Dell Power Edge 2950 - E211 SBE LOG DISABLE DIMM6

Question

Any idea of what this error E211 SBE LOG DISABLE DIMM6 could mean? Anyone have experienced this?

I know that it sound pretty obvious, that is the 6th bank of my memory, and guest what:

• I have already changed the order of the RAM modules. Same error on the same DIMM slot
• Dell already replaced the MOBO with a new one. RAM modules connected on different order, same error. Already cleaned up the logs with the OMSA livecd.
• Boot to memtest+ shows nothing
• All possible firmwares on this Motherboard are up-to-date

It could be another component or a firmware issue?

Dell is taking a look too, but found nothing at the system logs created by the OMSA.

A clear symptom is that, the error starts after one hour of operation. The operating system on this hardware is ESXi 5.0.1. No system crash has resulted because of this error.

Edit: I have cleaned the bios logs through /opt/dell/dset/clearesm.sh (OMSA liveCD) on the new mobo, rebooted into memtest+(still on livecd) and after 20 minutes the display turned on the error message and memtest found no errors...

Edit 2: ./dcicfg32 command=clearmemfailures neither the BCM clear on the Bios(Control + E during the post -> System event log menu -> Clear system event log) seems to resolve the question. After 20 minutes of operation, the error comes back.

Edit 3: MOBO was changed(see above) and both had/have the same error. Swap memory positions or use memory of other 2950 server changes nothing on the error.

Solution

This indicates that a single-bit error (SBE) has occurred on DIMM 6 with such a frequency that the system is no longer logging the error until it is rebooted. (See https://support.quest.com/SolutionDetail.aspx?id=SOL60022 for background.)

It's a bit perplexing that you're seeing the same error after replacing the motherboard but it is possible that the replacement board has the same defect as the first board. Since you moved the DIMMs around and the problem hasn't followed the DIMM I'm less likely to suspect the DIMM.

I would use the appropriate Dell MpMemory diagnostic for that server rather than memtest+. The Dell tool is going to be aware of any Dell-specific hardware features.

Comments

[Admin]

Yeah, that is weird. There is a guy on this thread(fixya.com/support/t2480699-e2111_sbe_log_disable_dimm‌​) that have the same problem, and the DIMM error jump back to DIMM5 after 10 minutes. I'll boot the OMSA cd again, and try to clean up the mobo logs...

[Admin]

Hum. I was instructed to just clean up the hardware logs through opt/dell/dset/clearesm.sh. I'll try to clean up the SBE logs as instructed when the machine finish the memtest(ETA - 2 hours).

[Admin]

Just to give a feedback: didn't worked :(

[Coré]

Well, in that case, could be the motherboard, be sure you have the latest firmware version, BIOS, BMC and DRAC(if you have).

[Admin]

It is on the description. We have already changed the mobo, and updated the BIOS and BMC to the latest version ;) - Changing the RAM modules position either do not make any difference on the error

[Admin]

yeah, i know, and the support guys have the same opinion about it. i think that could be other component because, even with other mobo AND other ram modules the error persists. weeeeird.

[Admin]

You were right. Memtest couldn´t find errors while the Dell tool found it

[Spence]

Glad to hear you were able to isolate the fault.

[Admin]

Belive it or not but it was both. The Memory slot on the first mobo(Dell checked) AND the RAM module. :)