Efficient Manageability And Serviceability; Enhanced Solutions - Compaq ProLiant 1000 White Paper

The Benefits of PCI Hot Plug Technology

Efficient Manageability and Serviceability

PCI Hot Plug is fully supported by Compaq's industry-leading systems integration and
management tools, Compaq SmartStart and Compaq Insight Manager. For example, SmartStart
CDs contain the device drivers necessary to make Compaq adapters fully hot-plug capable. In
addition, Insight Manager identifies which PCI slots are hot pluggable and alerts system
administrators when adapters malfunction. All PCI Hot Plug alerts and actions can also be posted
on Compaq's Integrated Management Display (an LCD display housed on the front of the server
that provides text-based service and diagnostic information) or accessed through Compaq's
Remote Insight Board (a remote server management tool).
Compaq systems have also been designed to increase system uptime by reducing the time
associated with component replacement. The once laborious task of accessing PCI adapters has
been simplified through the use of a tool-free access door. (See Figure 6). In addition, light-
emitting diodes (LEDs) have been installed above every PCI Hot Plug slot for easy identification
of failed components. The LEDs can be viewed from above the system when the access door is
open or from behind the machine (ensuring clear visibility from all vantage points). Normally
functioning adapters are indicated by green LEDs and failed or suspect adapters are indicated by
amber LEDs.
Figure 6. Tool-free access door enables quick replacement of hot-plug aware PCI adapters.

Enhanced Solutions

Compaq has worked within PCI Hot Plug specifications to provide enhanced solutions such as the
PCI Hot Plug Push Button and the Extended SCSI PCI Bus Connector. The Compaq ProLiant
7000 now offers a new PCI Hot Plug Push Button for all 9 PCI Hot Plug slots. The button is
pressed to signal the software to initiate a power state change. This easy-to-use push button
provides slot power control directly at the server, independent of PCI Hot Plug software utilities
to simplify and speed maintenance and installation of PCI cards. The new button is more
convenient and simpler, allowing customers to remove the adapter without going through the user
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