Hi,

The minimum components to allow the Dell PowerEdgeR730/R730xd to complete POST are as follows:
 • System board
• One power supply unit
 • One processor (CPU) in socket CPU1
 • One memory module (DIMM) installed in socket A1
 • Left control panel (for power button functionality)
 • One backplane card

Hope this helps and have a great one!

If you can, I would test with a different processor and memory DIMM (if possible). The power supply appears fine, so I see no reason to test an alternate. If you still don't see a change in behavior, I'd consider replacing the front panel. Based on your description, I'd expect this to be either the motherboard or the control panel causing the problem.

EDIT: If the iDRAC is reachable, you could try using it to power the system on. If it does power on, then it would indicate to me that the control panel is the issue.

Thanks for your reply!

System board... check. Some green lights come on.

Power supply... check. The LED is solid green.

One processor in CPU1... check.

One DIMM in A1... check.

Backplane card... check.

Left control panel... check? I presume you mean the front control panel where the power button is. But the behavior is: When you plug in the power cord, the fans start and the lights (described above) go on. But then when you press the power button on the front panel, absolutely nothing happens. There are no lights or LEDs on the front panel. No error messages, nada. And the POST never even begins; in fact the monitor continues to behave as if there is no signal from the video port. It almost seems like the front panel has become disconnected somehow.

Thanks, I'll try swapping out the RAM DIMMs and try again....

Regarding the iDRAC, I'm at a loss for how to access it... It had a fixed IP from a previous network that I'm no longer on. Is there a way I can reset the iDRAC to obtain an IP via DHCP?

Hi, there are two ways we can seek:

1. Reset using system ID button

Press to toggle the system ID on and off.

If the system stops responding during POST, press and hold the system ID button for more than five seconds to enter BIOS progress mode.

To reset iDRAC (if not disabled in F2 iDRAC setup) press and hold the button for more than 15 seconds.

1. Reset using RACADM

(See the image below)

The Dell RACADM (Remote Access Controller Admin) utility is a command-line tool that allows for remote or local management of Dell Servers using the iDRAC. RACADM commands can be run remotely from a management station or locally on the managed system.

For detailed information about the tool and its usage, check the RACADM Command Line Interface Reference Guide (version 2.10.10.10. or later, only in English)

The command for resetting the iDRAC is:

racadm racreset for a soft reset (no saved settings are changed) or

racadm racresetcfg for a hard reset (IP and Account settings are reset back to factory default).

Default IP  : 192.168.0.120  / user : root  / password : calvin

Thanks. Is the "system ID button" the plastic toggle LED located next to the iDRAC ethernet port, labeled #1 in the diagram you attached? If so, that button doesn't seem to do much, even if I hold it for 15 seconds. Is it supposed to light up or anything?

Hi, would this help?

https://www.dell.com/community/PowerEdge-Hardware-General/Reset-Dell-R630-iDRAC-Password/td-p/5007027

Hello Swervedriver69,

Let's make sure you are down to minimum to post components, try to get good POST and put back components a little at a time until you find faulting component.

If I understand your description of the LED's on the motherboard it is likely a failed component or system board.

Results for system board LED's:

[toward front]

0- Blinking Green

1- Off

2- Off

3- Solid Green

4- Off

5- Off

6- Blinking Green

[toward rear]

ISSUE: One of the Aux power rails has failed

These are used early in the startup process  so this is likely to be a failed plug-in component or motherboard

Failed plug-in component

Refer to the SEL to see which rail is not coming up, then isolate between the devices that draw power from that rail

Failed motherboard

If the issue persists in a minimal configuration with attached devices removed, suspect the motherboard

Confirm if you get POST at minimum to POST

Min to POST:

System board

One power supply unit

One processor (CPU) in socket CPU1

One memory module (DIMM) installed in socket A1

Left control panel (for power button functionality)

One backplane card

---remove anything not on the list i.e DVD, Network daughter card, PCIe cards including GPU's

Additional test to try - disconnect the left control panel cable connected to system board and have the lid off then hold in the rear iDRAC button for 20 seconds to see if it can POST.

Unfortunately, no. The instruction there is "Boot into the system BIOS  setup using F2 key during POST". But I get no POST, and the monitor never even turns on after pressing the power button. There is no response at all from the front panel, despite (a) fans running; (b) green blinking LEDs on the motherboard. I really wish there were a schematic that would tell me what these blinking LEDs on the motherboard mean...

I just had the same problem, i found that  the front panel was the culprit, i just removed the connection to it from the motherboard and it solved the problem.