Users Guide

Table Of Contents
A Fibre Channel pass-through IOM and a fibre channel switch IOM in slots B1 and B2 is a valid configuration if the first
MCs on all the servers are also fibre channel. In this case, CMC powers-on the IOMs and the servers. However, certain
fibre channel redundancy software may not support this configuration; not all valid configurations are necessarily supported
configurations.
Fabric verification for server IOMs and MCs is performed only when the chassis is powered on. When the chassis is on
standby power, the iDRACs on the server modules remain powered off and thus are unable to report the server's MC fabric
type. The MC fabric type may not be reported in the CMC user interface until the iDRAC on the server is powered on. Also,
if the chassis is powered on, fabric verification is performed when a server or IOM is inserted (optional). If a fabric mismatch
is detected, the server or IOM is allowed to power on and the status LED flashes Amber.
Invalid Configurations
There are three types of invalid configurations:
Invalid MC or LOM configuration, where a newly installed fabric type of the server is different from the existing IOM fabric,
that is, LOM or MC of a single server is not supported by its corresponding IOM. In this case, all the other servers in the
chassis are running, but the server with the mismatched MC card cannot be turned on. The power button on the server
flashes amber to alert a fabric mismatch.
Invalid IOM-MC configuration, where a newly installed fabric type of the IOM and the fabric types of the resident MC do not
match or are incompatible. The mismatched IOM is held in the power-off state. CMC adds an entry to CMC and hardware
logs noting the invalid configuration and specifying the IOM name. CMC causes the error LED on the offending IOM to blink.
If CMC is configured to send alerts, it sends email and SNMP alerts for this event.
Invalid IOM-IOM configuration, where a newly installed IOM has a different or incompatible fabric type from an IOM already
installed in its group. CMC holds the newly installed IOM in turned-off state, causes the error LED of the IOM to blink, and
logs entries in CMC and hardware logs about the mismatch.
Fresh Power-up Scenario
When the chassis is plugged in and powered up, the I/O modules have priority over the servers. The first IOM in each group is
allowed to power up before the others. At this time, verification of their fabric types is not performed. If there is no IOM on the
first slot of a group, the module on the second slot of that group powers up. If both slots have IOMs, the module in the second
slot is compared for consistency against the one in the first.
After the IOMs power up, the servers power up, and CMC verifies the servers for fabric consistency.
A pass-through module and switch are allowed in the same group if their fabric is identical. Switches and pass-through modules
can exist in the same group even if they are manufactured by different vendors.
Monitoring IOM Health
For information about monitoring IOM health, see Viewing Information and Health Status of All IOMs and Viewing Information
and Health Status For Individual IOM.
Viewing Input Output Module Uplink and Downlink
Status Using Web Interface
You can view the Dell PowerEdge M I/O Aggregator 's uplink and downlink status information using the CMC Web interface:
1. Go to Chassis Overview and expand I/O Module Overview in the system tree.
All the IOMs (16) appear in the expanded list.
2. Click the IOM (slot) you want to view.
The I/O Module Status page specific to the IOM slot is displayed. The I/O Module Uplink Status and I/O Module
Downlink Status tables are displayed. These tables display information about the downlink ports (132) and uplink ports
(3356). For more information, see the CMC Online Help.
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Managing Input Output Fabric