Adding and removing the expansion unit from models 270 and 800

AS/400e 9406-270 and -800 series machines are getting cheaper with every passing year. Sometimes, these are equipped with an additional expansion unit (making the case wider) to fit more disks into the machine. Unfortunately, this unit is very noisy, suffering from acoustic resonance from the expansion case's fan. For private use, often disks aren't really needed for space reasons. At last, unneeded disks and power supply draw power from mains one has to pay for.

It is not sufficient to just unplug any connectors between the to case halves. The machine has a configuration setting somewhere in the behinds of the control panel to "know" if there's an expansion unit available or not. If you try to power on the machine while the expansion chassis is disconnected, but still configured, it will not work.

To change the expansion-present setting (part of the SPCN-Configuration), a few requirements must be met.

Change IPL-Mode to Manual

To access the SPCN-Configuration via Panel, the machine must be set to Manual IPL mode.

• Power down the machine if not already done. If you applied power to the machine, wait a minute after the service processor signals it's finished IPLing.
• Set the IPL-Mode to Manual. You need to access the part of the machine with the LCD and knobs.
  • Press ↑ or ↓ to switch the display to 02,
  • Press →⬦ (Enter) to enter the IPL change mode,
  • Press →⬦ (Enter) again to change the mode from IPL source to IPL method,
  • Press ↑ or ↓ (probably more than once) to switch the display to 02 B M.
  • Press →⬦ (Enter) to enter the IPL speed mode,
  • Press →⬦ (Enter) to go back to IP change mode,
  • Press ↑ or ↓ to switch the display to 01,
  • Press →⬦ (Enter) to display the current IPL mode.
• Do not power on the machine.

Change expansion unit configuration

There are four settings to configure with the control panel to tell the machine to search for, or ignore the expansion unit. It is not appearing as a separate device on the SPCN.

The 800's and 810's expansion unit feature code is #7116. The 270's expansion unit feature code is #7104.

• Press ↑ or ↓ repeatedly to switch the display to 07.
  • If 07 is not available, wait a minute after applying initial power to the machine.
  • If 07 is still not available, check if you set the IPL mode to Manual.
• Press →⬦ (Enter) to enter the SPCN configuration mode. The Display should read 07**.
• Press ↑ or ↓ repeatedly to switch the display to 07A9.
• Press →⬦ (Enter). The display should read 07A9 00.
• Press ↑ or ↓ (repeatedly) to chose the frame address. This is usually 01, so the display should read 0701.
• Press →⬦ (Enter). The display should read 0701 00.
• Press ↑ or ↓ or (repeatedly) to chose the correct configuration ID; see table below. The display should read 07nn, where nn is the code chosen from the table below.
• Press →⬦ (Enter). The display should read 0701 briefly until the service processor re-IPLs.

ID	Description
	Model 270	Model 800
91	Model 270 with CCIN 2249, 224A, 25B9, 25BA and without expansion unit, (without removable processor).	Models 800 and 810 with CCIN 25B9, 25BA, 25F0 and without expansion unit (FC7116), (without removable processor).
92	Model 270 with processor CCIN 24A0, 24A2, 25BD and without expansion unit, (with removable processor).	Model 810 with processor CCIN 25EB and without expansion unit (FC 7116), (with removable processor).
95	Model 270 with CCIN 2249, 224A, 25B9, 25BA and with expansion unit, (without removable processor).	Models 800 and 810 with CCIN 25B9, 25BA, 25F0 and with expansion unit (FC 7116), (without removable processor).
96	Model 270 with processor CCIN 24A0, 24A2, 24A4, 25BD and with expansion unit, (with removable processor).	Model 810 with processor CCIN 25EB and with expansion unit (FC 7116), (with removable processor).

For the 800, it's easy to decide, since there are only two options (91, 95) for that particular machine. For 270 and 810, you need to consult the DSPHDWRSC command to check the actual CPU model.

See also

• Panel Usage

Weblinks

• iSeries Server 270, 800, 810, 820, 825, 830, 840, 870, 890, SB2, and SB3 Hardware (Remove and Replace; Part Locations and Listings), PDF, Document-ID SY44-5917-02.