FAQ
FAQ
A server shows a red fault LED but still runs - should it be shut down immediately?
Not necessarily. Identify the alert type first via IPMI or iLO. Redundancy alerts (fan or PSU redundancy) allow continued operation while repair is scheduled; critical alerts such as CPU overheating or RAID degradation call for moving the workload away and shutting down as soon as possible. ZhongLianDa provides 24x7 remote assistance to interpret alerts and advise on handling.
What to do about frequent ECC errors on server memory?
Locate the faulty DIMM first: check IPMI or BIOS logs to see which module reports errors, then power off, remove it and swap it for testing. Common causes: physical DRAM damage, poor slot contact, or a failed memory controller on the board. ZhongLianDa offers free on-site testing with professional diagnostic tools, and stocks DIMMs of all major brands and models for immediate replacement.
How should servers be backed up, and how often should backups be verified?
Backups split into system and data. For systems, use the RAID controller snapshot or cloud snapshots; for data, rsync or backup software on regular servers, and RMAN full plus incremental for Oracle. Frequency: monthly full system, daily incremental data. Verification matters: run a restore drill monthly. ZhongLianDa maintenance customers get backup configuration guidance and scheduled restore verification to keep the DR plan truly effective.
How are retired AI servers valued for recycling?
Valuation considers GPU model, usage hours, health status, faults and firmware version; certified data destruction on the drives is a mandatory step of recycling.
How do out-of-town customers work with you? Is remote support available?
Three modes: remote operations, spare-part shipping, and on-site visits. Remote operations is the most common: via VPN or our remote management platform we handle inspections, fault diagnosis and software updates; when hardware must be replaced, parts ship directly from our warehouse with an engineer guiding replacement remotely; for emergencies or complex faults we dispatch engineers. ZhongLianDa maintenance customers cover many provinces - remote response matches local on-site in quality and price.
Do you serve customers in other cities?
Yes. Beyond local on-site service, we support remote diagnosis, spare-part shipping and resident or traveling engineers. Many of our long-term maintenance customers are spread across the country and are served efficiently through our remote operations platform - same quality and price as local service.
Can Oracle servers in remote data centers be managed remotely?
Yes. The SP/ILOM remote management card gives remote visibility of hardware status; some operations still need on-site staff.
How to troubleshoot a RAID controller alarm?
The first rule is data safety: do not blindly pull drives or reboot. Correct process: check the RAID management tool (e.g. MegaRAID Storage Manager) to identify the failed drive and whether the array is degraded; record the alert and drive position; continue running if redundancy remains, otherwise back up before swapping the drive. ZhongLianDa engineers can assist remotely or attend on-site for emergencies, and we stock large quantities of original RAID controller spares.
What to consider when racking AI servers, given cabinet weight limits?
8-GPU systems are heavy: confirm rack load capacity, distribute weight evenly top-to-bottom to avoid top-heavy racks, and plan rails and PDU power in advance.
How long does project implementation take?
Single-server racking and commissioning: 1-3 days. Multi-node clusters and database migrations: from one week to several weeks depending on scale.
Can you provide case studies and customer references?
Yes. We provide anonymized case studies of similar projects and acceptance certificates, as required for tenders.
Do you offer on-site surveys before a project, and is there a charge?
Pre-sales surveys are generally free; for large complex cluster projects the survey fee can be agreed in advance and credited against the project cost on award.
Can Oracle database migration be done without downtime?
Yes. Using OGG data synchronization with incremental replication, the cutover is nearly invisible to the business.
Can Oracle x86 servers (Oracle Server) run Linux?
Yes. Oracle Linux, RHEL, CentOS and other mainstream distributions are supported, and Windows Server also runs.
What workloads suit Oracle x86 servers?
Oracle databases, middleware, virtualization and application servers - general enterprise workloads.
What is the difference between Oracle servers and regular servers?
Oracle servers are optimized for Oracle databases. First, they come in SPARC and x86 lines, with SPARC providing hardware-level database acceleration. Second, deep integration with Oracle Database supports RAC, Oracle VM and other features. Third, higher redundancy levels with dual-path protection on critical components. ZhongLianDa is a professional Oracle server service provider covering sales, deployment and maintenance with 23 years of Oracle experience.
What power and environment do Oracle servers require?
Stable UPS power on a dedicated circuit, 18-26 C, 40%-60% humidity, dust control, and protection from voltage fluctuation.
What are the acceptance criteria for Oracle server delivery?
Chassis condition, parts inventory, power-on self-test, error-free hardware logs, OS installation and debugging, connectivity tests and delivery documentation.
What are the hardware requirements for an Oracle RAC cluster?
Same-model CPUs and memory, shared storage, a dedicated interconnect network, synchronized node clocks, and hardware configurations kept as consistent as possible.
How long does Oracle RAC cluster deployment take?
It depends on node count and environment complexity. A basic 2-node RAC takes about 2-3 days including OS preparation, Grid Infrastructure installation, ASM storage configuration, database creation and functional verification; multi-node or Data Guard configurations take longer. ZhongLianDa has Oracle OCE-certified engineers and has deployed hundreds of RAC clusters for finance and manufacturing customers, going live inside maintenance windows with data safety as a priority.
Will replacing Oracle server parts affect operations?
Hot-swappable parts (disks, PSUs) do not affect operations; replacing non-hot-swappable core hardware requires downtime.
What are common hardware faults on Oracle minicomputers?
Power supply failures, bad disk blocks, memory errors, fan failures, PCIe card failures and backplane faults.
Are Oracle licenses and server hardware purchased separately?
Yes. Hardware procurement, database software licenses and software support are three independent items, contracted separately.
What is Oracle Exadata and where does it fit?
A database machine purpose-built for Oracle: server, storage and network integrated in one appliance, designed for large-scale OLTP and data warehousing.
How much improvement can Oracle database tuning deliver?
It depends on the bottleneck: SQL-level tuning typically gains 5%-30%, index and execution-plan rewrites 20%-50%, and storage I/O optimization over 50%. ZhongLianDa pinpoints bottlenecks with AWR, ASH and ADDM diagnostics and works across SQL, parameters, indexing and I/O. We start with a free health check that states the expected gains, and implement only after your confirmation.
How is data safety ensured during Oracle database migration?
Core process: full backup with verified restore before migration; official tools such as Data Pump or RMAN instead of third-party ones; full post-migration verification (row counts, MD5 checks, business logic checks); and a planned maintenance window for the cutover with a final backup beforehand. ZhongLianDa has delivered dozens of Oracle migrations covering same-version, cross-version upgrade and heterogeneous platform scenarios.
Can old servers be traded in as credit against new purchases?
Yes. We assess the residual value of the old machines and credit it against the purchase price in the contract.
How to migrate an old Oracle server to a new one?
Solution selection (RMAN / Data Pump / OGG) -> environment preparation -> full backup and migration -> data verification -> business cutover. Downtime and near-zero-downtime options are available.
How to verify the qualifications of an NVIDIA server reseller?
Verify the OPN authorization certificate and its validity period with the vendor, check that the company name matches, and request a project-specific authorization letter.
What is the difference between NVIDIA AI servers and regular rack servers?
The core differences are GPU expansion, power, cooling and high-speed interconnects. Regular racks are CPU-oriented with at most 1-2 GPUs; AI servers natively support multiple GPUs with high-wattage PSUs, high-airflow cooling and IB/RoCE NICs, purpose-built for parallel computing.
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