Re: Service Processor Functions

Yes, the i5 fsp is comparable to the iSeries Controlling partition. 
However it does not run OS/400 nor does it take resources away from other 
partitions.  And yes, if you update the firmware you'd better drop all the 
rest of the partitions.  However someone wrote that the 595 has dual 
fsp's.  Not sure if that fixes that.

The recovery CD is for the HMC, not the fsp.  Keep in mind that your i5 
continues to run even if your hmc goes casters up.  The hmc is used to 
communicate with the fsp to shift resources around.  It is also used to 
start partitions up if you do not configure them to autostart upon start 
of the whole rack.  It is also your system console for each partition. You 
use the recovery CD for two purposes.  One is if the HMC goes casters up 
and you have to rebuild it.  Two, to put on major upgrades.  Granted you 
could have gone from 4.1.x to 4.2.x of HMC code using downloads.  However 
by using a 4.2 recovery CD some additional reorgs are done that will 
improve performance of the HMC.  Documented, but easy to skip by.  I 
actually upgraded with the downloads then redid it using the recovery CD.

The iSeries and i5 have been getting more like a PC server:  reboot, 
reinstall, restore from backup.

Rob Berendt
-- 
Group Dekko Services, LLC
Dept 01.073
PO Box 2000
Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com





Emilio Padilla <epadilla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
02/03/2005 10:08 AM
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Subject
Re: Service Processor Functions






I just found an interesting reading about the FSP and the i5.  Look at 
this FAQ.

http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/0/48859a914db132a586256f42006003a7?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=4,8,3,2,13&Highlight=0,358877394#_Section4


So, now you have to keep track of firmware code too.  Look at FAQ 2.  Do 
we have to backup this with the full system save too?
Also, do we have now a recovery CD for the iseries (FAQ 5)? 
The Iseries is getting more and more like a PC server, are we going to 
lose any stability?
We do spend Big bucks ( us$ 4000 hard drives and so) on an iseries 
because it suppose to be the ISERIES we used to trust.  Are we buying 
just an oversize, big muscle,  pc server now? 



Emilio Padilla

Larry Bolhuis wrote:

> Emillo,
>
>  Here is the answer as I understand it:  The SP (or FSP as it is named 
> on the i5/p5) is running as long as there is power to the power 
> supplies. It controlls input power to the rest of the CEC as well as 
> all expansion cabinets. It handles all interrupts enabling shared 
> busses on the system. It owns the front panel and accepts the input 
> from the butons thereon. It communicates to the HMC.
> In short, If the Service Processor goes *poof* the iSeries goes, as Al 
> would say, "Casters Up."
>
>  - Larry
>
> Emilio Padilla wrote:
>
>> I just got pin on the wall with one question.  What is a service 
>> processor on the iseries and what is for?  What would happen if you 
>> have problems with it?
>>
>> AFAIK, the service processor is in charge of controlling all the 
>> hardware and report hardware errors.  Am I right?
>>
>
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