File Name: ssm420_readme.txt **************************************************************** | | | IBM(R) Scalable Systems Manager Version 4.20 | | | | Part number 90P3098 | | | | (C) Copyright International Business Machines Corporation | | 2005. All rights reserved. | | | | Note to U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights -- Use, | | duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule | | Contract with IBM Corp. | | | | Note: Before using this information and the product it | | supports, read the general information under "NOTICES" | | in this document. | | | | Updated 9 February 2005 | **************************************************************** CONTENTS -------- 1.0 About this readme file 1.1 Product overview 1.2 Compatibility with IBM Director 1.3 Compatibility with xSeries servers 2.0 Change history 3.0 Installation 4.0 Known problems and workarounds 5.0 Corrections to the documentation 5.1 Installation and User's Guide (ssm420_users.pdf) 5.2 Help system 6.0 Support Web sites 7.0 Notices 1.0 ABOUT THIS README FILE --------------------------- This readme file provides information about Scalable Systems Manager 4.20. You can obtain the latest version of this readme file from the IBM Support Web site. 1.1 Product overview -------------------- Scalable Systems Manager is an extension to IBM Director that communicates out-of-band with the service processor in supported xSeries servers to create and manage hardware partitions. The console component of Scalable Systems Manager provides the following subtasks in IBM Director Console: o Scalable Systems Configuration o Scalable Systems Discovery o Scalable Systems Validation The IBM Support Web site for Scalable Systems Manager provides the "Scalable Systems Manager 4.20 Installation and User's Guide" in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). Additionally, Scalable Systems Manager includes a help system that you can access from the Scalable Systems Configuration user interface. 1.2 Compatibility with IBM Director ----------------------------------- Scalable Systems Manager 4.20 is supported for use with the following versions of IBM Director: o IBM Director 4.20 o IBM Director 4.20.2 o IBM Director 4.21 1.3 Compatibility with xSeries servers -------------------------------------- Scalable Systems Manager 4.20 supports the following xSeries servers: o xSeries 455 and xSeries 445 servers with all features o 16-way configurations of xSeries 440 servers with only display features 2.0 CHANGE HISTORY ------------------ Feb. 2005 - Added support for IBM Director 4.21. July 2004 - Support for only IBM Director 4.20 and adds support for scalable systems and scalable partitions on xSeries 455 servers. March 2004 - Support for only IBM Director 4.12. Oct. 2003 - Support for only IBM Director 4.11 and first release of the Scalable Systems Manager product. 3.0 INSTALLATION ---------------- The installation program installs the Server and Console portions of Scalable Systems Manager as applicable. There is no Agent component to Scalable Systems Manager. Scalable Systems Manager does not require IBM Director Agent. Installation instructions, including system requirements, are provided in the "Scalable Systems Manager 4.20 Installation and User's Guide." 4.0 KNOWN PROBLEMS AND WORKAROUNDS ---------------------------------- Scalable Systems Manager Version 4.20 has the following known problems and workarounds: o You must make sure that the IBM Director 4.20 management server and all the service processors in the scalable nodes that you plan to use are configured to use a common Domain Name System (DNS) server. Otherwise, Scalable Systems Manager cannot reliably discover and order scalable systems and usually cannot validate the cabling of scalable systems. This problem can affect your ability to power-on a scalable partition because you cannot power-on a scalable partition that is created from scalable nodes in an unordered scalable system. This problem applies to both xSeries 445 and xSeries 455 servers using either Remote Supervisor Adapters or Remote Supervisor Adapter IIs. o If a scalable partition defines a multi-node configuration and is powered-on and powered-off using one primary scalable node, later when a different scalable node is designated as the primary scalable node, the scalable partition will not power-on. For example, scalable partition PartitionAB contains NodeA and NodeB, which represent two xSeries 445 servers in a 16-way configuration. NodeA is designated as the primary scalable node. PartitionAB is powered-on and powered-off. If NodeB is now designated as the primary scalable node, scalable partition PartitionAB will not power-on. This problem affects all supported multi-node configurations that include the following versions of service processor firmware: *-------------------------------------------------------------* | Server | Service processor and firmware version | |-------------------------------------------------------------| | xSeries 445 | Remote Supervisor Adapter, firmware | | | version 1.03, build ID REET24A, | | | revision 17 | |-----------------|-------------------------------------------| | xSeries 445 | Remote Supervisor Adapter II-EXA, | | | firmware versions later than 1.01, build | | | ID later than REE816A, revision 16 | |-----------------|-------------------------------------------| | xSeries 455 | Remote Supervisor Adapter, SP/DMC | | | firmware version 1.05, which is included | | | in "xSeries 455 System Firmware Update" | | | version 1.02, build ID OYKT20A. | *-------------------------------------------------------------* To workaround this problem, create another scalable partition that contains the same scalable nodes, but designate a different primary scalable node than the one that is used by the first scalable partition. For example, create scalable partition PartitionBA that contains NodeA and NodeB where NodeB is the primary scalable node. Then, power-on PartitionBA. o When a scalable system defines a multi-node configuration, you might not be able to use Scalable Systems Configuration to delete partition descriptors from NVRAM of the scalable nodes in that scalable system. Instead, use the Configuration/Setup Utility program (in the BIOS code) to delete partition descriptors from NVRAM. For more information, see "Deleting partition descriptors" in Chapter 3, "Scalable objects," of the "Scalable Systems Manager 4.20 Installation and User's Guide." o (16-way xSeries 445 with Remote Supervisor Adapter II-EXA option running VMware ESX Server Version 2.0.1 and earlier only) Scalable Systems Manager displays the following incorrect scalable node state for these types of unassigned scalable nodes and secondary scalable nodes in a scalable system: "Booting operating system" This scalable node state occurs even though the secondary scalable node has successfully loaded the device driver for the Remote Supervisor Adapter II-EXA and it can be detected by the Remote Supervisor Adapter II-EXA in the primary scalable node. This problem does not affect configuration or power-management operations of the affected scalable node. This problem does not exist when using VMware ESX Server Version 2.1 or later. o Information about various problem symptoms and suggested solutions is provided in Chapter 10, "Solving Scalable Systems Manager Problems," of the "Scalable Systems Manager 4.20 Installation and User's Guide." 5.0 CORRECTIONS TO THE DOCUMENTATION ------------------------------------ 5.1 Installation and User's Guide (ssm420_users.pdf) ---------------------------------------------------- There are no corrections at this time. 5.2 Help system --------------- There are no corrections at this time. 6.0 SUPPORT WEB SITES --------------------- The following Web pages provide resources for understanding, using, and troubleshooting IBM Director and systems-management tools: o IBM Support page http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/ This is the IBM Support Web site for IBM hardware and systems- management software. For systems-management software support, click "Systems management". o IBM Systems Management Software: Download/Registration page http://www.ibm.com/pc/us/eserver/xseries/systems_management/ dwnl.html Use this Web page to download IBM systems-management software, including IBM Director. o IBM xSeries Systems Management page http://www.ibm.com/pc/ww/eserver/xseries/systems_management/ index.html This Web page presents an overview of IBM systems management and IBM Director. Click "IBM Director" for the latest information and documentation. It also contains links to Web pages for IBM Director extensions including Remote Deployment Manager, Scalable Systems Manager, Server Plus Pack, and Software Distribution (Premium Edition). o IBM ServerProven(R) page http://www.ibm.com/pc/us/compat/index.html This Web page provides information about IBM hardware compatibility with IBM systems-management software. 7.0 NOTICES ----------- INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some jurisdictions do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties in certain transactions, therefore, this statement may not apply to you. This information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes will be incorporated in new editions of the publication. IBM may make improvements and/or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this publication at any time without notice. The following terms are trademarks of the IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both: the e-business logo eServer IBM Netfinity ServerProven xSeries Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.