Expert: Pete Mayhew - 12/3/2009

Question
Mr. Mayhew.  I did a search on the Internet for an error code we're getting on our AS/400 (eSeries) machine when we try to IPL.  I found that someone had asked you the same question earlier and I was wondering if you knew what solution they found.  It was asked by Joan on 10/2/08 and the error code we're getting is 67573200.   We've tried to run the IPL like you describe but it always come back to the same error code and stays there.  Our machine is model #9406-170 which is the same one you mentioned in your answer below.

Question
We moved our machine to a new room.  the Machine gives an error 67573200.  Can you please tell me what this error means and how it can be fixed.  Thanks for your help.

Answer
Joan, can you tell me what model of AS400 you have? It should be on a small label on the front of the machine, with the serial number. It will be something like 9406-170.

I believe that code indicates a problem with a disk drive. Do you know how to do a 'manual' IPL?  Using the buttons next to the small LCD screen, press the up or down arrows until 02 shows. Press the blue Enter button. Now press the up arrow until 02 B M shows in the display, then press Enter again. Press the up arrow once to get to 03, then press Enter. This will start another IPL. You should get a display on the console in 5 to 10 minutes. We want to see if there is a message about 'missing disk drives'.

Do this please and let me know.

Pete  

Answer
I never did hear back from the other request, so I'm not sure what the solution was. However, the procedure I gave them would be the same for you. The error code breaks down into 2 parts: the first 4 digits indicate the built-in disk controller (I believe you are not running RAID?), the second 4 indicate a SCSI bus error when working with one of the devices.

If the manual IPL does not work (meaning you still don't get a display screen) and you are comfortable working with the hardware, we need to remove/disconnect as many of the units as possible to see if we can isolate the problem.

Power the system off-you can just pull the power cord out at this point. Remove the front cover (it pops/snaps off), and also the left side cover (as you are looking at the system-there are 4-5 screws in the back, then it slides backwards about 1/2 inch). Remove the perforated cover over the disk drives (one screw at the top). Leave the very top one in place, but pull on the blue handle of any other disk drives. It will 'cam' the drive out about an inch-just leave them that way.

Plug the system back in and try to do a manual IPL. If we get a screen now (there will be a 'missing disk units' message), that means one of the drives we removed is the problem. Power down and push on the blue handle on one of the drives. That will 'cam' it back into place. IPL again and see if the error returns. Continue this until all the drives have been pushed back in or we get the error code. Once we determine the 'bad' drive, it will need to be replaced. If you are not running mirroring or RAID, you may have to restore your system from a backup.

If we still have the error with the disk drives removed, we can try one more thing. Looking inside the system from the open left side, in the upper right corner, you will see a thicker black cable that connects to the tape drive and CD drive. You might need a flash light. Carefully unplug the cable from both of them. The connector will be about 2 inches long, a quarter inch wide, and have lots of little pins in it. We have now disconnected everything except for the base disk drive. Try the IPL again.

If we get a screen (disregard 'missing disk units'), power off and plug in all the disk drives as mentioned above. See if the system will IPL. If it does, we have a problem with either the tape drive or CD drive. You can try powering off and connecting one at a time to see which causes the error.

If the error code still comes up, even with everything disconnected, you will probably need someone technical to come onsite.