SUMMARY alphaserver operating temp.

From: Bob Parkinson <rwplists_at_omni.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:47:37 +0100 (BST)

Thanks for the replies.

THere was a range of comments ranging from "we've run machines for a
couple of weeks _at_ 50c after aircon. problems" to "dangerous, call for
help".

After playing with the threshold level in envconfig, (I put it down to 39
which the box was then running at), to check out if envmond was
working and would stop the machine frying if it got too hot over the long
weekend, the wall msg. gave me a hint, mentioning blocked air filters, or a high
ambient temp. Well as there is a bit (well more than a bit) of dust on
the machine in the vicinity of diverse apetures, I've contacted
compaq hardware support for help, to see if the filter is gunged up
(crossing fingers that this is the problem) else I'm going to have to find
a better/ cooler home quick).

Its currently being blasted by a couple of fans as suggested, to keep the
air moving..

Replies so far appended.

>From joe_at_meng.ucl.ac.uk Thu May 27 15:19:10 1999
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:46:43 GMT0
From: Joe Fletcher <joe_at_meng.ucl.ac.uk>
To: rwplists_at_omni.ac.uk
Subject: RE: alphaserver operating temp.

Hi,

I guess this is one of those things that you never know what will happen
'til you test it. However, for reassurances, when the airco failed in our
machine room the hardware all ran for about a week with and ambient room
temp of 50 plus. The hardware is a mix of Alphas and storageworks and a
DEChub900. It's not something I'd recommend but you should be able to get
away with it. We also have a room with half a dozen DEC 3000 workstations
in it with no airco. From about June to August the air temp in there is
around the 40 mark. Doesn't seem to bother the machinery. The students on
the other hand fail on a regular basis.

Cheers.

Joe


>From arrigo_at_albourne.com Thu May 27 15:24:10 1999
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:58:38 +0100 (BST)
From: Arrigo Triulzi <arrigo_at_albourne.com>
To: Bob Parkinson <rwplists_at_omni.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: alphaserver operating temp.

Not very good... I had a pack of 3000s halt because the internal
temperature reached 48C (which was switch-off for that model). I would
consider buying a few fans of the stand-up variety to keep at least
the air moving.

Arrigo

-- 
Arrigo Triulzi <arrigo_at_albourne.com> - Peripatetic Wizard
Albourne Partners Ltd. - London, UK
APL Financial Services (Overseas) Ltd. - Nicosia, Cyprus
"Every day, thousands are coming back to BT... with baseball bats!"
>From Drew.Vayro_at_nl.origin-it.com Thu May 27 15:24:33 1999
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:03:54 +0200
From: "Vayro, Drew" <Drew.Vayro_at_nl.origin-it.com>
To: 'Bob Parkinson' <rwplists_at_omni.ac.uk>
Subject: RE: alphaserver operating temp.
Bob,
You'll find that those machine will get very hot and if environmental
monitoring is turned on then i would say you'll end up with regular
shutdown's of the system. The fans work well but really need the
environment around them at a constant level.
Beware of real hots days!
>From Fraser.Macfarlane_at_compaq.com Thu May 27 15:25:38 1999
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 12:04:27 +0100
From: "Macfarlane, Fraser" <Fraser.Macfarlane_at_compaq.com>
To: 'Bob Parkinson' <rwplists_at_omni.ac.uk>
Subject: RE: alphaserver operating temp.
    [ The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set. ]
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you can enable the power management facility which after a certain threshold
will cut in and lower the power output thus not emitting so much heat - or
the other option is get a desktop fan,  and stick it behind the machine to
cool it!!!!!
The best people to speak to if you have a query is the hardware team in
Reading, log a call with them and they'll be able to help
Regards
FRASER MacFARLANE
Compaq Unix Support
Compaq Services Solution Centre
COMPAQ Computer Limited
Imperial Way, Worton Grange
READING, Berkshire, RG2 0TE
Tel: 01189 206258        DTN: 7830 6258
Fax:01189 206509        DTN: 7830 6509
E-MAIL:       Fraser.MacFarlane_at_compaq.com 
	     fm_at_uvo.dec.com
>From Bryan.Lavelle_at_digital.com Thu May 27 15:25:49 1999
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:15:08 -0400
From: Bryan Lavelle <Bryan.Lavelle_at_digital.com>
To: 'Bob Parkinson' <rwplists_at_omni.ac.uk>
Subject: RE: alphaserver operating temp.
    [ The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set. ]
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The fans don't cool the temperature down per se. They move the room
temperature air through the machine.  If the room temperature exceeds the
envionmental limit, all bets are off.  As temperature increases so do the
risk of a failure, including a fan failure, so you might end up with no
cooling at all.  You might run a fan near the system to move the air around
the system so a "heat island" doesn't build up around the machine.
Bryan
>From francini_at_progress.com Thu May 27 15:27:05 1999
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 10:19:14 -0400
From: John J. Francini <francini_at_progress.com>
To: Bob Parkinson <rwplists_at_omni.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: alphaserver operating temp.
Depends on how fast the fans are running in the normal day-to-day
situation. Most Alphaservers have temperature-sensitive fans that run at
varying speeds according to ambient temperature conditions. If the fans are
already running at full speed, you'll have no reserve capacity left if the
room gets seriously warm.
Some of the larger AlphaServers also have temperature-sensing electronics
that alert the firmware in the event of an overtemp situation.  In this
case, the system will initiate a crash and power itself down.
Which model do you have?
John

Received on Thu May 27 1999 - 14:53:13 NZST