Shutting Down

The NetWinder, despite its appearance, is very much like a standard server computer. If you disconnect the power without shutting it down first, you run the risk of corrupting or losing the files on the hard disk drive.

WARNING

It is extremely important that you follow the instructions in this section when shutting down your NetWinder computer. Disconnecting the power while the NetWinder is running could cause irretrievable loss of data.

Desktop Model Shutdown

  1. Open a browser on any computer connected to the NetWinder network and go into Administration mode on the NetWinder main screen. Go to the System screen. Click Maintenance and then Halt.
  1. In no more than a few seconds, disk activity should begin. This can be seen by watching the hard drive activity light on the front of your NetWinder.

When the NetWinder makes a bloop noise, it has finished shutting down and can be safely disconnected from the power.

If you experience difficulties, please refer to the chapter entitled Recovering From Emergencies or try a hard reset as follows:

Desktop Model Hard Reset

If your NetWinder does not seem to be responding to the reset button, you can hard reset the NetWinder.

A hard reset forces the NetWinder to reboot without first shutting down all its services. This will cause it to take longer to boot up the next time.

To perform a hard reset, hold down the orange reset button for at least 6 seconds, and then release it. At that time, you can either unplug the NetWinder or allow it to restart automatically. On restarting, the NetWinder sounds a four-note chord. Once you hear this chord, it is no longer safe to disconnect the power and you must reset the system again if you still want to disconnect it.

Rackmount Model Power Functions

The NetWinder OfficeServer rackmount can be shut down using any computer connected to the network (as described previously in the desktop procedure). It can also be shut down using the power on/off switch on the front panel.

Power-on

With the unit turned off, press the power button for 0.5 seconds and then release it. Result: unit turns on.

Power-down (using power switch)

With the unit turned on, press the power button for 0.5 seconds and then release it to initiate the shutdown sequence. Result: the power LED will flash from GREEN to RED three times. The NetWinder will close down all programs, then turn itself off. If, after two minutes, the system is unsuccessful in closing all programs, it will automatically turn itself OFF.

Power-down (using browser and power switch)

  1. With the unit turned on, open the browser on any computer connected to the NetWinder and go into Administration Mode. Go to the System screen. Click Maintenance and then Halt.
  1. Press the power button for 5 seconds and then release it to cut the power. Result: the system immediately shuts off.
WARNING
If you press the power button for more than five seconds when the NetWinder rackmount is running, it will shut down immediately regardless of software status, possibly with destructive results. If the NetWinder does not respond to soft power-down procedures, refer to the chapter in this manual entitled Recovering From Emergencies.