Sun Fire[TM] V60x/V65x Server: Boot Behavior After Power-On or Power Outage

Asset ID:	1-71-1001975.1
Update Date:	2011-05-19
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1001975.1 : Sun Fire[TM] V60x/V65x Server: Boot Behavior After Power-On or Power Outage

Applies to:

Sun Fire V60x Server - Version: Not Applicable and later [Release: N/A and later ]
Sun Fire V65x Server - Version: Not Applicable and later [Release: N/A and later]
All Platforms

Goal

Description
By default, the Sun Fire[TM] V60x/V65x Server goes to a Stand-By mode, after the AC Power is on or back (e.g. after an power outage). The server does not boot the Operating System in this mode.

In regards of high availability this is not the preferred behavior. This article explains the necessary requirements and how the default can be changed.

Solution

Steps to Follow
If the the Sun Fire V60x/V65x Server only goes to Stand-By mode, after the AC Power is on and this behavior should be changed, a special BIOS setting is required and the BIOS version needs to support it. For instance, BIOS version 1128 does not have this feature included.

To gather information about which BIOS version is currently installed, simply look up the first system messages screen when powering on the server manually, by using the small black power/sleep push button on the front (assuming display and keyboard are connected).

If only remote access is possible and Linux is loaded and running, use the following terminal command to collect the current BIOS version string ("#" represents the command prompt):

# dd if=/dev/mem bs=1k skip=768 count=256 2>/dev/null | strings -n 8 | grep SWV

This will give an output like this (line numbers added for clarity):

```
SWV25.86B.
1128
.P08.0310291543
```
```
INTEL   SWV25
```
```
SWV25 v10.01
```
```
_TG_SWV25
```

$IBIOSI$SWV25.86B.
1128
.P08.0310291543

The BIOS revision is displayed after the second dot in lines 1 and 5 (for instance. 1128 in the above example). Download the latest BIOS update and install if you are running an older version than the most recent release. To do this, follow the instructions in the README file which is included in the download.

Download the latest BIOS from Oracle Support

After the verification that the BIOS version is current, shut down the server and start again manually, using the following methods to configure the BIOS:

1a) If the server is connected with keyboard/monitor and personal access is possible: Use the small black power/sleep push button on the front and see the first system messages on the screen.

1b) If only remote access is possible: Use the Serial Over LAN (SOL) feature and Command Line Interface (CLI) via telnet with the commands 'power on' and 'console' to see the first system messages on the terminal window remotely.

2. Press the <F2> button to enter the BIOS.

3. The setting can be changed under: "BIOS SETUP UTILITY - Server - AC Link [Stays Off]". Set this to "Last state" or "Power On".

4. Escape the BIOS by saving the changes made.

The advantage of above changes is higher availability in case of an overall bad power situation.

NOTE: If overall power is always at 100%, investigating the cause of a failure may be more important than bringing the system up immediately. In such cases the "AC Link [Stays Off]" setting can be used.

Previously Published As 77443

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