Compaq ProLiant ML350 Server General Troubleshooting Guide

7-8 Compaq Servers Troubleshooting Guide
Compaq Confidential – Need to Know Required
Writer: Susana Weinstein Salazar Project: Compaq Servers Troubleshooting Guide Comments:
Part Number: 161434-001 File Name: h-ch7 Preventing Future Problems.doc Last Saved On: 9/2/99 1:52 PM
Preventing Electrostatic Damage
Many electronic components are sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD).
Circuitry design and structure determine the degree of sensitivity. Networks
built into many integrated circuits provide some protection, but in many cases
the discharge contains enough power to alter device parameters or melt silicon
junctions.
A sudden discharge of static electricity from your finger or other conductor
can destroy static-sensitive devices or micro-circuitry. Often the spark is
neither felt nor heard, but damage occurs. An electronic device exposed to
electrostatic discharge may not be affected at all and can work perfectly
throughout a normal cycle. Or it may function normally for a while, then
degrade in the internal layers, reducing its life expectancy.
Preventing Cable Damage
Handle cables with extreme care to avoid damage. Apply only the tension
required to unseat or seat the cables during removal and insertion. Handle
cables by the connector whenever possible. In all cases, avoid twisting or
tearing cables. Make sure that cables are routed in such a way that they cannot
be caught or snagged by parts being removed or replaced.
Preventing Tape Drive Errors
Often tape drive problems are caused by defective or substandard media.
Listed below are recommended cleaning procedures.
■ Clean the media every eight hours. This is much more frequent than the
manufacturer's recommendation of “once every 25 hours,” but this
practice will reduce the number of failures. Cleaning frequently is
especially important for new media, which requires more frequent
cleaning than media that has been used for five or more backups.
■ Clean the media four times after a failure occurs.
■ If you receive a head clog error (and you are using the latest firmware
and cleaning every eight hours), record that a failure occurred on the
label of the cartridge. Then replace any cartridges that fail more than
three out of five times.