[dba-Tech] Unexpected server shutdowns

I'd tend to think that the UPS was at fault, knowing just how flakey they can be sometimes. Depending on the model of UPS that you've got, and if it connects to the server (with a USB or serial cable), there might be some software that it installs to shut the servers down properly, so that no data is lost in the event of a power outage. If that's the case (I know HP rackmount UPS's do this), there will be a log file in that same software (on the server you've selected to "manage" the UPS).

If that isn't an option (either you don't have a managed UPS or it's not configured to shutdown the servers), then have a look through the event logs (Control Panels, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Events), and in the System and Software logs there will be events telling you that the server was started, (they'll say something like "Microsoft (R) Windows (R) 5.01. 2600 Service Pack 2 Multiprocessor Free.", but with the relevant Server OS). The entries before that will be the ones to tell you that it shut down, and perhaps lead to why it shutdown.

Hope this is of some help


Jon

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gary Kjos
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 2:51 PM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Unexpected server shutdowns

I thought someone would have replied to this by now. I'm not familiar with servers much but I would have to think there is some kind of a LOG FILE that would provide insight into what was the running at the time of the failure / restart. Is it using the automated power monitoring software provided by APC?  I might try to disable that if it is. Or even to disconnect the link from the UPS to the server that would notify the server that the line power has been cut. Temporarily of course to see if the problems stop.

Good luck wth figuring out the cause. The suspect motherboard seems to me to be the most likely guess. Or maybe a bad memory board?  Might be worth running a in depth memory diagnostic.

GK

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 12:17 PM, Janet Erbach <jerbach at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello -
>
> I'm the IT department for a small internet based company in Wisconsin.
> My background is largely in Access database development, but the job
> of overall IT administration has fallen on me because I'm the most
> computer proficient of anyone here.  Please be patient with me if my
> ignorance of network and hardware issues is glaringly obvious.
>
> We bought an HP Proliant server in December to replace the pitiful
> Windows XP workstation we had set up as a 'server'.  It's running SBS
> 2008...and we've experienced at least a dozen unexpected shutdowns
> since it's been in place.  At first we thought it was due to trying to
> run nightly backups with insufficient ram - the initial setup had 4G,
> and we were running on 0 Mg free.  But we installed an additional 8G
> of ram 2 weeks ago, and  had another unexpected shutdown yesterday in the middle of the working day.
>
> Does anyone have any insights for me about what could be behind this?
> Our network consultants have spent hours researching it and have not
> turned up anything yet other than 'maybe it's a defective
> motherboard'.  Since they have another client with the same machine
> who is experiencing the same problem, they'll be replacing the
> motherboard on that one and letting us know if it cures the problem.
>
> In the meantime, any suggestions will be appreciated!
>
> Janet Erbach
> IT Administrator
> www.naturalhealthyconcepts.com
>
>
>
> P.S.  We're using an APC unit for UPS...I mention it because I read an
> older link today that linked some unexpected server shutdowns to APC Powerchute.
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>



--
Gary Kjos
garykjos at gmail.com

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