Dell PowerEdge R750 Basic Startup And Hardware Testing Guide
Dell PowerEdge R750 Basic Startup and Hardware Testing Guide
Introduction
This guide explains how to power on, test, and verify a Dell PowerEdge R750 server. It also explains how to collect test results and create a hardware test report. The instructions are written in simple language for beginners and junior technicians.
This guide covers:
- Turning the server on
- Booting into diagnostics
- Running hardware tests
- Testing memory, storage, fans, and power supplies
- Checking hardware health
- Exporting logs and reports
- Creating a final system test report
The Dell PowerEdge R750 supports built-in diagnostics tools through the BIOS, Lifecycle Controller, and iDRAC management system.
1. Before You Begin
What You Need
Before testing the server, make sure you have:
- A keyboard
- A monitor
- A power cable connected to the server
- A network cable connected (recommended)
- Administrator access if using iDRAC
- A USB drive for saving reports
2. Turning On the Dell R750
Step 1 -Connect Power
- Plug both power supplies into power outlets.
- Check the power supply LEDs on the back of the server.
- A green LED means the PSU is working correctly.
Step 2 -Power On the Server
- Press the power button on the front of the server.
- The system fans will start spinning.
- Watch the screen for the Dell logo.
The server will begin POST (Power On Self Test).
3. Understanding the Boot Process
During startup, the server checks:
- CPU
- Memory
- Fans
- Storage drives
- RAID controllers
- Power supplies
- PCIe devices
If hardware problems exist, error messages may appear.
4. Entering the System Menus
Common Keys During Startup
Key
Function
F2 BIOS/System Setup
F10 Lifecycle Controller
F11 Boot Manager
F12 PXE Network Boot
5. Running Hardware Diagnostics
Method 1 -Using Lifecycle Controller (Recommended)
Step-by-Step
-
Reboot the server.
-
Press F10 during startup.
-
Open Lifecycle Controller .
-
Click:
Hardware Diagnostics → Run Hardware Diagnostics
The system will begin testing hardware automatically.
What the Diagnostics Test
The diagnostics tool checks:
- Memory (RAM)
- CPU
- Storage drives
- RAID controller
- Fans
- Power supplies
- Motherboard
- PCIe cards
- Network adapters
Types of Tests
Express Test
- Fast test
- Usually takes 10 -20 minutes
Extended Test
- Full system test
- May take over 1 hour
Custom Test
- Tests only selected hardware
6. Running Memory Tests
Memory problems are common in servers.
To Run Memory Tests
- Open Lifecycle Controller
- Select:
Hardware Diagnostics → Memory Test
or use the built-in memory diagnostics tools.
The system checks for:
- Bad DIMMs
- Correctable memory errors
- Uncorrectable memory errors
Common Memory Errors
Error Meaning
MEM6101 Memory warning
MEM6104 Memory failure
UEFI0103 Memory initialization error
7. Testing Storage Drives
Check RAID and Drives
You can test storage drives using:
- Lifecycle Controller
- RAID Controller BIOS
- iDRAC
To View Drives
- Press F2
- Open:
Device Settings → Storage Controller
You can view:
- Drive health
- RAID status
- SSD status
- NVMe health
8. Testing Power Supplies
PSU Health Check
The R750
