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  3. November 2025

RE: B181F22A on 9406-520

I powered it down because I was going to be away for about 5 months and didn't want to spend the $$ on the electricity.

BUT - related to this... I'd had it in a garage in FL where it was in the mid to upper 90s at peak and it shut itself down a couple times and the src code complained about the heat. I opened it up, air-gunned the dust bunnies, put it back together and let it run for a week or so in those conditions without it shutting down. Seemed happier. Still not ideal, so I moved it into the house where the A/C was running and it was happy but the fans are loud. Then I powered it down before leaving for the summer.

Upon returning in the fall it's not happy. The heat may be related to the oozing caps, but it was running happily when I last shut it down.

Usually after being shut down this long you can get stuck disk drives, but this seems to be more than that.

I just ordered a twinax card, an mfiop card, and a modem/wan card. If none of those fix it, the only remaining components will be the scsi cards and the motherboard.

Thankfully this old hardware is cheap (except the mobo).

****************************************************
Go...FASTER!  Without an Upgrade!
ARCTOOLS/400(tm) and ReorgWizard(tm)
www.arctools.com
DCSoftware,Inc.
Ph:  508.435.8243 x200
Fax:508.435.4498
Current versions:
AS400: ARCTOOLS v7.2.4, ReorgWizard v4.1.2, JDE Module v5.1.2, BPCS Module v1, JDA Module v1
Oracle / SQL: ARCTOOLs v8, JDE Module v6
*****************************************************
This email, and any attachments, is intended only for the use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. It is the property of DCSoftware, Inc. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email and/or any attachments, and any use of this information contained herein, is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error, please notify us immediately at 508.435.8243 and permanently delete the original and any copy thereof. Thank you.


-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Meehan
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2025 6:21 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: B181F22A on 9406-520

You wrote that the machine was running 24/7 for 20 years but also that it was powered off for the past 5 or 6 months. Maybe the reason it won't power on has something to do with the reason it was powered off?

On Sun, Nov 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM David C. Shea <dshea@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

So it's always the capacitors until it isn't. And this time it isn't.

I replaced the caps. No joy.

I replaced the module - a voltage regulator (1 of 3). No joy. I
think this was the 2.5 volt regulator, which I think is for the CPU.
Maybe when the caps fried whatever uses that 2.5v fried... dunno.

I replaced the power supply. No joy.

I replaced the service processor. No joy.

I replaced voltage regulator 2 of 3 (1.2v IIRC). No joy.

I replaced voltage regulator 3 of 3 (1.5v IIRC). No joy.

I removed 2 of 4 DIMMS, leaving two in the two slots you're supposed
to populate first. No joy. I swapped in the other pair. No joy.
Put them all back.

I have ordered 4 more DIMMs, will try that next week.

Other factoids:

The box powers up and the LEDs on the drives come on dimly but never
start blinking. I didn't think the drives ever started spinning, but
when I removed the six that were installed and installed just one in
the bottom slot (where the Load Source is supposed to go?), that drive spun up.

DVD and tape drive power up. Tape drives whirs, so it's getting power.
Not sure if it's talking to the box, since that might just be the
power coming on.

LEDs on the PCI slots look normal.

The LEDs on the motherboard that use the light tubes to get to the
little trap door below the fans are all dark except the one for 'system attention'.

Power supply LED is normal.

LEDs on service processor look normal.

Tried booting off "D". I don't recall if the DVD or the tape drive is
my alternate ipl device. Most likely the tape drive. Tried the LIC
disk. No joy. Tried booting off a SAVSYS tape. No joy. I pulled
all six drives and inserted a formatted 4318 into the bottom slot (I
think that's 'drive 1'). Interestingly, that drive did spin up. I
knew this because the bearings are noisy. But no change. The cursor
on the console (5250, not
HMC) is staying put at 01-80 (upper right).

The steps it's going through before croaking looks like hardware
inventory stuff. Then it dies, and it sounds like 'critical hardware
missing'. So it's either dying because of what it just went through,
or it's dying on whatever is next. But it's not telling me what the problem is.

My understanding is that I can use a DB9 to USB null modem cable to
connect my laptop to the T1 port on the back at 19.2k-8-N-1 to get a
connection with Putty. I'll give that a try and see what info rolls
past on the screen.

Any advice on this pursuit?

The terminal is not waking up, so perhaps the MFIOP is bad? The port
on the ethernet switch where the ethernet is plugged in is sensing a
connection, so that board is at least partly awake.



****************************************************
Go...FASTER! Without an Upgrade!
ARCTOOLS/400(tm) and ReorgWizard(tm)
www.arctools.com
DCSoftware,Inc.
Ph: 508.435.8243 x200
Fax:508.435.4498
Current versions:
AS400: ARCTOOLS v7.2.4, ReorgWizard v4.1.2, JDE Module v5.1.2, BPCS
Module v1, JDA Module v1 Oracle / SQL: ARCTOOLs v8, JDE Module v6
*****************************************************
This email, and any attachments, is intended only for the use by the
addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or
confidential information. It is the property of DCSoftware, Inc. If
you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby
notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email
and/or any attachments, and any use of this information contained
herein, is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error,
please notify us immediately at 508.435.8243 and permanently delete
the original and any copy thereof. Thank you.


-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of David C. Shea
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2025 4:03 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: B181F22A on 9406-520

But then I have to admit, this machine has been running 24/7 365 for
over
20 years.



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone



-------- Original message --------
From: "David C. Shea" <dshea@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 11/16/25 4:02 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: B181F22A on 9406-520

Thanks for that information. I have posted three pictures on that site
and included the link below. So now everyone can see the offending component.

And as usual, it's a capacitor. It's always the capacitor.

https://imgur.com/a/JxCQfGr





Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone



-------- Original message --------
From: Mark Waterbury via MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 11/16/25 1:44 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Mark Waterbury <mark.s.waterbury@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: B181F22A on 9406-520

David,

The email list server at midrange.com has always stripped attachments,
whether images embedded or attached. This is because they could
harbor "viruses" -- so as not to propagate them to all list members.

You can post your images at imgur.com and then include the generated
URLs in your e-mail to the list, so others can click on those links to view.

Hope that helps,

Mark S. Waterbury






On Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 01:24:33 PM EST, David C. Shea <
dshea@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Bummer. So all that did was attach some hokey link to some file on my
phone.

So the name and part number for the failed gadget is

VCN-POVVB IBM 2.5v Voltage Regulator Module VCN-P0VVB-2 97P2642

So if this thing is not spitting out two and a half volts like it's
supposed to, I assume the CPU or one of the other important processors
is not happy. I will report back when I either install this part or I
install the $2 worth of capacitors that I just ordered.



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone



-------- Original message --------
From: "David C. Shea" <dshea@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 11/16/25 1:19 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: B181F22A on 9406-520

Images were not coming through as an attachment to these emails. I'm
hoping when it's embedded in the body these pics will come through. If
no pics come through and somebody knows how to do this is let me know.



[cid:storage_emulated_0_Android_data_com_samsung_android_email_provide
r_files__EmailTempImageHEV_1763317065340_jpg_1763317065353]



[cid:storage_emulated_0_Android_data_com_samsung_android_email_provide
r_files__EmailTempImageHEV_1763317097559_jpg_1763317097574]


Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone



-------- Original message --------
From: "David C. Shea" <dshea@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 11/16/25 10:47 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: B181F22A on 9406-520

Found some oozing caps after all. I ordered some new ones and will
report back after a little soldering.

I'm optimistic that this is the problem.



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone



-------- Original message --------
From: "David C. Shea" <dshea@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 11/15/25 11:56 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: "'midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: B181F22A on 9406-520

Some further information...



The last code on the display befoire te B181F22A was C1802000



After the box hangs, I got the codes off the front panel.

11:

A1003043



14:

H -80P4848 522A

And later I got this scrolling:

H787A.001.DPM0941-P1



9406-520 7450

0000000100000001



43:

A1003043

This one seems to indicate "service processor dump" according to


https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power11/9856-22H?topic=functions-function-
43-service-processor-dump



I video'd the SRC codes as it was booting up.

The last code was

C18020FF - termination complete

And in reverse chronological order:

C1802000 - starting termination

Prior was C1C3C218 - service processor polling spcn

C1C3C210,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,200, a bunch of these that all smell
like SPCN stuff.

C100911B - normal ipl performed

C1C3C213

C1C3C212

C1C3C211

C1C3C210

C1C3C20F

C1C3C20E

C1C3C20D

C1C3C20C

C1C3C20B

C1C3C20A

C1C3C209

C1C3C208

C1C3C207



So all this stuff seems to be SPCN related before it croaks.



What / where is the SPCN in this box? Model 520 7450 running v7r1.
Could this be a power supply problem, or is there a different component?



From this:



https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power5?topic=locations-models-515-52x-285



I see 'connectors' for other SPCN, but I don't see a reference to "the
spcn" on this box / mobo.



There's this:



[cid:image001.png@01DC5623.38205780]





P1-C17 is a 'voltage regulator'. Could this be fried? Is this part
of spcn?







****************************************************

Go...FASTER! Without an Upgrade!

ARCTOOLS/400(tm) and ReorgWizard(tm)

www.arctools.com<http://www.arctools.com>

DCSoftware,Inc.

Ph: 508.435.8243 x200

Fax:508.435.4498

Current versions:

AS400: ARCTOOLS v7.2.4, ReorgWizard v4.1.2, JDE Module v5.1.2, BPCS
Module v1, JDA Module v1

Oracle / SQL: ARCTOOLs v8, JDE Module v6

*****************************************************

This email, and any attachments, is intended only for the use by the
addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or
confidential information. It is the property of DCSoftware, Inc. If
you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby
notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email
and/or any attachments, and any use of this information contained
herein, is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error,
please notify us immediately at 508.435.8243 and permanently delete
the original and any copy thereof. Thank you.





-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of David C. Shea
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2025 5:30 PM
To: 'midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: B181F22A on 9406-520



I have a small 520 that I bought from IBM maybe 20-ish years ago.
It's a
P05 processor group - a processor 7450 IIRC. It was turned off for 5
or 6 months, had been running fine prior.



Now it fails during power up with code B181 F22A. I don't think it
even got to the point of spinning the drives.



I connected a terminal and tried a manual IPL from the front panel.
The twinax card never even talks to the terminal... the cursor stays
in the upper left corner.



There is one thread on this list for this. I tried those suggestions.
I cleaned and reseated all the drives; cards; power supply; service
processor card. One person suggested replacing the service processor
battery. No joy. Replaced the service processor module. No joy.
Pulled 2 of the 4 dimms (not sure if this will run on only 2). No
joy. Swapped in the other
2 dimms. No joy. Put them all back. No joy.



Not sure what else to try. This box is set up for twinax as the console.
I've never tried HMC. If there's a quick tutorial as to how to do
that, I'm interested. Maybe HMC wakes up before twinax?



The only other replaceable items would be the FSIOP card, the Ethernet
card, and the twinax / comm controller.



I'll try booting off a DVD, and a SAVSYS backup tape, but it doesn't
appear that the scsi bus is even awake yet.



I don't see any swelled capacitors. Nothing burnt or charred that I
can see.



The power supply LEDs are all happy.



The three main fans are all happy. The power supply fan is happy.
The LEDs below the three fans show "system attention", otherwise all dark.



If it's the motherboard, my understanding is that the serial number
lives on the motherboard, so I'd be screwed since my LPPs won't be licensed.



Looking for a miracle...





****************************************************

Go...FASTER! Without an Upgrade!

ARCTOOLS/400(tm) and ReorgWizard(tm)

www.arctools.com<http://www.arctools.com/<http://www.arctools.com%3cht
tp:/
www.arctools.com/>>

DCSoftware,Inc.

Ph: 508.435.8243 x200

Fax:508.435.4498

Current versions:

AS400: ARCTOOLS v7.2.4, ReorgWizard v4.1.2, JDE Module v5.1.2, BPCS
Module v1, JDA Module v1 Oracle / SQL: ARCTOOLs v8, JDE Module v6

*****************************************************

This email, and any attachments, is intended only for the use by the
addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or
confidential information. It is the property of DCSoftware, Inc. If
you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby
notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email
and/or any attachments, and any use of this information contained
herein, is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error,
please notify us immediately at 508.435.8243 and permanently delete
the original and any copy thereof. Thank you.



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