Compaq AlphaStation XP1000 System LEDs and Beep Codes

LED and Beep Codes

Diagnostic LED and Beep Code Charts

The diagnostic LEDs are located near the upper left corner of the MLB. For the exact location, see the MLB illustration. There are two groups of LEDs; the top four are the Most Significant group, and the bottom four LEDs the Least Significant group.

If the operating system firmware does not start (AlphaBIOS or SRM), remove the cover and observe the LEDs on the MLB. Power cycle the machine, and watch the progress as codes are reused by the next firmware layer. By observation of the LED codes, determine whether POST has finished, and if code is from the next layer or not.

The following LED/Beep Code Charts are based upon the categories listed above:

'M' and L stand for "Most Significant" LED group and "Least Significant" LED group, respectively (from top to bottom as you view the LEDs on the MLB).
'1' indicates that the LED is on, and '0' indicates the LED is off.
Beep codes are shown only where applicable. Beep codes are presented in two series, separated by a one-second interval. Beeps within a series are separated by a one-half second interval. For example, a beep code shown below as "3,2" would be three beeps each separated by one-half second, a one second pause, then two beeps separated by a one-half second pause.

POST LED Codes

There are three categories of POST LED codes:

Informational Codes track the progress of POST execution. These are the normal power on progress codes.
Non-fatal Error codes may prevent the operating system from booting; the system may be operating at reduced capacity/performance.
Fatal Error codes represent errors too severe to allow the operating system to boot. The system will hang, and/or emit beep codes, and/or attempt to start a recovery diskette (look for the 1.44 MB diskette light after the beep codes).

POST Informational Codes

M	L	Meaning of the Code	Possible Cause Action to Repair
1101	1111	Processor initialized (hung w/no LED's on)	cpu & mlb dipsw, cpu J9@1-2, mlb J44@2-3, reseat cpu card
1101	1110	TIG bus init and test (LEDs now visible)	cpu & mlb dipsw, reseat CPU card, bad CPU card
1101	1101	Tsunami chip set init and test	cpu & mlb dipsw, reseat CPU card, bad CPU card
1101	1100	PCI init and test	mlb J28@1-2, reseat cpu card, bad pci card, bad cpu card or mlb
1101	1011	ISA bridge, super I/O init (beeps enabled)	Reseat CPU card, Bad PCI option, MLB malfunction
1101	1010	Memory sizing & DIMM param check	Reseat DIMMs, bad DIMM, unsupported DIMM type or size
1101	1001	Memory configuration (set up tsunami)	CPU card malfunction
1101	1000	Bcache data path test	cpu & mlb dipsw, reseat CPU card, bad CPU card
1101	0111	Bcache data march test	cpu & mlb dipsw, reseat CPU card, bad CPU card
1101	0110	Reserved
1101	0101	Reserved
1101	0100	Memory data path test	Reseat & match DIMMs in bank, bad DIMM
1101	0011	Memory Address test	Reseat & match DIMMs in bank, bad DIMM
1101	0010	Memory pattern test	Reseat & match DIMMs in bank, bad DIMM
1101	0001	Loading code from flash Rom to memory	Reseat CPU card, CPU or MLB malfunction
1101	0000	Control transfer to loaded code	Reseat CPU card, CPU or MLB malfunction

POST Non-Fatal Codes

M	L	Meaning of the Code	Beep Code	Possible Cause Action to Repair
1100	1111	loading code from 1.44 MB diskette		Implies bad ROM data, use flash recovery disk
1110	1111	set & measured CPU spd differ		Check CPU speed switches, MLB malfunction
1110	1110	Bcache Data disabled	1,1	CPU card malfunction
1110	1101	Bcache data lines test error	1,2	CPU card malfunction
1110	1100	Bcache data march test error	1,2	CPU card malfunction
1110	1011	Reserved
1110	1010	Reserved
1110	1001	Memory data path error	1,3	Reseat & match DIMMs in bank, bad DIMM
1110	1000	Memory address path error	1,3	Reseat & match DIMMs in bank, bad DIMM
1110	0111	Memory pattern test error	1,3	Reseat & match DIMMs in bank, bad DIMM
1110	0110	Memory array zero not usable	1,4	Check Array 0 DIMMS, Reseat DIMMs, Bad DIMM
1110	0101	DIMM compatibility error	2,1	Insure all DIMMs are of a supported type & vendor
1110	0100	ISA super IO chip error	2,2	Reseat CPU card, chk cables, PCI options, MLB malfunction
1110	0011	Real time clock error	2,3	MLB malfunction, try replacing lithium battery
1110	0010	Bad header in flash ROM image	2,4	Implies bad ROM data, use flash recovery disk
1110	0001	Chksum err in flash ROM image	2,5	Implies bad ROM data, use flash recovery disk
1110	0000	Error loading from 1.44 MB diskette	2,6	Reseat CPU card, chk cables, PCI options, MLB malfunction

POST Fatal Codes

M	L	Meaning of the Code	Beep Code	Possible Cause Action to Repair
1111	1111	Trap occurred	3,5	CPU card malfunction
1111	1110	CPU Built in Self Test error		CPU card malfunction
1111	1101	TIG bus verify error		CPU card malfunction
1111	1100	Illegal CPU speed switch setting		Check CPU speed switch settings
1111	1011	Tsunami init/verify error		CPU card malfunction
1111	1010	No usable memory detected	3,1	Reseat, match DIMMS, insure supported type & vendor & good
1111	1001	Flash ROM data path read error	3,2	Implies bad ROM data, use flash recovery disk
1111	1000	PCI data path error	3,3	Reseat CPU card, PCI options, MLB or CPU card malfunction
1111	0111	1.44 MB diskette driver error	3,4	Reseat CPU card, chk cables, PCI options, MLB malfunction
1111	0110	Reserved
1111	0101	Reserved
1111	0100	Reserved
1111	0011	Reserved
1111	0010	Reserved
1111	0001	Reserved
1111	0000	Reserved

SRM LED Code Chart for Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS Operating Systems

The SRM console resident in the Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS operating systems contain LED codes which will sequence after POST firmware passes control to the SRM firmware. After the user interface to the console starts on the selected console device (Com1, Com2, or the PC kbd/mouse and graphics device), these LEDs will appear as a countdown until the console prompt ">>>" appears. These codes are meant as a guideline only, and may change slightly in the future as needs arise.

Note: Generally a marginal DIMM or Bcache can cause console startup to fail at any point or crash. Also, most PCI devices are used for the first time during boot, and thus defective or unsupported devices can cause problems preventing SRM startup. Occasionally a bad MLB or CPU Daughter Card will be able to complete POST, but fail to start SRM.

M	L	Meaning of the Code	Possible Cause Action to Repair
1111	1111	starting console on each CPU
1111	1110	process queue hdrs init idle PCB
1111	1101	initializing semaphores
1111	1100	initializing heap
1111	1011	initial heap
1111	1010	memory low limit
1111	1001	initializing driver structures
1111	1000	initializing idle process PID
1111	0111	ph0 drivers -TOY, NVR, flash, IIC, IO chip
1111	0110	initializing timer data structures
1111	0101	lowering IPL - begin taking interrupts	Stuck intrpt, remove options 1 by 1, mlb, riser
1111	0100	entering idle loop
1110	1111	Init mem data structures
1110	1110	ph1 drivers - IIC, NVRAM
1110	1101	ph2 drivers - not used
1110	1100	Memory configuration, testing if enabled
1110	1011	Probe all busses (both PCI, ISA)	Check for bad or unsupported options
1110	1010	Initialize ISA Super IO chip	Check 1.44 MB diskette cable, MLB malfunction
1110	1001	Create HWRPB data structure
1110	1000	ph3 drivers-com1/2, tga/vga grphic, kbd	unsup grphic opt, bad kbd/mouse, try com1 9600-8n1
1110	0111	ph4 drivers - (no H/W) events, err log, protocols; the DIMMs themselves are also checked for compatibility.
1110	0110	drivers for all remaining supported H/W	Remove options 1 by 1or de-cable storage to isolate
1110	0101	power up script done if present
1110	0100	Initialize embedded sound hardware

When the LEDs are Not Lit, but the Power Light is On

If the power light on the front panel is on but no LEDs are lit, perform the following activities.

Make sure the front panel power button harness is connected properly to the MLB.
Check the DEP switches on CPU card and MLB.
Check MFG jumpers J9 (pin 1-2) on CPU and J44 (pin 2-3) on MLB.
Reseat the CPU.
Check the TIG bus; it spans the MLB and the CPU Daughter Card. Check the MLB first, then the CPU card.

Tips:

There may be a short in the system if the front panel power LED quickly changes from off, to on, then off after pressing the power button.
If the power button seems to be flashing, the ACPI sleep mode is on! Push and hold the system power button for more than 4 seconds.