Deployment Guide

NOTE: Do not perform more than one step at a time. Changing more than one variable at a time can complicate the
troubleshooting process.
1. Stop all I/O to the storage system. See “Stopping I/O” in the Dell EMC PowerVault ME4 Series Storage System Owner’s
Manual.
2. Check the host activity LED.
If there is activity, stop all applications that access the storage system.
3. Check the Cache Status LED to verify that the controller cached data is flushed to the disk drives.
● Solid – Cache contains data yet to be written to the disk.
● Blinking – Cache data is being written to CompactFlash.
● Flashing at 1/10 second on and 9/10 second off – Cache is being refreshed by the supercapacitor.
● Off – Cache is clean (no unwritten data).
4. Reseat the expansion cable, and inspect it for damage.
Is the expansion port status LED on?
● Yes – Monitor the status to ensure that there is no intermittent error present. If the fault occurs again, clean the
connections to ensure that a dirty connector is not interfering with the data path.
● No – Proceed to the next step.
5. Move the expansion cable to a port on the controller enclosure with a known good link status.
This step isolates the problem to the expansion cable or to the controller module expansion port.
Is the expansion port status LED on?
Yes – You now know that the expansion cable is good. Return the cable to the original port. If the expansion port status LED
remains off, you have isolated the fault to the controller module expansion port. Replace the controller module.
No – Proceed to the next step.
6. Move the expansion cable back to the original port on the controller enclosure.
7. Move the expansion cable on the drive enclosure to a known good expansion port on the drive enclosure.
Is the expansion port status LED on?
● Yes – You have isolated the problem to the expansion enclosure port. Replace the expansion module.
● No – Proceed to the next step.
8. Replace the cable with a known good cable, ensuring the cable is attached to the original ports.
Is the host link status LED on?
● Yes – Replace the original cable. The fault has been isolated.
● No – It is likely that the controller module must be replaced.
2U enclosure LEDs
Use the LEDs on the 2U enclosure to help troubleshoot initial start-up problems.
2U PCM LEDs (580 W)
Under normal conditions, the PCM OK LEDs are a constant green.
Table 14. PCM LED states
PCM OK (Green) Fan Fail (Amber) AC Fail (Amber) DC Fail(Amber) Status
Off Off Off Off No AC power on any PCM
Off Off On On No AC power on this PCM only
On Off Off Off AC present; PCM working correctly
On Off Off On PCM fan speed is outside acceptable
limits
Off On Off Off PCM fan has failed
Troubleshooting and problem solving 75