Hi,
I've been running my S1200BTS with a Xeon E3-1230 and 2 KVR1066D3E7S/4G (total 8G) with AHCI set now for 22 months without a problem. 1 month ago I reconfigured storage to use Intel Rapid Storage RAID 5. The server has been restarted succesfully many times in both configurations.
Deployment Details
CPU: Xeon E3-1230
Memory: 2 off KVR1066D3E7S/4G = 8G
Graphics: On board graphics used – ie. no additional graphics card is installed.
Time: 22 months continuous without Intel Rapid Storage
1 month continuous with Intel Rapid Storage in RAID 5 with Western Digital Red series HDDs.
Problem Description
BIOS Boot fails with Intel light diagnostics decoded to 0x15h (North Bridge PEI Module Starts).
Looking at rear of server board at the Intel Diagnsotic Lights [OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON].
Actions Prior to Problem Occurrence
Server shutdown to update BIOS.
Boot order in BIOS adjusted to ensure booting from USB. New BIOS configuration saved.
Server shutdown to commence booting from USB
Server restarted but fails POST with Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h
Recovery Steps Performed
- Reseated memory - Server restarted but fails POST with Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h
- Installed single Kingston KVR13E9/8I memory in Channel A-1 - Server restarted but fails POST with Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h
- Installed single Kingston KVR13E9/8I memory in Channel B-1 - Server restarted but fails POST with Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h
- Installed single Kingston KVR13E9/8I memory in Channels A2, B-2 - Server restarted but fails POST with Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h
- Removed memory – Server restarted but fails post with 3 long beeps (no memory) as expected.
- Reseated CPU and installed single Kingston KVR13E9/8I memory in Channel A-1 - Server restarted but fails POST with Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h
- Cleared CMOS memory - Server restarted but fails POST with Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h
- BIOS Recovery – placed BIOS recovery jumper in recovery position - Server restarted but fails to boot from USB and displays Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h. Used instructions from Intel Community, Service guide, BIOS readme and Product specs followed without success
How could changing the boot order produce an error so early in the BIOS boot sequence?
I've delved into the Intel architecture designs and read that the Pre-EFI initialisation (PEI) phases that are divided into North Bridge and South Bridge.
The North Bridge PEI consists of the Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) controlling main system memory and integrated graphics engine.
The South Bridge PEI consists of the I/O Controller Hub that controls I/O buses and devices. Algorithms and code to support functions of the I/O Controller Hub are designed to conform to industry specifications such as PCI-Sig and USB.” Indicating that it is necessary for South Bridge components to operate to recover BIOS from a USB drive.
Intel Diagnsotic Lights Code 0x15h is decoded as North Bridge PEI Module starts. The next error code in the sequence is South Bridge PEI Module starts (0x19).
This suggests that the USB drive cannot be reached in the BIOS sequence due to a failure sometime after the North Bridge PEI Module starts and hence my problem in recovering BIOS. I can only conclude that my S1200BTS MBO has failed and can't be recovered.
Any help would be appreciated.