Preface: Dell PowerEdge 8450 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Back to Contents Page

Preface: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 8450 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

About This Guide • Other Documentation You May Need • Notational Conventions • Typographical Conventions

About This Guide

This guide is intended for anyone who wants to upgrade or troubleshoot a Dell PowerEdge 8450 computer system. Before calling Dell for technical assistance, follow the recommended procedure(s) in this guide to solve most hardware and software problems yourself. The chapters and appendixes are summarized as follows:

Introduction — overview of the system's service features.
Checking the Basics — initial checks and procedures used to solve basic system problems and information on more detailed troubleshooting procedures to solve more complex problems.
Messages and Codes — system messages, system codes, warning messages, diagnostics messages, alert log messages, and small computer system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drive indicator codes.
Finding Software Solutions — software-related problems or problems after testing the computer's hardware.
Running the Dell Diagnostics — hardware-related problems.
Checking the Equipment and Checking Inside the Computer — troubleshooting procedures for equipment connected to the input/output (I/O) panel of the computer and components inside the computer, respectively. Checking Inside the Computer also provides information on removing the computer covers.
Installing System Options and Installing Drives — installation or removal of system components, such as dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), microprocessors, expansion cards, and SCSI devices.
Getting Help — help tools Dell provides to assist with computer problems and explanations on how and when to call Dell for technical assistance. Also includes a Diagnostics Checklist that you can copy and fill out as you perform the troubleshooting procedures. If you need to call Dell for technical assistance, use the completed checklist to tell the Dell technical support representative what procedures you performed to better help the representative give you assistance. If you must return a piece of hardware to Dell, include a filled-out checklist.
Jumpers, Switches, and Connectors — jumper or switch settings to change when troubleshooting the system or adding internal options.
Rack Installation Instructions — detailed instructions for installing the system in a rack.
Abbreviations and Acronyms — abbreviations and acronyms used throughout this guide and in other Dell documentation for the system.

Other Documentation You May Need

Besides this Installation and Troubleshooting Guide, the following documentation is included with your system:

The Dell PowerEdge 8450 Systems User's Guide, which describes system features and technical specifications, video and SCSI device drivers, the system setup program, software support utilities, and the System Setup Utility.

The HP OpenView NNM Special Edition With Dell OpenManage HIP User's Guide, which describes the features, requirements, installation, and basic operation of the server management software. Refer to the software's online help for information about the alert messages issued by the software.

You may also have one or more of the following documents.

NOTE: Documentation updates are sometimes included with the system to describe changes to the system or software. Always read these updates before consulting any other documentation because the updates often contain information that supersedes the information in the other documents.

Operating system documentation is included with the system if you ordered the operating system software from Dell. This documentation describes how to install (if necessary), configure, and use the operating system software.
Documentation is included with any options you purchase separately from the system. This documentation includes information that you need to configure and install these options in your Dell computer.
Technical information files—sometimes called "readme" files—may be installed on the hard-disk drive to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to the system or advanced technical reference material intended for experienced users or technicians.

Notational Conventions

The following subsections list notational conventions used in this document.

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings

Throughout this guide, blocks of text may be accompanied by an icon and printed in bold type or in italic type. These blocks are notes, cautions, and warnings, and they are used as follows:

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your system.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

WARNING: A WARNING indicates the potential for bodily harm and tells you how to avoid the problem.

Some warnings may appear in alternate formats and may be unaccompanied by an icon. In such cases, the specific presentation of the warning is mandated by regulatory authority.

Typographical Conventions

The following list defines (where appropriate) and illustrates typographical conventions used as visual cues for specific elements of text throughout this document:

Interface components are window titles, button and icon names, menu names and selections, and other options that appear on the monitor screen or display. They are presented in bold.

Example: Click OK.

Keycaps are labels that appear on the keys on a keyboard. They are enclosed in angle brackets.

Example: <Enter>

Key combinations are series of keys to be pressed simultaneously (unless otherwise indicated) to perform a single function.

Example: <Ctrl><Alt><Enter>

Commands presented in lowercase bold are for reference purposes only and are not intended to be typed when referenced.

Example: "Use the format command to . . . ."

In contrast, commands presented in the Courier New font are part of an instruction and intended to be typed.

Example: "Type format a: to format the diskette in drive A."

Filenames and directory names are presented in lowercase bold.

Examples: autoexec.bat and c:\windows

Syntax lines consist of a command and all its possible parameters. Commands are presented in lowercase bold; variable parameters (those for which you substitute a value) are presented in lowercase italics; constant parameters are presented in lowercase bold. The brackets indicate items that are optional.

Example: del [drive:] [path] filename [/p]

Command lines consist of a command and may include one or more of the command’s possible parameters. Command lines are presented in the Courier New font.

Example: del c:\myfile.doc

Screen text is a message or text that you are instructed to type as part of a command (referred to as a command line). Screen text is presented in the Courier New font.

Example: The following message appears on your screen:

No boot device available

Example: "Type md c:\programs and press <Enter>."

Variables are placeholders for which you substitute a value. They are presented in italics.

Example: DIMM_x (where x represents the DIMM socket designation).

Back to Contents Page