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First Power-On

Power-on sequence and initial system verification.


Before Powering On

⚠️ Both Lids Must Be Removed:

  • Rear lid: Required for power cable access to PDU
  • Front lid: Required for airflow inlet to internal components (prevents overheating)
  • Never operate with lids closed - critical for cooling and access

Optional - Network Uplink:

  • Uplink cable NOT connected for initial power-on (prevents DHCP conflicts)
  • Will connect uplink after initial verification

Note: We'll connect the power cable as part of the power-on sequence below.


Power-On Sequence

Step 1: Connect Power Cable

EDC will boot automatically and begin powering the system components once power cable is inserted.

  1. Locate the PDU on the Rear Panel

    • PDU is mounted on the bottom of the rear panel
    • Power inlet is on the left side of the PDU
  2. Plug the Power Cable into the PDU

    • Take the included power cable
    • Insert the IEC C13 connector into the PDU power inlet
    • Push firmly until fully seated
  3. Plug the Other End into the Wall Outlet

    • Use a grounded 3-prong outlet
    • North America: 110-120V outlet
    • International: 220-240V outlet
  4. Verify PDU Powers On

    • PDU LCD display should light up within 2-3 seconds
    • Display shows voltage and power consumption after it is fully booted (30-60s)
    • Initial reading will be low (only PDU and switch powered initially)

Step 2: Verify Switch Power-On

The EnGenius switch should power on automatically when main power is enabled and PDU is booted.

Verification:

  • Look for LED indicators on the switch
  • Power LED should be solid green
  • Port LEDs will illuminate as devices connect
  • May take 30-60 seconds for full boot

Normal Behavior:

  • Switch boots and runs self-test
  • Some LEDs may flash during startup
  • Port LEDs light as internal devices connect

Step 3: Power On Compute Nodes

Compute nodes may require manual power-on depending on the UEFI configuration.

Press the button on the front face of each compute node.

The light on the button will illuminate to signify the node working.


Initial Power-On Verification

PDU Display Check

Look at the PDU LCD Display:

  • Voltage: Should show 100-120V (NA) or 200-240V (International)
  • Current: Will increase as nodes boot
  • Power: Total system power consumption

Typical Readings After Full Power-On:

  • NUC Edition: 200-400W
  • HR-01-2 Edition: 300-600W
  • HR-01-4 Edition: 500-900W (estimated)

Do note that these are estimated and will vary based on the actual load of your nodes.

If Voltage Reading is Incorrect:

  • Verify correct input voltage at outlet
  • Check power cable connections
  • See troubleshooting section below

Switch Status Check

Check the Switch LED Indicators:

  • Power LED: Solid green
  • Port LEDs: Blinking

Cooling System Check

Listen For Fan Operation:

  • Cooling fans should be audible from rear of EDC
  • Initial fan speed may be higher during boot
  • Fan speed should stabilize after 2-3 minutes
  • Airflow should be felt at rear exhaust vents

Note: EDC active cooling fans are temperature controlled, and depending on the ambient temperature may not turn on.

Feel Rear Exhaust:

  • Place hand near rear panel vents
  • Should feel slight airflow
  • Air will warm up as system runs

Compute Node Verification

For Each Compute Node:

  • Power LED lit (indicates node is running)
  • Network activity LEDs blinking on node network ports
  • Fan noise from each node
  • No error beeps or alarm sounds

HCI Software Startup:

  • May take additional 2-5 minutes after OS boots
  • Nodes will join cluster automatically (if pre-configured by your reseller)
  • Access via HCI management interface (see next steps)

Normal First Boot Behavior

What You Should Observe:

  1. PDU powers on immediately (~30 seconds)
  2. Switch boots (30-60 seconds)
  3. Compute nodes boot when powered on (30-120 seconds per node)
  4. System becomes stable within 5 minutes total

Normal Sounds:

  • Fan noise (varies by cooling profile)
  • No beeping, clicking, or alarm sounds

Normal Temperature Progression:

  • System starts cool
  • Temperature rises during first 10-15 minutes
  • Fans may increase speed temporarily
  • System stabilizes at normal operating temperature

Troubleshooting

Nothing Powers On - No PDU Display

Problem: No power to any component

Check:

  1. Power cable fully inserted at both ends (PDU inlet and wall outlet)
  2. Wall outlet has power (test with another device)
  3. Circuit breaker not tripped
  4. Extension cord or power strip functioning (if used)
  5. PDU inlet connection is secure

If Still No Power:

  • Contact your reseller immediately
  • Do not attempt internal inspection
  • May be PDU or wiring issue
PDU Powers On But Switch Does Not

Problem: PDU LCD lit but switch has no LEDs

Check:

  1. Wait 60 seconds - switch may still be booting
  2. Look carefully at switch - some LEDs are small
  3. Check internal power connection from PDU to switch (if qualified)

If Switch Does Not Power On After 2 Minutes:

  • Contact your reseller
  • Switch may require service
  • Possible internal cable issue
Compute Nodes Won't Power On

Problem: Pressing power button has no effect

Check:

  1. Verify PDU is powered on (LCD lit)
  2. Check power cable connection to each node
  3. Try holding power button for 2-3 seconds

If Nodes Still Won't Power On:

  • Verify outlet power cycling hasn't disabled PDU outlets
  • Check PDU display for outlet status (make sure it is enabled)
Fans Running Very Loud / Not Running

Problem: Fan noise excessive or absent

Fans Very Loud:

  • May be normal during initial boot (high speed startup)
  • Should stabilize within 3-5 minutes
  • If remains loud, may be set to Turbo profile
  • If your ambient temperature is high, it is expected to run louder
  • See Cooling Management

Safety - When to Power Off Immediately

Power Off the System Immediately if You Observe:

  • ⚠️ Smoke or burning smell
  • ⚠️ Sparks or electrical arcing
  • ⚠️ Continuous loud beeping/alarms
  • ⚠️ Extremely hot surfaces (too hot to touch)
  • ⚠️ Liquid leakage
  • ⚠️ Unusual loud mechanical noise (grinding, clicking)

Emergency Shutdown Procedure:

  1. Unplug the power cable from the PDU immediately (if safe to do so)
  2. If unsafe to approach the rear panel, unplug from the wall outlet instead
  3. Contact reseller immediately
  4. Do not attempt to restart
  5. Document what you observed

What's Next?

After successful first power-on and verification:

👉 Initial Access - Access switch, PDU, and compute nodes

Or if you need to connect network first:

👉 Network Configuration - Configure network connectivity