a node error.

    Replace the battery in the node canister. For information on replacing a battery in the node canister, see Removing and replacing the node canister battery: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.
    On Off A battery fault exists that caused the node canister to shut down to service state. There was insufficient power in the battery or the supply for the node canister to do an emergency shutdown operation. The service assistant shows a node error.

    Replace the battery in the node canister. For information on replacing a battery in the node canister, see Removing and replacing the node canister battery: 2145-SV2 and 2145-SA2.
    Off Flashing fast The battery is charging and has insufficient charge to protect against a single AC loss. The node is held in service state with a fatal node error until the battery has charged.
    Flashing The battery has sufficient charge to complete one emergency shutdown operation.

    This state does not prevent the canister from participating in the system.

    The battery continues to charge until it is able to complete two emergency shutdown operations. No action is necessary.
    On The battery is optimally charged, such that the node canister is able to complete two emergency shutdown operations.

    This state does not prevent the canister from participating in the system. The canister continues to manage the battery charge.

    No action is necessary.