Baremetal Server only starts when monitor is connected

[suschmania]

Dear all,

I have a problem with my Server. It is connected with starting it or doing a reboot.

XPEnology is running with version 7.1.0-42661, loader tinycore-redpill, Option "1a" from this thread. Motherboard is an ASRock J3355B-ITX with 8GB DDR3-1333MHz. There are 6 WD Red harddrives installed (2 with 3TB, rest with 4TB).  4 of them are connected via an SATA extension card with the JMB585 chip. It looks exactly like this picture:

 

 

 

My problem is that if there is a power failure or a reboot, the server only starts / reboots when I connect a monitor to the HDMI output. If this is not the case, the server will not start at all. If I connect a monitor after starting, there is no video output - I can't see anything. The machine does not even request an IP from the router. When I plug out the energy cable and replug it again (monitor also attached and on) the system starts as it should. I can see the boot screen and then switching to USB, loading kernel etc.

It almost seems as if the BIOS requires the presence of a monitor to start.

ASRock said they did a test with this MB with Windows 10. They added a startup sound after Windows was booting up. They plugged out the HDMI cable and startet the machine. After half a minute they could here the installed startup sound  --> means the machine started without issues. With xpenology / a boot via USB seems not to work. Does someone has an idea how I can fix this?

Of course, the server runs smooth without a monitor but when I am on the road and there is a problem, then my data is not accessible.

 

Regards,

Sascha

Danke und liebe Grüße,

Thank you and Kind Regards

[suschmania]

Just as an addition: the server starts, energy is flowing and the fan runs, too. But no screen output or anything else appears after pushing the power button. It seems as nothing is loaded, not even the uefi bios. 

Monitor attached: everything runs smooth

[asheenlevrai]

Did you find a fix for this problem?

[suschmania]

No, unfortunately the behavior stays the same.

I help myself now with a long hdmi cable to my TV. When I have to shut down the server or something happens, then I can start the server when the TV also is active.

 

But when I am not at home.... no chance 🤕

[Orphée]

I would look in the BIOS settings in your case, I don't think it is related to xpenology.

 

You could begin with this too :

 

 

[nemesis122]

or you use en HDMI Dummy stick

[Orphée]

1 hour ago, nemesis122 said:

or you use en HDMI Dummy stick

Yep good idea, for the price, it would do the job :

 

https://www.amazon.fr/EVanlak-Headless-Emulator-Aluminum-Headless-3840x2160/dp/B07YKGGQTJ

[suschmania]

On 11/30/2022 at 8:02 AM, nemesis122 said:

or you use en HDMI Dummy stick

I will try this - thank you for the tip! Never heard about an HDMI dummy.

[asheenlevrai]

I have the same problem but rather than hijacking the thread I post my own here

[suschmania]

Problem solved, the dummy HDMI stick did the trick. Nice idea . Thank you