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Introduction: Dell PowerEdge 2300 Systems User's Guide
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Dell PowerEdge 2300 systems are high-speed, upgradable server
systems designed around the Intel ® Pentium ® II family of
microprocessors. The PowerEdge 2300 systems provide both high-performance Peripheral
Component Interconnect (PCI) and Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion slots to
allow for future expansion of your system.
This chapter describes the major
hardware and software features of the computer, provides information about the indicators
and controls on the computer's front panel, and discusses connecting external devices to
the computer.
The
PowerEdge 2300 systems offer the following major features:
- One or two Intel Pentium II
microprocessors with an internal operating frequency of 333, 350, or 400 megahertz (MHz)
and an external bus speed of 66 MHz (333-MHz processor) or 100 MHz (350- and 400-MHz
processors).
The Pentium II microprocessor includes
MMX technology designed to handle complex multimedia and communications software.
This microprocessor incorporates new instructions and data types as well as a technique
called Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) that allows the microprocessor to process
multiple data elements in parallel, thereby improving overall system performance.
- A secondary (L2) cache of 512 kilobytes (KB) of static random-access
memory (SRAM) is included within the single-edge contact (SEC) cartridge that contains the
microprocessor. Math coprocessor functionality is internal to the microprocessor.
- Support for symmetric multiprocessing is available by installing a
second Pentium II microprocessor. Symmetric multiprocessing greatly improves overall
system performance by dividing microprocessor operations between the two independent
microprocessors. To take advantage of this feature, you must use an operating system that
supports multiprocessing, such as Microsoft ® Windows NT ® 4.0 or
Novell ® NetWare ® 4.11 (and later versions).
 NOTE: If you decide to upgrade your system by installing a second
microprocessor, you must order a microprocessor upgrade kit from Dell. Not all versions
of the Pentium II microprocessor will work properly as a second microprocessor. The
upgrade kit from Dell contains the correct version of the microprocessor for use as a
second microprocessor, as well as instructions for performing the upgrade. The second
microprocessor must have the same internal operating frequency as the first.
- A minimum of 64
megabytes (MB) of system memory, upgradable to a maximum of 1 gigabyte (GB) by installing
combinations of 64- and 128-MB unbuffered dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), or 256-MB
registered SDRAM DIMMs in the four DIMM sockets on the system board.
The
unbuffered 72-bit-wide error checking and correction (ECC) SDRAM DIMMs installed in
PowerEdge 2300 systems support ECC to check for and correct memory errors. ECC is
performed by the memory controller in the system chip set.
- A basic input/output system (BIOS) that resides in flash memory on
the ISA bus and can be upgraded if required.
The system
board includes the following built-in features:
- Six PCI and two ISA expansion-card connectors, located on the system
board. PCI slots 1 through 4 are unshared slots; PCI slot 5 is shared with ISA
slot 5 and PCI slot 6 is shared with ISA slot 6 .
- An
integrated advanced graphics port (AGP) video graphics array (VGA)-compatible video
subsystem with an ATI 3D RAGE PRO super VGA (SVGA) video controller. This video subsystem
contains 2 MB of synchronous graphics random-access memory (SGRAM) video memory
(nonupgradable). Maximum resolutions are 1024 x 768 pixels with 256 colors noninterlaced.
In 800- x 600-pixel and
640- x 480-pixel resolutions, 16.7 million colors are available for true-color
graphics.
- An integrated National Semiconductor PC87309 super input/output (I/O)
controller that controls the bidirectional parallel port, two serial ports, and the
diskette drive in the externally accessible front bay. The super I/O controller resides on
the ISA bus.
The parallel port can be set to operate
in the following modes via the Parallel Mode category in the System Setup program:
output-only (AT-compatible), bi-directional (Personal System/2 [PS/2]-compatible), or
extended capabilities port (ECP).
- An
integrated Adaptec AIC-7890 Ultra2/low-voltage differential (LVD) small computer system
interface (SCSI) host adapter that supports up to six 1-inch internal SCSI hard-disk
drives via a SCSI backplane board and special SCSI hard-disk drive carriers. The SCSI
backplane automatically configures SCSI identification (ID) numbers and SCSI termination
on individual hard-disk drives, greatly simplifying drive installation.
Three SCSI backplane options include a
non-hot-pluggable 2 x 2 backplane,
non-hot-pluggable 2 x 3 backplane, and hot-pluggable 1 x 6 backplane. The hot-pluggable 1
x 6 backplane supports hot-pluggable SCSI hard-disk drive installation and removal. The
integrated SCSI controller resides on the PCI local bus for optimum performance.
- An integrated Adaptec AIC-7860 Ultra/Narrow SCSI-III host adapter that supports up to three
externally accessible SCSI devices in the external drive bays .
- Integrated server management circuitry
that monitors operation of the system fans as well as critical system voltages and
temperatures. The integrated server management circuitry works in conjunction with the HP
OpenView Network Node Manager Special Edition (NNM SE) and the Dell Hardware
Instrumentation Package (HIP) software package.
- A PS/2-style keyboard port and a PS/2-compatible mouse port.
Standard PowerEdge 2300 systems include
a diskette drive and a SCSI CD-ROM drive installed in the externally accessible bays and a
SCSI hard-disk drive installed in slot 0.
The following software is included with
your Dell computer system:
- Video drivers for displaying many popular application programs in
high-resolution modes. For more information on these drivers, see "Using
the Dell Server Assistant CD."
- SCSI device drivers that allow your operating system to communicate
with devices attached to the built-in SCSI subsystem. For more information on these
drivers, see "Installing and Configuring SCSI Drivers."
- The System Setup program for quickly viewing and changing the system
configuration information for your computer. For more information on this program, see "Using the System Setup Program."
- The Resource Configuration Utility, which allows you to configure
installed ISA expansion cards through software rather than by hand. For more information,
see "Using the Resource Configuration Utility."
- Enhanced security features available through either the System Setup
program or the Resource Configuration Utility, including a user password and a supervisor
password.
-
Diagnostics for evaluating your computer's components and devices. For information on
using the system diagnostics, see "Using the Dell Server Assistant CD" or
see Chapter 5, "Running the System Diagnostics," in your Installation and
Troubleshooting Guide.
Dell supports the following network
operating systems for use on PowerEdge 2300 systems:
- Windows NT Server 4.0
- NetWare 4.11
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NOTE: Installation services and support for other operating
systems are available through Dell Plus. For more information, see Chapter 11,
"Getting Help," in your Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
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The following controls and indicators
are located on the computer's front panel (see Figure 1):
- The power button on the front panel
controls the alternating current (AC) input power to the system's power supply.
- The green power indicator in the center
of the power button lights up when the power supply is turned on and the system is
receiving direct current (DC) power.
- The reset button on the front panel
saves wear and tear on system components by allowing you to reboot (restart) the computer
without turning the power off and then on again. For more information about using the
reset button, see "Reset Button".
- When any SCSI hard-disk drive is being
accessed, the green drive access indicator on the front panel lights up.
- The yellow drive failure indicator lights up if a hard-disk drive
failure has occurred.
- The yellow system fault indicator
lights up if a fan failure, excessive system or microprocessor temperature sensor reading,
or other system alert occurs.
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NOTE: The power button and the reset button are recessed into
the computer's front panel to prevent accidentally turning off or resetting the computer
and losing valuable data.
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If a hot-pluggable backplane is present in your system, three
indicator lights adjacent to each of the SCSI hard-disk drive bays provide the following
information on the drive in that bay (see Figure 2):
- The green drive online indicator
(identified by a round icon) lights up when the hard-disk drive is receiving power.
- The green
drive activity indicator (identified by a cylinder-shaped icon) lights up when data is
being transferred to or from the hard-disk drive.
- If an
optional Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller host adapter card is installed in the
system, the amber drive failure indicator (identified by a triangular icon) blinks if a
disk failure is detected.
Figure 1. Front
Panel
Figure 2.
Hot-Pluggable Backplane Drive Indicators
You can connect various external
devices, such as a mouse and printer, to the I/O ports and connectors on the computer's
back panel. The system BIOS detects the presence of external devices when you boot or
reboot your system. When connecting external devices to your computer, follow these
guidelines:
- Check the documentation that accompanied the device for specific
installation and configuration instructions.
For example, most devices must be
connected to a particular I/O port or connector to operate properly. Also, external
devices like a mouse or printer usually require you to load software files called device
drivers into memory before they will work. These software drivers help the computer
recognize an external device and direct its operation. Device drivers of this type are
normally included with your operating system software.
- Always attach external devices while your computer is turned off.
Then turn on any external devices before turning on the computer unless the documentation
for the device specifies otherwise. (If the computer does not seem to recognize the
device, try turning on the computer before turning on the device.)
For information about enabling,
disabling, or configuring I/O ports and connectors, see "Using
the System Setup Program" or "Using the Resource
Configuration Utility." For detailed descriptions and illustrations of each port
and connector on the I/O panel, see "I/O Ports and Connectors".
A keylock on the front bezel prevents
unauthorized access to the inside of the computer. The computer covers cannot be removed
with the bezel locked.
The PowerEdge 2300 systems also include
a system intrusion switch that signals appropriate server management software if the
computer bezel is opened.
If at any time you don't understand a
procedure described in this guide, or if your system does not perform as expected, Dell
provides a number of tools to help you. For more information on these help tools, see
Chapter 11, "Getting Help," in your Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
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