Using the Service Processor and Service Director Features
The service processor and service director features protect users against unnecessary
system downtime by keeping support personnel (both internal and external) aware of
any unexpected changes in the system environment. In combination, the two features
provide a flexible solution to automated system maintenance.
Service Processor
The service processor runs on its own power boundary and continually monitors
hardware attributes, the AIX operating system, and the environmental conditions within
the system. Any system failure which prevents the system from returning to an
operational state (a fully functional AIX operating system) is reported by the service
processor. The service processor is controlled by firmware and does not require the AIX
operating system to be operational to perform its tasks. If any system failures are
detected, the service processor has the ability to take predetermined corrective actions.
The methods of corrective actions are:
v
Surveillance
v
Call Home
v
AIX operating system monitoring
Surveillance is a function in which the service processor monitors the system through
heartbeat communication with the system firmware. The
heartbeat is a periodic signal
that the firmware can monitor. During system startup, the firmware surveillance monitor
is automatically enabled to check for heartbeats from the firmware. If a heartbeat is not
detected within a default period, the service processor cycles the system power and
attempts to restart until the system either restarts successfully, or a predetermined retry
threshold is reached. In the event the service processor is unsuccessful in bringing the
system online (or in the event that the user asked to be alerted to any service
processor-assisted restarts), the system can call home to report the error.
The call home function can be initialized to call either a service center telephone
number, a customer administration center, or a digital pager telephone number. The
service processor can be configured to stop at the first successful call to any of the
numbers listed, or can be configured to call every number provided. If connected to the
service center, the service processor transmits the relevant system information (the
system’s serial number and model type) and service request number (SRN). If
connected to a digital pager service, the service processor inputs a customer voice
telephone number defined by the customer. An established sequence of digits or the
telephone number to a phone near the failed system could be used to signal a system
administrator to a potential system failure.
During normal operations, the service processor can also be configured to monitor the
AIX operating system. If AIX does not respond to the service processor heartbeat, the
service processor assumes the operating system is hung. The service processor can
automatically initiate a restart and, if enabled, initiate the call home function to alert the
appropriate parties to the system hang. Enabling operating system surveillance also
affords AIX the means to detect any service processor failures and report those failures
to the service director application.
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pSeries 630 Model 6C4 and Model 6E4 User’s Guide
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