Chapter 3. RAS and manageability
35
Network environment support with minimum telephone lines for modems
Communication base for performance data collection and reporting tool Performance
Management (PM/AIX)
For more information about PM/AIX, see:
http://www.ibm.com/servers/aix/pmaix.html
Machines are defined by using the Service Agent user interface. After the machines are
defined, they are registered with the IBM Service Agent Server (SAS). During the registration
process, an electronic key is created that becomes part of your resident Service Agent
program. This key is used each time the Service Agent places a call for service. The IBM
Service Agent Server checks the current client service status from the IBM entitlement
database. An email is returned to the client server requesting proper registration. If this
reveals that you are not on Warranty or MA, the service call is refused and posted back using
an e-mail notification.
Service agent can be configured to connect to IBM either using modem or network
connection. In any case, the communication is encrypted and strong authentication is used.
Service Agent only sends outbound transmissions and does not allow any inbound
connection attempts. Only hardware machine configuration, machine status or error
information is transmitted. Service Agent does not access or transmit any other data on the
monitored systems.
Thee principal ways of communication are possible:
Dial-up using attached modem device (uses the AT&T Global Network dialer for modem
access, does not accept incoming calls to modem)
VPN (IPsec is used in this case)
HTTPS (can be configured to work with firewalls and authenticating proxies)
Additional services provided by Service Agent are:
My Systems: Client and IBM persons authorized by the client can view hardware and
software information and error messages that are gathered by Service Agent on
Electronic Services WWW pages:
http://www.ibm.com/support/electronic
Premium Search: Search service using information gathered by Service Agents (paid
service that requires special contract).
Performance Management: Service Agent provides means for collecting long term
performance data. The data are collected in reports accessed by client on WWW pages of
Electronic Services (paid service that requires special contract).
You can download the latest version of Service Agent at this IBM Web site:
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/aix/service_agent_code
