IBM p5 590 System Handbook page 185

analyzed by error log analysis (ELA) routines. Appropriate actions are taken
to report the boot time error for subsequent service if required.
Disk drive fault tracking can alert the system administrator of an impending
disk failure before it impacts client operation.
The AIX 5L or Linux log (where hardware and software failures are recorded)
is analyzed by ELA routines which warn the system administrator about the
causes of system problems.
Others
The service processor also manages the interfaces for connecting
Uninterruptible Power Source (UPS) systems to the IBM POWER5
processor-based systems, performing Timed Power-On (TPO) sequences,
and interfacing with the power and cooling subsystem.
The new service processor incorporates enhanced hardware functions such as
an Ethernet service interface, additional serial port communications ports, and
larger storage capacity. All of these new features support improved functions for
service.
One important service processor improvement gives the system administrator or
service representative the ability to dynamically access the Advanced Systems
Management Interface (ASMI) menus. In previous generations of servers these
menus were only accessible when the system was in standby power mode. Now
the menus are now available from any Web browser-enabled console attached to
the Ethernet service network concurrent with normal system operation. A user
with the proper access authority and credentials can now dynamically modify
service defaults, interrogate service processor progress and error logs, set and
reset Guiding Light LEDs, indeed, access all service processor functions without
having to power-down the system to the standby state.
Separate copies of service processor firmware are stored in separate Flash
memory storage areas. Code access is CRC protected. Service processor resets
can be initiated by either the service processor itself or the POWER Hypervisor.
If the service processor encounters an error during run-time, it can reboot itself
while the server system stays up and running. There will be no server application
impact for service processor transient errors. If the service processor encounters
a code hang condition, the POWER Hypervisor can detect the error and direct
the service processor to reboot, avoiding other outage. A service processor reset
or reload is not disruptive and will not impact system operation. In each case, the
system, if necessary, will initiate a smart dump of the SP control store to assist
with problem determination if required.
Chapter 6. Reliability, availability, and serviceability
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