C220 M3 Fan speed

[jonansoz]

Hi all,

We have our new C220v2 M3 server in our LAB rack and we can hear the fans constantly going from about 10% to 40% RPM.

Any ideas what's happening?

There is no load on the box and it's constantly doing this. 

Josh

[Keny Perez]

The fans speed may vary depending on the PCIe cards installed and the fan policy configured plus the internal temperature.

A show tech is needed to get a more accurate answer.

-Kenny

[csrlima]

Hi all , i have one customer with this problem too since i install it ( 8 months ago):The fans make a big noise out of the ordinary, as if the server was always  booting. For about 15 seconds the noise increases and then slows, increases and slows down, always like a loop. I Made software upgrade to the latest version 2.0 (6) ucs-c220-hoo-2.0.6d.iso and the problem keeps. My question is whether this is a normal and known problem and can lead to more serious damage server.  The customer dont like this noiseThe temperature of the room is good and the temperature sensors and fans are all ok.

The client hates the noise because it has a small rack near the center of the room, and all we feel uncomfortable with this noise.The  worst is that he is afraid that the server is not good and malfunctioning and stops at any time and stop all his video solution .

Best Regards

[jchavesd]

Do you know by any chance if the customer can access or Ping CIMC when the fans increase the RPMs?

[csrlima]

Hi , yes , i was there testing and always connected to cimc (ssh and https)  , and i saw rpm's status , and fan status in real time. This noise is always present like a loop increase sound during more or less 15s , than decrease to almost nothing in 5s and then increase again.

Regards

[jchavesd]

Can you tell me which Firmware version is CIMC running?

[csrlima]

 I Made software upgrade to the latest version 2.0 (6)

[jchavesd]

Could you please check through the tech support files from CIMC the Fan Policy.

File: 'mnt\jffs2\fan_policy.txt'

If the value is 10 means  that the policy is set to "LOW_POWER"

The standard policies are set to the following values irrespective of all platforms:
 
#define FSC_POLICY_LOW_POWER   10  
#define FSC_POLICY_BALANCED   20
#define FSC_POLICY_PERFORMANCE 30
#define FSC_POLICY_HIGH_POWER 40#define FSC_POLICY_MAX_POWER   50

Balanced is the default policy.
 
--> Low Power Policy
Used for running the SPECpower benchmark, and low configuration systems that do not contain PCIe cards that cannot be monitored.
If PCIe cards that cannot be monitored are present, this policy will behave the same as the “Balanced” policy.
If there are no PCIe cards or if the PCIe cards that are present can be monitored, this policy will behave the same as the “Balanced” policy, except:
•    At low ambient temperatures the fans will run as slowly as possible, even potentially stopping completely.
•    Will cool the CPUs more when they are under heavy load if needed for optimal SPECpower results.
•    Will use a higher ‘idle CPU temperature’ if needed for optimal SPECpower results.

[csrlima]

Hi , i forgot to refer that , but i change the fan policy set from default " balanced" to "low-power" but for now the behaviour seems the same ( same noise).

[jchavesd]

Any option to set it up again to Balanced and power cycle the Server?

I will keep looking this issue but at the moment Let me know if this is an option.

Please rate ALL useful answers

[Keny Perez]

Just like I posted it in my initial post:

"The fan's speed may vary depending on the PCIe cards installed and the fan policy configured plus the internal temperature.

A show tech is needed to get a more accurate answer."

If the room temperature is fine and the rack where the server is has the proper doors and space between racks so that the air can properly flow, your next option is to open a TAC case.

-Kenny

[Reuben Farrelly]

Can you clarify which fans are constantly running?  Case/chassis fans or PSU fans?  Reason I am asking is that I have a TAC case open right now for PSU fans running abnormally higher than they should even at low temperatures, while the case fans run quietly (as expected).  So if you are seeing the same behaviour as me I would be very very interested to know.

You may also find that the case fans tend to rev up a lot once the Front Panel temperature sensor gets to 30 degrees Celsius.  So even if the rest of the case is cool the case fans will start to really speed up once the ambient temperature at that location goes past that magic threshold.  There are other factors and sensors as well that trigger increased fan speeds.

But anyway like Kenny has suggested we really need a show tech to know what temperatures your server is recording and what speeds the fans are running to know if it's normal or not.