Specifications

Chapter 4. Continuous availability and manageability 175
result is stored in system NVRAM. Error log analysis (ELA) can be used to display the failure
cause and the physical location of the failing hardware.
With the integrated service processor, the system has the ability to automatically send out an
alert through a phone line to a pager, or call for service in the event of a critical system failure.
A hardware fault also illuminates the amber system fault LED located on the system unit to
alert the user of an internal hardware problem.
On POWER7 processor-based servers, hardware and software failures are recorded in the
system log. When a management console is attached, an ELA routine analyzes the error,
forwards the event to the Service Focal Point (SFP) application running on the management
console, and has the capability to notify the system administrator that it has isolated a likely
cause of the system problem. The service processor event log also records unrecoverable
checkstop conditions, forwards them to the Service Focal Point (SFP) application, and
notifies the system administrator. After the information is logged in the SFP application, if the
system is properly configured, a call-home service request is initiated and the pertinent failure
data with service parts information and part locations is sent to the IBM service
organization.This information will also contain the client contact information as defined in the
Electronic Service Agent (ESA) guided set-up wizard.
Error logging and analysis
When the root cause of an error has been identified by a fault isolation component, an error
log entry is created with basic data such as:
򐂰 An error code uniquely describing the error event
򐂰 The location of the failing component
򐂰 The part number of the component to be replaced, including pertinent data such as
engineering and manufacturing levels
򐂰 Return codes
򐂰 Resource identifiers
򐂰 FFDC data
Data containing information about the effect that the repair will have on the system is also
included. Error log routines in the operating system and FSP can then use this information
and decide whether the fault is a call home candidate. If the fault requires support
intervention, then a call will be placed with service and support and a notifcation sent to the
contact defined in the ESA guided set-up wizard
Remote support
The Remote Management and Control (RMC) subsystem is delivered as part of the base
operating system, including the operating system running on the Hardware Management
Console. RMC provides a secure transport mechanism across the LAN interface between the
operating system and the Hardware Management Console and is used by the operating
system diagnostic application for transmitting error information. It performs a number of other
functions also, but these are not used for the service infrastructure.
Service Focal Point
A critical requirement in a logically partitioned environment is to ensure that errors are not lost
before being reported for service, and that an error should only be reported once, regardless
of how many logical partitions experience the potential effect of the error. The Manage
Serviceable Events task on the management console is responsible for aggregating duplicate
error reports, and ensures that all errors are recorded for review and management.