C240 M3 Fan Speed

[connorcouvy]

I recently got my hands on a c240 m3 server and the fans persist at 17K RPM. I have CIMC version 3.0(4o) and bios version 3.0.4e.0. The only PCIe card I have in it is an LSI Megaraid 9271-8i with firmware version: 3.400.05-3175. as far as I know everything is updated to the latest versions it can be, and the PCIe card is whitelisted by Cisco. All of the temps on the visible sensors are consistently 40C or lower, so I don't think temperature is an issue. Everything in CIMC also reads good, and physically everything looks plugged in and good. So at this point, I'm wondering what else is there to even look at.

[Marcelo Morais]

Hi @connorcouvy ,

1st please take a look at UCS C240 M3 Software Download, double check your software.

2nd please take a look at: UCS C240 M5 FAN speed over 12000 RPM.

Hope this helps !!!

[connorcouvy]

Is there any software in particular I should check?

[Marcelo Morais]

Hi @connorcouvy ,

 as an example:

in Release Notes for Cisco UCS Rack Server Software, Release 3.0(4).

Hope this helps !!!

[connorcouvy]

I got the software updated so everything is current across the board. I checked all of the temp sensors and they are all around 20C. but the fans are still pinned at 17k RPM which is max speed. Anything else you think could be an issue?

[Marcelo Morais]

Hi @connorcouvy ,

 software is good ... temperature is good ... my recommendation is to open a TAC Case to perform a RCA of the 17K RPM.

Best regards.

[connorcouvy]

reading back into my tech support bundle I found a line saying "Front Panel sensor data unavailable, set fan speed window to 100" and above that it reads "Sensor Number: 67, Unavailable for 11316 ticks" I don't know if those two correlate but I also just now noticed that my front KVM plug on the physical server itself is missing. so does any of this correlate at all and do you know what front panel sensor it is talking about?

[Marcelo Morais]

Hi @connorcouvy ,

 I didn't find anything specific regarding the problem.

 If the problem is related to the HW (like issues with the Fan Sensor), unfortunately UCS C240 M3 Rack Server Last Date of HW Support was December 31, 2021, so no TAC support.

Please take a look at the following, maybe you will find something that can be changed manually:

Cisco UCS C-Series Servers Integrated Management Controller GUI Configuration Guide for C22 M3, C24 M3, C220 M3 and C240 M3 Servers, Release 3.0 - Managing Server

search for: Configuring Fan Policies.

Cisco UCS C-Series Servers Integrated Management Controller GUI Configuration Guide for C22 M3, C24 M3, C220 M3 and C240 M3 Servers, Release 3.0 - Viewing Sensors

search for: Viewing Fan Sensors.

Cisco UCS C240 M3 High-Density Rack Server

search for: Chassis Front View.

Hope this helps !!!

[Elliot Dierksen]

Is sounds like there is a problem with the connection from the motherboard to the front panel. The shipping costs depend on where you live, but I suspect you could get a bare bones M3 chassis from eBay for minimal expense and switch out the front panel connections, or move some of you parts to the new chassis. I have had success doing this in the past.

[connorcouvy]

I believe it’s the KVM port causing the issue because it is missing, do you know where it plugs into the motherboard, and if there’s a way to fool the system in thinking it’s plugged in. 

[Elliot Dierksen]

Sorry, not as far as I know. I retired all my M3 hardware 5+ years ago and gave it away.