S2400SC Server Problems

[Tarl72]

Hi all,

 

I have a secondhand server I'm trying to get up and running to backup data from my main windows desktop.

 

The server is the pedestal model (P4308SC2MHGC), with an Intel S2400SC motherboard with two Xeon CPUs (E5-2403 v2 @ 1.80GHz), 32GB RAM, 1 x 4TB SATA HDD, 8 x 3TB SAS HDDs, an LTO5 Drive and a DVD Drive.

 

My problem is this, when I power it up, I get six short beeps (repeated) then nothing. I cannot get into the BIOS, the system does not load and the screen does not change. The only sign of activity is a flashing 'space bar' in the bottom left hand corner of the screen.

 

Does anyone know what's happening? I've read the motherboard manual, but it doesn't mention six beeps at all. What am I missing?

 

UPDATE:

Okay, this is a weird one. The server had been down for about a month, Intel were no help, in the end as the server is (obviously) OOS (Out Of Service). In that time I had replaced the motherboard battery, cleared the password, reset the BIOS 4 times, all without it having any effect. Then, last night, I tried it one last time (after a lot of bad language and warning it that I was going to throw it in the skip in the morning!) and BINGO! No beeps, no freezing screen, and everything just worked! This is the most annoying of all successes, as I don't have the slightest idea on what I did to fix it. Reading between the lines, I 'think' it was a BIOS issue.

Thanks to everyone who suggested thing for me to try.

Edited May 3, 2025 by Tarl72
Update/Problem solved.

[nitraw]

I'm not sure if it was the exact model you have but the intel servers i know beep once per usb device attached to the server. I also have had servers where there was nothing but a cursor on the screen for several minutes. Maybe it's just a matter of waiting. The server should also have intel's remote management module which should have it's own network port. You can get a lot of diagnostics from there, if it's reachable (previous owner might have changed network settings and/or password).

I'd try detaching all peripherals and  boot again, waiting for at least 15 minutes. Maybe mash f2 after turning it on, to try getting into the bios. If that doesn't work, try the rmm (network with dhcp server would be helpful).

[Needfuldoer]

Have you tried reseating the DIMMs and processors?

 

Do you have memory spread across both processors?

[Tarl72]

On 4/15/2025 at 10:53 AM, Needfuldoer said:

Have you tried reseating the DIMMs and processors?

 

Do you have memory spread across both processors?

Yes to resetting the DIMMs, and I have four  x 4GB DIMMS on both sides (all matching). As for reseating the processors, no. I'll give that a go now. As it was working perfectly before I didn't think that was an option. Many thanks.

UPDATE: I've reseated both CPUs, and replaced the thermal compound, but still no luck. This is the LED tell-tales, but they don't match anything in the manual.

[Tarl72]

14 hours ago, nitraw said:

I'm not sure if it was the exact model you have but the intel servers i know beep once per usb device attached to the server. I also have had servers where there was nothing but a cursor on the screen for several minutes. Maybe it's just a matter of waiting. The server should also have intel's remote management module which should have it's own network port. You can get a lot of diagnostics from there, if it's reachable (previous owner might have changed network settings and/or password).

I'd try detaching all peripherals and  boot again, waiting for at least 15 minutes. Maybe mash f2 after turning it on, to try getting into the bios. If that doesn't work, try the rmm (network with dhcp server would be helpful).

Hi there,

The only USB devices I have installed are 1 mouse and 1 keyboard (I also have a PS2 keyboard attached too to access the SAS cards). I've taken a photo of the screen that it loads (this is as far as it goes, unfortunately). The server restarts (with the same 2 x 6 beeps and flashing space marker) after 5 minutes.

 

I've tried mashing F2 when I restarted, but nothing happens. I've also tried just having one keyboard to see if that was the problem, but still no luck.

I've attached a CAT6 cable to the RMM port and directly to my switch.

 

Another respondent has suggested reseating the CPUs, which I'm trying next. 

UPDATE: I've reseated both CPUs and replaced the thermal compound, but still no luck.

[Tarl72]

On 4/14/2025 at 9:54 PM, nitraw said:

I'm not sure if it was the exact model you have but the intel servers i know beep once per usb device attached to the server. I also have had servers where there was nothing but a cursor on the screen for several minutes. Maybe it's just a matter of waiting. The server should also have intel's remote management module which should have it's own network port. You can get a lot of diagnostics from there, if it's reachable (previous owner might have changed network settings and/or password).

I'd try detaching all peripherals and  boot again, waiting for at least 15 minutes. Maybe mash f2 after turning it on, to try getting into the bios. If that doesn't work, try the rmm (network with dhcp server would be helpful).

Here is a picture of the tell-tale LEDs, I've tried looking it up, but it doesn't seem to match anything, hence why I'm reaching out.