Appendix A. Getting Help And Technical Assistance; Before You Call; Using The Documentation - IBM BladeCenter Installation Manual

Appendix A. Getting help and technical assistance

If you need help, service, or technical assistance or just want more information
about IBM products, you will find a wide variety of sources available from
IBM to assist you. This appendix contains information about where to go for
additional information about IBM and IBM products, what to do if you
experience a problem with your BladeCenter or optional device, and whom to
call for service, if it is necessary.

Before you call

Before you call, make sure that you have taken these steps to try to solve the
problem yourself:
v Check all cables to make sure that they are connected.
v Check the power switches to make sure that the system and any optional
devices are turned on.
v Use the troubleshooting information in your system documentation, and use
the diagnostic tools that come with your system. Information about
diagnostic tools is in the Hardware Maintenance Manual and Troubleshooting
Guide or Problem Determination and Service Guide on the IBM Documentation
CD that comes with your system.
v Go to http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/support/bladecenter/
index.html to check for information to help you solve the problem.
You can solve many problems without outside assistance by following the
troubleshooting procedures that IBM provides in the online help or in the
documentation that is provided with your IBM product. The documentation
that comes with BladeCenter systems also describes the diagnostic tests that
you can perform. Most BladeCenter systems, operating systems, and programs
come with documentation that contains troubleshooting procedures and
explanations of error messages and error codes. If you suspect a software
problem, see the documentation for the software.

Using the documentation

Information about your IBM BladeCenter system and preinstalled software, if
any, or optional device is available in the documentation that comes with the
product. That documentation can include printed documents, online
documents, readme files, and help files. See the troubleshooting information in
your system documentation for instructions for using the diagnostic programs.
The troubleshooting information or the diagnostic programs might tell you that
you need additional or updated device drivers or other software. IBM
maintains pages on the World Wide Web where you can get the latest technical
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2012
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