Communicator e3000 MPE/iX Release 6.5 (Non-Platform Software Release C.65.00 (30216-90291)

Chapter 4 91

Data Center Management

Support Tools Manager (STM)

by Bart Anderson

Diagnostics and Support Tools

With MPE/iX 6.5, the Support Tools Manager (STM) replaces the sysdiag diagnostic

system on HP 3000 computer systems. STM has been the diagnostic platform for HP-UX

since 1996.

STM was ported to MPE/iX to provide a common diagnostics platform for MPE/iX and

HP-UX systems. This common platform reduces the cost to support new systems and

peripherals, and makes it possible to bring new tools to MPE/iX 6.5 and beyond. STM is

not be supported on any previous MPE/iX release.

NOTE

For STM to run, networking to be conﬁgured (NMMGR) and enabled. (STM

requires sockets.) Users will not be able to interact with the Support Tools

Manager until networking has been started.

The STM package provides a set of support tools for troubleshooting and monitoring

computer system hardware, including CPUs, memory, interface cards, mass storage

devices, etc.

Upon startup, STM can provide a system map of all of the hardware devices on your

system. Using this system map, you can select devices, receive information, or execute

on-line support tools.

STM is distributed on the Fundamental Operating System (FOS) tape on MPE/iX 6.5 and

subsequent releases. When previous releases of MPE/iX are updated to 6.5, the sysdiag

diagnostic system is removed and STM is installed.

In the ﬁrst phase of the release, STM for MPE/iX includes:

• The diagnostic platform.

• Information tools, expert tools, and ﬁrmware download tools for SCSI peripherals.

• Information tools for CPUs and memory.

• Expert tool for memory.

• Existing sysdiag diagnostics that are “wrapped” for STM.

• Logtool for I/O and hardware-related logs (based on the HP-UX version of logtool).

• A second, standalone version of logtool similar to the existing sysdiag logtool. This

version would handle system logs (e.g. auditing, security, etc.) not covered by the STM

version of logtool.

In later phases, STM on MPE/iX is planned to include veriﬁers, exercisers and other tools.

If you are already familiar with STM on HP-UX, you will feel at home with STM on

MPE/iX. However, there are some differences to be aware of:

• Different distribution and installation process.