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I have to manage / reinstall an ibm x3550 model 7978CBG server but it can't boot from cd.

I have put in the cd some bootable cd's such Centos 6 ( some flavors ) and Proxmox ve but the server does not boot.

I thought could be configuration / boot order issue, so I changed it in BIOS booting first from cd but until now there is no luck.

The system boots and shows an animation drawing a drive and a diskette suggesting you press F1 key.

I am not sure, but I believe I have no wrong disk configuration.

The system bios version is 1.09

I am searching redbooks, advice or a hand.

Thanks

CLOSED: drive detected as primary master, but it was broken

thanks to all.

ppk
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  • Which x3550? The original? What's the Machine Type? – MikeyB Jan 30 '13 at 16:51
  • @MikeyB IBM x3550 type 7978. – ppk Jan 30 '13 at 17:02
  • Are you sure the CD drive isn't broken or just dirty ? I know from experience they hardly ever get used on a server, until you need to re-install. If you got a can of compressed air try to blow any accumulated dust from the lens of the laser. That is often all it takes to get a long-time unused CD drive working again. – Tonny Jan 30 '13 at 23:06
  • @Tonny I think it's not broken, drive is displayed on boot and diagnostics test passed under diags menu. – ppk Jan 31 '13 at 00:03
  • This is not IBM-midrange, which refers to the lineage of the AS/400 family of systems. – WarrenT Jan 31 '13 at 04:20
  • @ppk Unless the diags really attempt to read a disk in the drive passed diags doesn't mean anything. The only way to check for a dirty lens is by actually reading a disk.. – Tonny Jan 31 '13 at 10:08
  • @Tonny the drive was clean, but it was broken. Thanks – ppk Feb 01 '13 at 09:51

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You BIOS version (and probably other firmware versions) are outdated. Current BIOS version is 1.17. Update might fix your issues.

Best method to update / install your server is to use UpdateXpress from IBM which is network booted.

You can temporarily select boot method by pressing F12 on IBM System x servers.

URL to get updates from: http://www.ibm.com/support (FixCentral)

Andrey Brindeyev
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  • Might be outdated, but so outdated that it can't boot from cd ? Going to update and check. Thanks – ppk Jan 31 '13 at 00:05