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A P P E N D I X  B
BIOS Power-On Self-Test (POST) Codes

This appendix provides the following sections:

B.1 Introduction

The system BIOS provides a rudimentary power-on self-test. The basic devices required for the server to operate are checked, memory is tested, the controller and attached disks are probed and enumerated, and the two Intel dual-gigabit Ethernet controllers are initialized.

The progress of the self-test is indicated by a series of POST codes.

These codes are displayed at the bottom right corner of the system’s VGA screen when the self-test has progressed far enough to initialize the video monitor. However, the codes are displayed as the self-test runs and scroll off of the screen too quickly to be read. An alternate method of displaying the POST codes is to redirect the output of the console to a serial port (see Redirecting Console Output).

The message, BMC Responding is displayed at the end of POST.

B.2 How BIOS POST Memory Testing Works

The BIOS POST memory testing is performed as follows:

1. The first megabyte of DRAM is tested by the BIOS before the BIOS code is shadowed (that is, copied from ROM to DRAM).

2. Once executing out of DRAM, the BIOS performs a simple memory test (a write/read of every location with the pattern 55aa55aa).


Note - This memory test is performed only if Quick Boot is not enabled from the Boot Settings Configuration screen. Enabling Quick Boot causes the BIOS to skip the memory test. See Changing POST Options for more information.

3. The BIOS polls the memory controllers for both correctable and uncorrectable memory errors and logs those errors into the service processor.

B.3 Redirecting Console Output

Use these instructions to access the service processor and redirect the console output so that the BIOS POST codes can be read.


procedure icon  To Redirect Console Output

1. Connect a dongle cable to the server module UCP port.

2. Connect a monitor to the dongle cable video port and a keyboard to a USB port.

3. Power cycle or power on the server.

4. Initialize the BIOS Setup utility by pressing the F2 key while the system is performing the power-on self-test (POST).

The BIOS Main Menu screen appears.

5. Select Server.

The Server screen appears.

6. Select AST2000 LAN Configuration.

The LAN Configuration screen appears.

7. Select the IP Address menu item.

The service processor’s IP address is displayed

8. Start a web browser and type the service processor’s IP address in the browser’s URL field.

a. Type a user name and password as follows:

User name: root
Password: changeme

b. The ELOM Service Processor interface screen appears.

c. Click the Remote Control tab.

d. Click the Redirection tab.

e. Click on the Start Redirection button.

The javaRConsole window appears and prompts you for your user name and password again.

f. When you are prompted, type a user name and password as follows:

User name: root
Password: changeme

The current POST screen is displayed.

a. Type a user name and password as follows:

User name: root
Password: changeme

b. Click the Remote Control tab.

The Remote Control screen appears.

c. Click the Launch Redirection button.

The ILOM remote console appears.

d. When you are prompted, type a user name and password as follows:

User name: root
Password: changeme

The current POST screen is displayed.


Note - If the server module has an older version of the Linux operating system, or VMware with an older Linux kernel, you might need to change the mouse mode from absolute to relative. See the Sun Integrated Lights Out Manager 2.0 User’s Guide for details.

B.4 Changing POST Options

These instructions are optional, but you can use them to change the operations that the server performs during POST testing.


procedure icon  To Change POST Options

1. Initialize the BIOS Setup utility by pressing the F2 key while the system is performing the power-on self-test (POST).

The BIOS Main Menu screen appears.

2. Select the Boot menu.

The Boot Settings screen appears.

3. Select Boot Settings Configuration.

The Boot Settings Configuration screen appears.

4. On the Boot Settings Configuration screen, there are several options that you can enable or disable:

B.5 POST Codes

TABLE B-1 contains descriptions of each of the POST codes, listed in the same order in which they are generated. These POST codes appear as a four-digit string that is a combination of two-digit output from primary I/O port 80 and two-digit output from secondary I/O port 81. In the POST codes listed in TABLE B-1, the first two digits are from port 81 and the last two digits are from port 80.

The Response column describes the action taken by the system on encountering the corresponding error. The choices are:



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