Need p680 alive

[Zand]

Hello Experts,

we are trying to restore p680 server to work.
Op. panel show code which point to AC box failure. We already install new AC box but problem still the same. The other potential sources of this problem are Backplane, SPCN ...

How we can more accurately determine the source of problem? Does Service Processor accessible at Stanby Power? What are console
cable pinout? And what is the terminal comm's parameters to connect via serial port on I/O
drawer?

Sorry, but I'm totally new to this hardware, and did't find any information in docs.

Thanks in Advance!

 

[KenCunningham]

Zand, sorry it's not much help, but doesn't this box have a service contract with IBM?

 

[Zand]

This server is out of warranty. It is
also not under production, we just want to
bring it up with minimum investments as a
demo.

 

[ogniemi]

Expensive demo/training environment...))

 

[Yegolev]

a 680 requires a hmc to get at the hardware, i believe. i am not sure if a ibm3151 would work on S1. i assume you do not have a hmc so i suggest trying a ibm3151, or a serial terminal which can emulate one, in S1.

even if you did get a ibm3151 to do something, you would still need a hmc to manipulate any LPARS you might have or to change the boot mode to full-system mode.

IBM Certified -- AIX 4.3 Obfuscation

 

[bjverzal]

You need a HMC. Even if you are SP attached, the SP uses the HMC.

BV

 

[grudek]

Look at the Hardware Book.

no HMC required becuase it is not LPAR technology.

http://publib16.boulder.ibm.com/pseries/en_US/infocenter/base/HW_p680_s85.htm

From "Service Guide":
"
Service Processor Menus
The service processor menus are divided into two groups:
v General user menus - the user must know the general access password.
v Privileged user menus - the user must know the privileged-access password.
The following section describes these two groups of menus, how to access them, and
the functions associated with each option.
If the server is powered on, the service processor menus can be accessed locally or
remotely.
Accessing Service Processor Menus Locally
Service processor menus can be accessed locally by connecting an ASCII terminal to
either serial port 1 or 2. Because the presence of the ASCII terminal cannot be
confirmed by the service processor, you must press a key (any key) on the ASCII
terminal to confirm its presence. The key on the ASCII terminal must be pressed during
the time when the operator panel display shows the code E07A.
You can recognize when the access time for the service processor menu begins in the
following ways:
v The checkpoint prior to the access checkpoint is E04F.
v The system beeps three times as it enters checkpoint E07A.
When you gain access, the service processor prompts you for a password (if set), and
when verified, displays the service processor menus.
The service processor menu prompt, represented by 1> or 2> indicates the serial port to
which the terminal is connected. A 1> indicates serial port 1, and 2> indicates serial port
2.
Accessing the Service Processor Menus Remotely
If your system has a modem connected and is configured for call-in (see “Modem
Configuration Menu” on page 471), the service processor menus can be accessed
remotely as follows:
1. With the system powered off, call in from a remote terminal. Wait for at least two
rings and hang up. The system powers on upon detecting ring-indicate, and pauses
for a return call if call-in is enabled.
2. Wait five minutes and call in again. The service processor prompts you for a
password (if set). When verified, the service processor menus display remotely.
"

 

[bjverzal]

Nice catch - it says "680", not "690".

BV

 

[Zand]

I have tried to connect Terminal with IBM3151 emulation, - no prompt.

We doesn't have HMC because on this model LPARs not supported.

It seems that system doesn't came up to the
stage when SP activated.

Totally unmanageable hardware, even on LED on each component might be enough to detect the problems, but vendor put all this stuff on SCPN and Op.Panel which both the SPOF.

I'd rather change CPUs on SUN servers every month than put production on pSeries

Thanks for replies anyway

 

[unixfreak]

> I'd rather change CPUs on SUN servers every month than put production on pSeries

That's odd considering how horrible SUN servers are to work with.

Cheers

 

[Yegolev]

if you are comfortable using SUN, perhaps you are thinking too much about your RS6k problems, i really find the IBM stuff easier to work with.

IBM Certified -- AIX 4.3 Obfuscation

 

[bjverzal]

>Totally unmanageable hardware, even on LED on each component might be enough to detect the problems, but vendor put all this stuff on SCPN and Op.Panel which both the SPOF.

>I'd rather change CPUs on SUN servers every month than put production on pSeries

>Thanks for replies anyway

I think you are making an unfair assessment of the pSeries. You admit to being new to this product line, so why do you make the above statements? I've worked on HP, SUN and IBM UNIX hardware and my far, IMHO, the pSeries hardware/software is the most comprehensive I've seen.

BV