User`s guide

3-25
Using the Service Processor
Service Processor Reboot/Restart Recovery
Reboot describes bringing the system hardware back up; for example, from a system reset
or power–on. The boot process ends when control passes to the operating system process.
Restart describes activating the operating system after the system hardware is reinitialized.
Restart must follow a successful reboot.
Boot (IPL) Speed
When the server enters reboot recovery, slow IPL is automatically started, which gives the
POST an opportunity to locate and report any problems that may otherwise be undetected.
Failure During Boot Process
During the boot process, either initially after system power–on or upon reboot after a system
failure, the service processor monitors the boot progress. If progress stops, the service
processor can reinitiate the boot process (reboot) if enabled to do so. The service processor
can re–attempt this process according to the number of retries selected in the
Reboot/Restart Policy Setup Menu.
Failure During Normal System Operation
When the boot process completes and control transfers to the operating system (OS), the
service processor can monitor operating system activity (see the Set Surveillance
Parameters option in the SERVICE PROCESSOR SETUP MENU). If OS activity stops due
to a hardware– or software–induced failure, the service processor can initiate a
reboot/restart process based on the settings in the Service Processor Reboot/Restart Policy
Setup Menu and the OS automatic restart settings (see the operating system
documentation).
If you are using the AIX operating system, the menu item under SMIT for setting the restart
policy is Automatically Reboot After Crash (True/False). The default is False. When the
setting is True, and if the service processor parameter ”Use OS–Defined Restart Policy” is
Yes (the default), Service Processor takes over for AIX to reboot/restart after a hardware or
surveillance failure.
Service Processor Rebbot/Restart Policy Controls
The operating system’s automatic restart policy (see operating system documentation)
indicates the operating system response to a system crash. The service processor can be
instructed to refer to that policy by the Use OS–Defined Restart Policy setup menu.
If the operating system has no automatic restart policy, or if it is disabled, then the service
processor–restart policy can be controlled from the service processor menus. Use the
Enable Supplemental Restart Policy selection.
Use OS–Defined restart policy – The default setting is Yes. This causes the service
processor to refer to the OS Automatic Restart Policy setting and take action (the same
action the operating system would take if it could have responded to the problem causing
the restart).
When this setting is No, or if the operating system did not set a policy, the service processor
refers to Enable supplemental restart policy for its action.