RSA Adapters 2

[liddy]

I am working on a project rolling out IBM x232 and x330 servers. We have an RSA card at each site which connects to up to 23 machines via the interconnect chain.

We are having problems where the devices are dropping offline. When we go to site we sometimes have to power the servers off (And remove Power)before they are seen on the RSA card again..

Has anybody had a similar experience using the RSA card...

 

[neilcresswell]

I have seen this problem before. It was caused by a mismatch of RSA firmware levels.
You need to download the Firmware disk and update all servers to the same level for this to be stable.

One easy way is to use IBM UpdateXpress (

http://www.pc.ibm.com/support)

which is a bootable CD containing all firmware updates for ALL IBM Servers.

Neil

 

[liddy]

Neil..Thanks for your input

Each of the 342 machines should have the same firmware versions for the Bios Diags and the management cards. We have used update express to bring each of the machines up to the same levels etc

Have you had much experience with mixing x342 and x330 machines on the same interconnect bus. The two machines use different generations of the management processor. IBM have advised that we can use up to 23 machines and that we have to terminate the bus..The older 330 machines apparantly didn't need a terminator

Is there an easy way to remotely check that the firmware versions are the same ?

 

[neilcresswell]

I have tried many different configurations of interconnection. The only one i found stable was when the RSA cards were of the same version. It seems the interconnect speed changed with the newer cards.

I would suggest at least two RSA PCI cards to act as a bridgehead and then seperate the 342's and 330's off on their own.

I will do some more research over the next couple of days and feed some more info in...

Neil

 

[catorze]

The x232 has an Integrated Systems Management Processor (ISMP), and supports up to 23 servers in the same ASM Interconnect network if no other server types are connected to the same network. The server with the RSA does not count as one of the 23. However, the x330 has an Advanced Systems Management Processor (ASMP), which as you know, is the previous generation chipset, and only supports 12 devices on the ASM Interconnect network, counting the RSA. In a mixed environment, you are limited to the lowest common denominator (12 devices), counting the RSA. Depending on your specific environment, you will have to decide if it's practical to separate the x330s from the x232s and run independent ASM Interconnect networks. This will depend on the number of each at each location, and how many locations total. Another option is to use the ASM Interconnect network only for the x232s, and access the x330s via Systems Management software (IBM Director), since the ASMP has a device driver within the OS (the ISMP does not).

 

[liddy]

Catorze..Thanks for you help.
What you tell me is a little worrying..I have been having these type of issues over the last few months and as this is a large rollout (700+ servers) we have a support contract with IBM. I have contacted them about this issue and initially they produced a document which informed me that you could only support 12 x330 or 23 x342 machines on the RSA card. In a mixed environment they told me I could only support 12 devices.

I discussed this with our IBM Consultant and he produced another document which indicated that we could support 23 in a mixed environment. I asked for clarification and I have been told in writing that we can support 23 devices..

I have a few questions

1. Do you think that the information I have been told is correct i.e 23 devices in a mixed environment.
2. When we loose all the machines on the bus is there an easy way to bring them back ? (I have tried resart ASM but this rarely works.
3. Can we talk to the management ports directly and not via the RSA cards ?

Thanks

 

[catorze]

A1. What is the document they are showing you that indicates 23 devices are supported in a mixed environment? If it is a technical resource, it should have a pblication number, and be available from their website. If it's supported, then I would ask them to get your issue resolved.

A2. If the bus is not over-burdened (i.e. only 12 devices connected (mixed) or 23 (ISMP only), does restarting the ISMP correct the problem? My guess would be yes.

A3. On the x330s you can talk to the ASMP via IBM Director's MPA applet. It accesses the ASMP via the device driver within the OS. The x232s require the RSA and the interconnect network.