Reliability, Availability, And Serviceability - IBM xSeries 236 User Manual

Reliability, availability, and serviceability

Three important computer design features are reliability, availability, and
serviceability (RAS). The RAS features help to ensure the integrity of the data that
is stored in the server, the availability of the server when you need it, and the ease
with which you can diagnose and correct problems.
The server has the following RAS features:
v Active PCI
v Automatic error retry and recovery
v Automatic restart after a power failure
v Backup basic input/output system (BIOS) switching under the control of the
v Baseboard management controller (service processor)
v Built-in, menu-driven electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) based
v Built-in monitoring for fan, power, temperature, voltage, and power-supply
v Chipkill memory protection (x4 512 MB or higher DIMMs)
v Error codes and messages
v Error correcting code (ECC) L2 cache and system memory
v Fault-resistant startup
v Hot-swap hard disk drives
v IBM Director workgroup-hardware-management tool
v Integrated system management processor (ISMP)
v Information and light path diagnostics LED panels
v Integrated service processor subsystem for remote system management
v Key lock support for physical security
v Availability of microcode and diagnostic levels
v Parity checking on the small computer system interface (SCSI) bus and PCI
v Power managed and Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)
v Power-on self-test (POST)
v Predictive Failure Analysis (PFA) alerts
v Redundant Ethernet capabilities (requires optional Ethernet adapter) with failover
v Redundant hot-swap capability
v Remind button to temporarily flash the Attention LED
v Remote system problem-determination support
v ROM-based diagnostic programs
v Standby voltage for system-management features and monitoring
v Startup (boot) from LAN using Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) protocol
v System auto-configuring from the configuration menu
v System error logging (POST and service processor when Remote Supervisor
v Universal Serial Bus (USB) keyboard and mouse
v Upgradeable microcode for POST, BIOS, diagnostics, service processor, and
v Vital product data (VPD) on microprocessors, system board, power supplies, and
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IBM xSeries 236 Type 8841: User's Guide
™
(hot-plug) adapter slot
service processor
setup, system configuration, redundant array of independent disks (RAID)
configuration, and diagnostic programs
redundancy
buses
compliant
support
– Cooling fans with speed-sensing capability
– Cooling fans with speed-sensing capability (with hot-swap power-supply
option)
– Power supplies
Adapter II SlimLine is installed)
read-only memory (ROM) resident code, locally or over the LAN
SCSI (hot-swap-drive) backplane