GIGABYTE G294-Z21-AAP2 (01) PDF MANUAL

The G294-Z21-AAP2 is an HPC/AI Server with the following key features:

– Supports AMD EPYC™ 9005/9004 Series Processors.

– It is a 2U rackmount server.

– Supports up to 4 x PCIe Gen5 GPUs.

Giga Computing provides the following types of documentation to assist in the use of this product:

User Manual: detailed information & steps about the installation, configuration and use of this product (e.g. motherboard, server barebones), covering hardware and BIOS.

User Guide: detailed information about the installation & use of an add-on hardware or software component (e.g. BMC firmware, rail-kit) compatible with this product.

Quick Installation Guide: a short guide with visual diagrams that you can reference easily for installation purposes of this product (e.g. motherboard, server barebones).

Before installing and servicing the server, you must understand the following warnings:

WARNING! To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to the equipment:

Do not disable the power cord grounding plug. The grounding plug is an important safety feature.

Plug the power cord into a grounded (earthed) electrical outlet that is easily accessible at all times.

Unplug all the power cords from the power supplies to disconnect power to the equipment.

Shock Hazard! Disconnect all power supply cords before servicing.

Do not route the power cord where it can be walked on or pinched by items placed against it. Pay particular attention to the plug, electrical outlet, and the point where the cord extends from the server.

WARNING! To reduce the risk of personal injury from hot surfaces, allow the drives and the internal system components to cool before touching them.

WARNING! This server is equipped with high speed fans. Keep away from hazardous moving fan blades during servicing.

WARNING! This equipment is intended to be used in a Restricted Access Area. Access can only be gained by a Skilled person. Only authorized by a well-trained professional person can access the restricted access location.

WARNING! This equipment should only be repaired, maintained or replaced by skilled personnel.

CAUTION!

Risk of explosion if battery is replaced incorrectly or with an incorrect type. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

CAUTION!

Do not operate the server for long periods with the access panel open or removed. Operating the server in this manner results in improper airflow and improper cooling that can lead to thermal damage.

Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.

Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer.

Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

CAUTION! ESD CAN DAMAGE DRIVES, BOARDS, AND OTHER PARTS.

It is recommended that you perform all procedures at an ESD workstation. If one is not available, provide some ESD protection by wearing an anti-static wrist strap attached to chassis ground (any unpainted metal surface) on your server when handling parts.

Handling Boards:

Always handle boards carefully. They can be extremely sensitive to ESD. Hold boards only by their edges without touching any components and pins. After removing a board from its protective wrapper or the system, place the board component side up on a grounded, static-free surface. Use a conductive foam pad if available, but not the board wrapper. Do not slide the board over any surface.

System Power On/Off:

To remove power from the system, you must remove the system from the rack. Ensure the system is removed from the rack before opening the chassis, adding, or removing any non-hot-plug components.

Hazardous Conditions, Devices, and Cables:

Hazardous electrical conditions may be present on power, telephone, and communication cables. Turn off the system and disconnect the cables attached to the system before servicing it to prevent personal injury or equipment damage.

Installing or Removing Jumpers:

A jumper is a small plastic-encased conductor that slips over two jumper pins. If using pliers to remove or install a jumper, grip the narrow sides of the jumper, never the wide sides, to avoid damaging the internal contacts. Be careful not to squeeze the pliers, as this may bend or break the pins on the board.

The motherboard/system contains numerous delicate electronic circuits that can be damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD). Before installation, carefully read the service guide and follow these procedures:

Prior to installation, do not remove or break the motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or warranty sticker.

Always remove AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet before installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components.

When connecting hardware components to internal connectors, ensure they are connected tightly and securely.

When handling the motherboard, avoid touching any metal leads or connectors.

It is best to wear an ESD wrist strap when handling electronic components. If you don’t have one, keep your hands dry and touch a metal object to eliminate static electricity.

Before installing the motherboard, place it on an antistatic pad or in an electrostatic shielding container.

Before unplugging the power supply cable from the motherboard, ensure the power supply is turned off.

Before turning on the power, ensure the power supply voltage is set according to the local voltage standard.

Verify that all cables and power connectors of your hardware components are connected before use.

To prevent damage, do not allow screws to contact the motherboard circuit or its components.

Ensure no leftover screws or metal components are on the motherboard or inside the computer casing.

Do not place the computer system on an uneven surface or in a high-temperature environment.

Turning on the computer power during installation can lead to damage to system components and physical harm to the user.

If you are uncertain about any installation steps, consult a certified computer technician.

Front View Components:

Additionally, the front has bays for 8 HDDs (HDD #0 to #7) and fan modules (GPU 78_FAN1/2, GPU 34_FAN1/2). NOTE: Green HDD Latch Supports NVMe.

Rear View Components:

The rear also houses the power supplies (PSU1, PSU2) and fan modules (GPU12E_FAN1/2, GPU56E_FAN1/2).

The HDD caddy has two LEDs, LED1 (Activity/Status) and LED2 (Presence).

LED 2 (Presence Indicator):

LED 1 (Activity/Status Indicator):

NOTE:
*1: Depends on HBA/Utility Spec.
*2: Blink cycle depends on HDD’s activity signal.
*3: If an HDD is pulled out during rebuilding, the disk status of this HDD is regarded as faulty.

Before you remove the system cover, make sure the system is not turned on or connected to AC power.

Follow these instructions:

1. Remove the eight screws securing the cover.

2. Slide the cover towards the rear and remove the cover in the direction of the arrow.

To remove the air duct:

1. Lift up to remove the fan duct.

To install the air duct:

1. Align the tabs at the front of the fan duct with the slots in the system fan compartment.

2. Push down the fan duct into the chassis until it is firmly seated.

WARNING! Failure to properly turn off the server before you start installing components may cause serious damage. Do not attempt these procedures unless you are a qualified service technician.

Before you begin, ensure:

The motherboard supports the CPU.

The computer is turned off and the power cord is unplugged.

All cables are unplugged.

The system is on a flat, stable surface.

Follow these instructions to install the CPU:

1. Align and install the processor on the carrier. NOTE: Apply thermal compound evenly on the top of the CPU. Remove the protective cover from the underside of the heat sink.

2. Carefully flip the heat sink cover. Then install the carrier assembly on the bottom of the heat sink and make sure the gold arrow is located in the correct direction.

3. Remove the CPU cover. NOTE: Save the CPU cover in the event that you need to remove the CPU from the socket.

4. Align the heat sink with the CPU socket by the guide pins and make sure the gold arrow is located in the correct direction. Then place the heat sink onto the top of the CPU socket.

5. Position the rotating wires into the latch position.

6. Tighten the screws in a sequential order (1→2→3→4). NOTE: When disassembling the heat sink, loosen the screws in reverse order (4→3→2→1) and then move the rotating wires into the unlatch position.

WARNING! Failure to turn off the server before starting can cause serious damage. Ensure the system is powered off and all cables are disconnected.

Follow these instructions to remove/install the heat sink:

1. Loosen the captive screws securing the heat sink in place in reverse order (6→5→4→3→2→1).

2. Lift and remove the heat sink from the system.

3. To reinstall the heat sink, reverse steps 1-2 while ensuring that you tighten the captive screws in sequential order (1→2→3→4→5→6). When installing, use a Torx T20 screwdriver to tighten the 6 captive nuts. Refer to the Heatsink Label for the screw tightening torque value.

Before installing memory, please observe the following guidelines:

Make sure the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.

Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord before installing.

Memory modules have a foolproof design and can be installed in only one direction.

Be sure to install DDR5 DIMMs on this motherboard.

Installation Steps:

1. Insert the DIMM memory module vertically into the DIMM slot and push it down.

2. Close the plastic clip at both edges of the DIMM slots to lock the DIMM module.

3. To remove a DIMM module, reverse the installation steps.

The motherboard provides 12 DDR5 memory sockets and supports 12-Channel Technology. When only one DIMM is used, it must be populated in memory slot DIMM1.

EPYC 9004 Memory Speed (One DIMM per Channel)

EPYC 9005 Memory Speed (DDR5 Frequency MT/s)

Notes:
1. 6400 MT/s supported with specific DIMMs listed in product page QVL.
2. MRDIMM will be evaluated as a post-PR feature, pending ecosystem readiness.
3. 3DS RDIMM at 2 Rank (8H DRAM Pkgs) will be a post-PR feature, pending ecosystem readiness.

There should be at least one DDR5 DIMM per socket. The following table shows which slots to populate based on the number of DIMMs for CPU0.

Ensure the system is powered down and all power sources are disconnected before installing a PCI card. A riser card must be installed in the PCI riser assembly first.

For Slot1/Slot2/Slot7/Slot8:

1. Loosen and remove the screw(s) securing the PCI cage:

For Slot7/Slot8: Loosen and remove the two screws at the top of the system.

For Slot1/Slot2: Loosen and remove the single screw at the top and the two screws at the rear of the system.

2. Pull the two plastic handles to lift the PCI cage from the system.

3. Insert the GPU card into the selected slot on the riser. Make sure the card is properly seated.

4. Secure the GPU card in place with two screws.

For Slot3/Slot4/Slot5/Slot6:

1. Loosen and remove the screw(s) securing the PCI cage:

For Slot5/Slot6: Loosen and remove the two screws at the top of the system.

For Slot3/Slot4: Loosen and remove the single screw at the top and the two screws at the rear of the system.

Pull the two plastic handles to lift the PCI cage from the system.

2. Insert the GPU card into the selected slot. Make sure the card is properly seated.

3. Secure the GPU cards in place with two screws.

Ensure the system is powered-down and all power sources have been disconnected before proceeding.

1. Loosen the thumbnail screw securing the PCI Express card bracket on the left side of the system.

2. Remove the PCI Express card bracket from the system.

3. Install the PCI Express card into the bracket.

4. Secure the PCI Express card to the bracket with one screw.

5. Install the PCI Express card bracket with the card back into the system. Ensure the connector on the bracket is securely installed into the connector on the motherboard.

6. Secure the PCI Express card bracket with the card to the system using the thumbnail screw.

Before installing, take note of the drive tray orientation and ensure the HDD will connect to the backplane. It is strongly recommended to use enterprise-level hard disk drives.

Follow these instructions to install a 2.5″ hard disk drive:

1. Press the release button on the drive tray.

2. Extend the locking lever.

3. Pull the locking lever to remove the HDD tray from the bay.

4. Align the hard disk drive with the positioning stud on the HDD tray.

5. Slide the hard disk drive into the HDD tray and secure it with screws.

6. Reinsert the HDD tray into the slot and close the locking lever to secure it.

CAUTION! Before you remove or install system fans, make sure the system is not turned on or connected to AC power and disconnect all necessary cable connections.

For Middle System Fans (SYS_FAN1_1/SYS_FAN1_2/SYS_FAN2_1/SYS_FAN2_2):

1. Disconnect the fan cable.

2. Lift up the fan assembly from the chassis.

3. Reverse the previous steps to install the replacement fan assembly.

For Rear System Fans (GPU12_FAN1/GPU12_FAN2/GPU56_FAN1/GPU56_FAN2):

1. Remove the screws and the bracket securing the fan assembly.

2. Then lift up the fan assembly from the chassis.

3. Reverse the previous steps to install the replacement fan assembly.

For Front System Fans (GPU34_FAN1/GPU34_FAN2/GPU78_FAN1/GPU78_FAN2):

1. Disconnect the fan cable.

2. Lift up the fan assembly from the chassis.

3. Reverse the previous steps to install the replacement fan assembly.

For External Rear Fans (GPU12E_FAN/GPU56E_FAN):

1. Loosen and remove the screws securing the fan cage.

2. Remove the fan cage from the system.

3. Remove the fan from the cage.

4. Reverse the previous steps to install the replacement fan assembly.

CAUTION! To reduce the risk of injury from electric shock, disconnect AC power from the power supply before removing it from the system.

Follow these instructions to replace the power supply:

1. Pull up the power supply handle and press the retaining clip on the right side of the power supply.

2. At the same time, pull out the power supply using the handle.

3. Insert the replacement power supply firmly into the chassis. Connect the AC power cord to the replacement power supply.

Note: The PSU installation sequence is PSU2 first, then PSU1.

To access the BIOS Setup program, press the <DEL> key during the Power-On Self-Test (POST) when the power is turned on.

Function Keys:

Caution: It is recommended that you do not alter the default settings unless necessary to prevent system instability. If the system fails to boot after changes, try to clear the CMOS values to reset the board to default values.

The system has an embedded recovery technique. In the event that the BIOS becomes corrupt, the boot block can be used to restore the BIOS to a working state. To restore your BIOS, please follow the instructions listed below:

Recovery Instruction:

1. Copy the XXX.rom file to a USB diskette.

2. Set the BIOS Recovery jumper to the enabled status.

3. Boot into BIOS recovery.

4. Run “Proceed with flash update.”

5. The BIOS will be updated.

PEI Beep Codes (Pre-EFI Initialization)

DXE Beep Codes (Driver Execution Environment)