Apple mac pro server mid 2010 User Manual

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 31 2010-12-06
Resetting the Parameter RAM (PRAM)
To reset PRAM:
1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
2.  Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to 
hold these keys down simultaneously in Step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4.  Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. 
Important: You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the 
second time.
6.  Release the keys.
For more information:
http://www.apple.com/support
HT1379—Resetting your Mac’s PRAM and VRAM 
Starting Up in Safe Mode
A Safe Boot is a special way to start Mac OS X when troubleshooting. To start up into Safe Mode 
(Safe Boot): 
1. Make sure the computer is shut down.
2.  Press the power button.
3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, press and hold the Shift key.
Note: The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone but not 
before.
4.  Release the Shift key when you see the screen with the gray Apple and progress indicator 
(looks like a spinning gear). During startup, ”Safe Boot” appears on the Mac OS X startup 
screen. To leave Safe Mode, restart the computer normally, without holding down any keys 
during startup.
For more information:
http://www.apple.com/support
HT1564—What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? 
TS1884—Safe Boot take longer than normal startup   
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 32 2010-12-06
Real Time Clock (RTC) Reset
The Real Time Clock (RTC) is a chip on the backplane board that controls the date and time 
functions of the computer. Resetting the RTC may resolve booting issues.
1. From the Apple menu, choose Shut Down (or if the computer is not responding, hold the 
power button until it turns off ).
2.  Unplug the AC power cord.
3. Remove the battery for at least 20 seconds. You may need to remove a PCI Express card to 
have access to the battery. 
Alternatively, you can use the RTC reset button (small button located next to the battery). Press 
the button for one second when the computer is shut down but still connected to AC power.
Power-On Self Test: RAM and Processor Verification
When the computer is started up after being fully shut down, a self test in the computer’s ROM 
is automatically run. ( The test is not run if the computer is only restarted.) If the test detects a 
problem, the status LED (located above the power button on the front of the computer) flashes 
in the following ways*: 
• 1 Flash: No RAM is installed or detected or the quick memory test failed. An LED will light up 
on the processor board next to the affected DIMM or empty DIMM slot.
• 3 Flashes: A RAM bank failed extended memory testing. An LED will light up on the 
processor board corresponding to the affected DIMM.
Troubleshooting: Try reseating the memory DIMMs. Check memory installation instructions for 
proper installation order. Swap affected DIMM with known good DIMM.
*Note: The status LED lights up when the power button is depressed at startup. Do not count 
this light as one of the diagnostic flashes. The memory processor board diagnostic LEDs also 
flash briefly startup and shut down and when the computer goes in and out of sleep mode. 
This is normal behavior.  
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 33 2010-12-06
Minimum Configuration Testing
The following procedure can help you troubleshoot a “No Power” or other startup related 
symptom.
The method gradually builds up the system from a minimum configuration and verifies 
expected behaviors at each step. This approach helps determine which modules function 
together. The goal is to identify which module(s) cause a symptom to recur when they are 
added. This method may also help you discover a loose or faulty cable or connector.
If you encounter unexpected behavior during a step, you shoul investigate the last module you 
re-installed. Backtrack to the previous step, remove the last installed module, and re-verify the 
expected behavior. 
Note: Minimum configuration testing may not be practical for every repair. Refer to other 
troubleshooting sections in this manual for additional direction.
Take Mac Pro Down to Minimum Configuration
1. Remove the following items from the Mac Pro:
• Hard drives/solid state drives
• Optical drives
• Processor tray and processor board (containing processors, processor heatsinks, and 
memory)
• PCIe cards
• AirPort card
• Bluetooth card
• Battery
• PCIe fan
• Processor cage (including fans)
• Front panel board
Disconnect all cables from the backplane board, except the power supply.  
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 34 2010-12-06
2. Attach a known good power cord from a known good AC source to the Mac Pro. 
Note: When connecting the Mac Pro to AC power, verify that the LEDs for OVTMP CPUA and 
OVTMP CPUB briefly flash red (less than 0.5 sec). The LEDs are located under hard drive bay 1 
on the backplane board. If they do not illuminate briefly, there is an issue with either the power 
supply or the backplane board. Generally speaking, power supplies can be affected by issues 
more than other modules. If you suspect a power supply has failed,verify it in another Mac Pro 
(Mid 2010), if available, before replacing any modules.
Note: The OVTMP CPUA and OVTMP CPUB LEDs on a properly functioning Mac Pro will also 
momentarily flash red immediately after the Mac Pro is disconnected from AC power.
3. Press the DIAG button, and verify 5V STBY LED (amber) illuminates.
Expected behavior: 
5V STBY LED illuminates, confirming power to the backplane board. If the LED does not 
illumuniate, suspect power supply or backplane board failure. 
4.  Disconnect AC power cord. Reinstall processor cage with fans and processor board. Do not 
reinstall processor(s), heatsinks, or memory. 
Notes:
• Verify no bent pins on processor connector or mating connector of processor board and 
backplane board.
• Verify no grime or foreign debris is causing contact issues on processor connectors, and 
connectors on processor board and backplane board.
5. Connect AC power cord.  Press the DIAG button to verify the 5V STBY LED illuminates. This is   
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 35 2010-12-06
a verify step, as you’ve added modules since previous step.
Expected behavior: 
5V STBY LED illuminates, confirming power to the backplane board. If the LED does not 
illuminate, suspect power supply or backplane board failure. 
6. Momentarily jump the SYS_PWR solder pads to turn ON the Mac Pro. 
Expected behavior: 
• Front and rear processor cage fans (and PCIe fan, if installed) should spin slowly
• One red-colored error LED illuminates on the processor board (next to the memory slots). 
Notes: 
• The solder pads are at the same location where the power button would be.
• To help troubleshoot processor issues, check the related CPU Error LED. See “Processor 
Diagnostic LEDs.”
7. Press and hold the DIAG button. 
Expected behavior: 
• PSU PWROK (green), 5V STBY (amber), EFI DONE (green), GPU OK (green) LEDs illuminated
• No startup tone
• Front and rear processor cage fans (and PCIe fan, if installed) should spin slowly
8.  Disconnect AC power cord.  
At this point, to make testing easier try powering on the computer using a known good front   
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 36 2010-12-06
panel board, power button, and cable, instead of jumpering SYS_PWR solder pads.
9. Reconnect internal speaker. Reinstall a processor and heatsink in processor A connector, and 
one known good and compatible Apple memory DIMM in slot 1. 
Notes: 
• The Mac Pro won’t start if you use processor B only on a dual-processor board. Use 
processor A connector.
• Verify no damaged pins on DIMM or processor connectors or mating connector of 
processor board and backplane board.
• Verify no damaged heatsink thermal sensor and fan connector pins or mating connector on 
the processor board. If there is damage, all Mac Pro fans will ramp to 100% when power ON.
• Verify no grime or foreign debris is causing contact issues on DIMM, processor connectors, 
and connectors on processor board and backplane board. 
10.  Connect AC power cord. Press the DIAG button to verify the 5V STBY LED illuminates. ( This is 
a verification step, as you’ve added modules since previous step.)
11. Power Mac Pro ON either by PWR_ON solder pads or front panel board.
Expected behavior: 
• The red-colored error LED on the processor board next to the memory slots at processor A 
should flash once only as the Mac Pro powers on. 
• Startup tone heard (if not, reset PRAM and retest)
• Front and rear processor cage fans (and PCIe fan, if installed) should spin slowly
Notes: 
• If using dual-processor board, both the LEDs next to the memory slots should flash once 
only.
• You can test both processors independently using processor A connector only.
12.  Disconnect AC power cord. Install a known-good hard drive with a compatible/bootable 
Mac OS installed.
Notes:
• Verify no damaged SATA data or power pins on drive and mating connector on backplane 
board.
• Verify no grime or foreign debris is causing contact issues on SATA data or power pins on 
drive and mating connector on backplane board.
13. Connect AC power cord. Power Mac Pro on by PWR_ON solder pads or front panel board.
Expected behavior: 
Listen for sound of hard drive boot. If no indication of hard drive boot, try drive in another bay.
Note: 
Shortly after boot start, verify that a red-colored LED is illuminated within the optical audio-out 
jack at the rear of the Mac Pro. If so, software drivers have been loaded.
14.  Disconnect AC power cord. Install a known good compatible PCIe graphics card into slot 1 
and attach a known good display.  
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 37 2010-12-06
Notes:
• Verify no damaged PCIe  pins on the video card and mating PCIe connector on backplane 
board.
• Verify no grime or foreign debris is causing contact issues on the video card and mating 
connector on backplane board.
15. Connect AC power cord. Power Mac Pro ON either by PWR_ON solder pads or front panel 
board.
Expected behavior: 
• Listen for sound of hard drive boot.
• Verify good uncorrupted video on display.
Processor Diagnostic LEDs
The dual-processor board and single-processor board include a diagnostic LED for each 
processor. The following illustrations show the location of each LED and its associated 
processor. These error LEDs are normally off.  A red illuminated LED indicates the associated 
processor may be missing or in overtemp state (PROCHOT ). 
Single Processor Board  
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 38 2010-12-06
Dual Processor Board
Troubleshooting CPU Diagnostic LEDs
• Determine if the error LED follows the processor heatsink
• Verify the heatsink is physically undamaged and properly connected to the processor board
• Check that adequate thermal grease is applied, and verify the fan is operating
• For dual processor boards only: determine if the error LED follows the processor by 
swapping processor A and processor B locations.  
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Symptom Charts
 39 2010-12-06
Symptom Charts Overview
Use the following as a general troubleshooting road map for Mac Pro (Mid 2010).
CheckResultAction
1.  Plug known good power source and 
power ON computer. 
Does computer power ON?
YesComputer powers on. Go to step 2.
NoGo to No Power Quick Check.
2.  √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime (increase 
sound volume and retest, if unsure.)
Connect external DVI or Mini Display 
Port monitor and restart unit. Is video 
observed on the external display? 
Note: For more information on 
supported display configurations, 
refer to http://support.apple.com/
kb/HT4279.
YesVideo present on both. Go to step 
3.
NoNo video present on both. Reseat 
all DIMMs. Refer to Memory 
Diagnostic LEDs. Then go to No 
Video Quick Check.
3. √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime 
√ Video present
Restart computer, immediately press 
and hold OPTION key to see boot 
drive volumes in Startup Manager. 
Are any bootable volumes detected?
YesBootable drive volumes detected. 
Go to step 4.
NoNo bootable drive volumes 
detected. Go to Power but No 
Boot Quick Check.
4.  √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime 
√ Video present
√ Boots from drive
Try to boot from Install DVD. Is boot 
possible?
YesCan boot from Install DVD. Go to 
step 5.
NoCannot boot from Install DVD. 
Go to Power but No Boot Quick 
Check.  
						

							Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Symptom Charts  40 2010-12-06
5. √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime 
√ Video present
√ Boots from Install DVD and drive
Does computer stay ON. Does it sleep 
and wake, and not shutdown?
YesComputer sleeps/wakes and does 
not shut down. Go to step 6.
NoPossible power-related issue. Go 
to Intermittent Shutdown Quick 
Check.
6.  √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime 
√ Video present
√ Boots from Install DVD and drive
√ Reaches the desktop without kernel 
panic/freezes 
√ Computer sleeps/wakes and does 
not shutdown 
Plug in USB and FireWire devices. 
Do they appear in System Profiler 
and are they functional?
YesNo USB/FireWire problems. Go to 
step 7.
NoUSB/FW connection fail.  
Go to Input Output Devices 
symptom charts.
7. √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime 
√ Video present
√ Boots from Install DVD and drive
√ Reaches the desktop without kernel 
panic/freezes 
√ Computer sleeps/wakes and does 
not shutdown
√ USB and FireWire functional
Connect to AirPort and Ethernet 
networks. Do Ethernet/AirPort 
network connections work?
YesNo Ethernet/AP communication 
problems. Go to step 8.
NoEthernet/AP Network connection 
fail. Go to Communications 
symptom charts.
8.  √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime 
√ Video present
√ Boots from Install DVD and drive
√ Reaches the desktop without kernel 
panic/freezes 
√ Computer sleeps/wakes and does 
not shutdown
√ USB and FireWire functional
√ Ethernet /AP works 
Use wireless mouse or keyboard, 
pair with the device. Does Bluetooth 
connection work?
YesNo Bluetooth communication 
problems. Go to step 9.
NoBluetooth connection fail.  
Go to Input Output Devices 
symptom charts.