Dell T640 both onboard NIC network ports not working

Hello,

Is this purchased second hand?

Do you know the history of anything not working correctly on the server?

Any damage to NIC connector, bent pins, broken solder joints…?

Any led light on the onboard ports link or activity?

Have you tried clear NVRAM:

Clear NVRAM - there is a map under the lid to show the jumper location. Shut down, Set jumper to the Clear position, power on and Post up to the jumper error, shut down and return jumper to original location.

Check in the BIOS for Embedded NIC1 and NIC2

Enables or disables the OS interface of the embedded NIC1 and NIC2 Controller.

Hi and thanks for reply, below some answers to your questions

1: Is this purchased second hand?, Answer: This was apparently "almost new" with a tiny very little insignificant dent on the front top right side located where the opening side panel join the front panel other than that is 99.5% in mint condition, the only few words about previous history the seller told me that the  parcel was with a little damage (not much really) because was previously returned to seller for some reason and the guarantee was just within one week of receiving the parcel, 

2 : Do you know the history of anything not working correctly on the server? Answer: Not really, may be checking on the logs of IDRAC or LCC somewhere can we perhaps know something

3: Any damage to NIC connector, bent pins, broken solder joints…? Answer : everything looks apparently Ok, to check broken solder joints I think is necessary to remove the motherboard from motherboard tray after removing the mobo and tray from the server  to check the underneath side of the mobo which can take a while to do

4: Any led light on the onboard ports link or activity? Answer: Both  onboard NIC ports do not show any activity from any LED nor amber nor green.

5: Have you tried clear NVRAM: Answer: Today I did that moving the clear NVRAM jumper plus disconnecting both power cables from both PSU then restart and turn off again  and restart only after moving back the jumper to its normal position and that make no difference, I need to retry doing that not just moving the clear NVRAM  jumper and removing both power cables but also simultaneously removing the CMOS coin battery to see if make any difference

6: Check in the BIOS for Embedded NIC1 and NIC2

Enables or disables the OS interface of the embedded NIC1 and NIC2 Controller. Answer: I think I mess up somewhere today within the BIOS (so many) network settings because now the discrete PCIe NIC network card when connected with the modem cable  is no longer active, shame on me, I attach here below some BIOS network settings screenshots   

  <Private data removed from public view. DELL-Admin>

Hello,

Try the NVRAM Clear again. When that is completed then boot to the BIOS <F2> and reset to Default. I think that button is down in the right hand corner.

Retry if you get link light.

If not try running the hardware diagnostics. Boot to LifeCycle Controller <F10> run Diagnostics. Note any errors and continue testing.

If you are not getting link then this test may fail but try:

Test the network adapter by connecting a notebook directly to the onboard NIC of the T640

1. Connect the Systems:
• Use an Ethernet cable to connect the notebook directly to the NIC of the other system.
2. Configure IP Addresses:
• Ensure both systems have IP addresses in the same subnet. You can manually assign IP addresses if necessary. For example:
• Notebook: 192.168.1.2 / 255.255.255.0
• Server: 192.168.1.3 / 255.255.255.0
3. Check Physical Connection:
• Verify that the Ethernet cable is securely connected and the network adapters are enabled on both systems.
4. Ping Test:
• Open the Command Prompt on the notebook and use the ping command to test connectivity. For example:
  ping 192.168.1.3
• If the ping is successful, it indicates that the network adapter is functioning correctly.

Hi, thank you for reply, I did a full NVRAM Clear by removing the coin battery plus removing two power cables from both PSU and shifting forward the NVRAM jumper then switch on then switch off or power off and shift backwards the jumper to original position and then switch on again without luck for the onboard NIC ports and surprisingly also the add-on PCIe network NIC card which originally was working now keep refusing to work, after that while in BIOS I click on the <F2> then the button at the bottom right corner to reset to Default  with exact same depressing results also laterI went to IDRAC to click for a full defaults and again no internet, your other advice apparently involve a laptop or notebook which I dont have, is possible to replace such laptop/notebook with a another server?

By the way do you think this lack of network internet have something to do with the operating system which currently I am using for this T640 which is the usual for me Windows 10 Pro ?, just in case I took from ebay a couple of Windows OS server 2022 for 24 cores 64 bits the Standard and the datacentre just in case this lack of internet is due to the wrong operating system, below I attach screenshot of my failed attempt to install network driver opparently for server in my Windows 10 operating system

Tonschk,

Would you confirm the OS installed on the T640, is it also Win10? I ask as it isn't supported on servers, it being a workstation OS. I also see from one of your screenshot that the driver is missing. If this is the case then you can try the driver here, which is for Server 2016, but has similarities to Win10.

Also, when Charles asked you to confirm the BIOS settings, the images you shared were from within the OS, and I wanted to confirm if the embedded nics and the card are both being seen by the server, like shown below.

You can get to this by hitting F2, then select Device Settings. 

Then if you see them listed there, would you then share screenshots of what you are seeing under then Main Config page, and the NIC Config page, when you click on each of the embedded NICs (if listed)

@DELL-Chris H ​ Hi thanks for reply, I have partially good news for this network problem, I somewhere got a network driver which manage to make the Add-on discrete PCIe NIC network card working again after installation of such driver but the onboard NIC ports are not yet working, I attach below a bunch of screenshots photos from the various network settings in the BIOS hopefully there is the info you was looking for, please tell me if you can manage figure out why the onboard NIC ports are not working yet, thank you very much              

<images removed by MOD for private information>

Hello,

Did you test this direct connect method?

If you are not getting link then this test may fail but try:

Test the network adapter by connecting a notebook directly to the onboard NIC of the T640

1. Connect the Systems:
• Use an Ethernet cable to connect the notebook directly to the NIC of the other system.
2. Configure IP Addresses:
• Ensure both systems have IP addresses in the same subnet. You can manually assign IP addresses if necessary. For example:
• Notebook: 192.168.1.2 / 255.255.255.0
• Server: 192.168.1.3 / 255.255.255.0
3. Check Physical Connection:
• Verify that the Ethernet cable is securely connected and the network adapters are enabled on both systems.
4. Ping Test:
• Open the Command Prompt on the notebook and use the ping command to test connectivity. For example:
  ping 192.168.1.3
• If the ping is successful, it indicates that the network adapter is functioning correctly.

Make sure the driver and firmware are current.

You could use this update utility

Dell Server Update Utility, Windows 64-bit format, v.25.03.00

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=5h6fm&oscode=ws22l&productcode=poweredge-r250

1. Download the full ISO file.

2. Use the ISO mounting software and mount the downloaded ISO image.

3. Browse to the folder.

4. Double-click the suulauncher.exe.

@DELL-Charles R​ Hi, thank you for quick reply, I dont have and never used a laptop or notebook I have only tower computers or tower servers like T420 T440 and HPE ML350 G10, is possible to do the test you are suggesting swapping the notebook with a tower server?, Also for me is very scary to update the IDRAC because a while ago I update the IDRAC of one of the T420 I have and after the attempt IDRAC update   the motherboard was dead and was necessary to buy on eBay a cheapo used replacement T420 motherboard which currently was not too much expensive US $80 but to replace the T640 motherboard is  very extreme expensive being the cheapest around US $600 or also have found at eBay the cost is above US $1000 link below therefore better  forget an IDRAC update for this T640 is too much risky

NEW SEALED DELL EMC POWEREDGE T640 SERVER MOTHERBOARD SYSTEM MAIN BOARD 4WYPY/

Hi,

I guess yes you can use a avaialble computer instead of a notebook to check direct connect method. Before doing anything, log into the iDRAC web interface and export the configuration. PowerEdge: How to Import and Export an iDRAC License Using the Web Interface | Dell UK

• Go to Maintenance > System Configuration (or Configuration Backup & Restore, depending on your iDRAC version).
• Look for an option like Export Configuration or Save Configuration to File.
• Choose the format (usually .xml or .json).
• Click Export or Download and save the file to your local machine.

If you're hesitate to update the iDRAC on your T640 (understandably, given how expensive a replacement motherboard is if you don't have a warranty) then you can stay away.

@DELL-Erman O​  Hi, thank you for reply, I think I need better to carefully step by step gradually and simultaneously update the BIOS and the IDRAC for my T440 and later the T640, my guess apparently the catastrofic disastrously and weird result  of damaging the IDRAC microcode of the motherboard I had while updating in a single step from the very old to the latest the IDRAC of my T420 was because the Dell forum Moderator was unfortunately an amateur and weirdo Dell forum moderator and  therefore he have no idea to update the BIOS and the IDRAC gradually step by step alternating the BIOS update and the IDRAC updates accordingly to increasing release date,  the reason the weirdo Dell Moderator forgot to mention this was because he even  had no idea that at some point the Lifecycle controller was merged with the IDRAC, this is the reason my advice to the Dell manager is he need to be more careful choosing the Dell forum moderators, 

I going to start updating the BIOS and IDRAC the T440 which currently have for the BIOS 1.5.6 version and for the IDRAC  3.21.21.21 version, therefore please can you tell me with which update I need to start ?, thank you very much

Tonschk,

You can follow the path of updates I laid out below, go from top to bottom in order. I provided links to each of the versions.

BIOS 1.7.0

iDrac 3.30.30

BIOS 2.2.11

iDrac 3.30.103.36

BIOS 2.3.10

iDrac 4.00.00.00

BIOS 2.8.2

iDrac 4.22.00.53

BIOS 2.11.2

iDrac 4.40.40.00

BIOS 2.14.2

iDrac 2.10.30.00

BIOS 2.17.1

iDrac  6.10.30.20

BIOS 2.19.1

iDrac 7.00.00

BIOS 2.21.1

iDrac 7.00.00.174

BIOS 2.24.0

iDrac 7.00.00.181

Let me know if this helps.

@DELL-Chris H ​ Ok and thank you for fast reply,  I proceed updating both alternatively BIOS and IDRAC but  I am worried to tell you I have extra problem here, surprisingly I finally manage to see the Dell IDRAC login website interface (so far only manage to do this with the T440 never successful with the T420) and I try with the famous Dell login password username i.e. root and calvin but give me error, can you please help me sort out this IDRAC login error?, thank you very much

Kind Regards 

Enrico

Would you clarify what the specific error is that you are seeing?

Also, if the default username/password is disabled and another login created, that can cause it not to work. Lastly, on the T420, have you tried with different browsers?

@DELL-Chris H ​ Hi, thank you for reply, I pull the front black plastic tongue  of the T440 and there is no password or username, only is a explanation to download and install in a mobile phone the OMM Openmanage Mobile which is available at Google Play website and then scan the QR code shown on such black front tongue, I try that but there are further complications problems because first when I try click to install OMM is telling me I need to login with my google email or account and not with my yahoo email or account, I manage to swap in my mobile phone within Openmanage Mobile website my yahoo account with my google account but anyway when I try to click install is giving me another error, please is possible to sort of reset the IDRAC to enable  the standard famous celebrated easy peasy Dell login password root and kelvin?, thank you very much

For the T420  IDRAC website login problem I was spending in the past a very lot of time to the point to try to use an older browser like older versions of Firefox or the very old Microsoft Explorer using Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 operating system but there is incompatibility problems between such browser and the operating system and at some point I really give up and no longer wasting my time on that problem , too much difficult to access that IDRAC website for my T420

Enrico

This is the IDRAC Login error for the T440,  today I try again and is as usual  not successful using  root and calvin