Console Strategy; Reading The System Rack Operator Panel Display - IBM Enterprise Server S80 User Manual

Console Strategy

The firmware invokes a console selection sequence at system boot time if any of the
following are true:
v A console has not yet been selected
v A previous console selection sequence timed out
v A change in the system configuration affecting the console (keyboard
installed/removed, mouse installed/removed, graphics adapter installed/removed or
moved to another PCI slot).
The console selection sequence allows the selection (from the appropriate input device)
of any one of all the available console devices. If no console is selected within
approximately 60 seconds, serial port 1 (com1) is selected as the console, and the
selection sequence times out.
Once a console has been selected, the console selection sequence is only invoked at
boot time if there is a change in the system configuration (as described above), or the
contents of the system's nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) is lost.
Note: Moving an ASCII terminal from one serial port to another (from com1 to com2) is
A system console selection sequence can also be initiated from the SMS menus.

Reading the System Rack Operator Panel Display

The operator panel display is used to:
v Track the progress of the system unit self tests and configuration program.
v Display codes when the operating system comes to an abnormal end.
v Display system messages.
During power-on self-test (POST), 4 and 8 characters display, indicating the progress of
the testing. If an error is detected that requires attention, the system unit halts with up
to a 72-digit number shown 8 digits at a time on the operator panel. This number
identifies the error (see S80 Installation and Service Guide for a listing of the error
codes). The attention light turns on to indicate an error condition.
The 4-digit progress codes (checkpoints) are in the form of Ennn, where E is the first
character and n is alphabetic or numeric characters.
The 8-digit progress codes (checkpoints) are in the form of Cnnn nnnn, where C is the
first character and n is alphabetic or numeric.
The locations of the operator panel display and the operator panel are shown in
"Operator Panel and Power Control" on page 9. For details about the operator panel
functions and descriptions, see "Appendix D. Operator Panel Functions" on page 203.
14
S80 and S85 User's Guide
not detectable by the firmware, so it does not constitute a configuration change.