Tom wrote:
> Nathan wrote:
>
>> Tom wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> We have some new AIX rackmounts, and the one I am stuck on is a model
>>> 520. This this has this ASMI stuff, which so far seems useless to
>>> me. When the power is on you can't get the ASMI interface via the
>>> terminal port, and to get the web interface you have to boot your
>>> laptop to it's provate network via the HMC# ports, and the interface
>>> is pretty useless.
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, until you experince a critical problem that is solved by making a
>> change here (albeit rare), it will be useless for you to mess around
>> in the GUI ASMI menu. Think of it as a fancy Service Processor menu.
>> Once you boot the system it disappears.
>>
>>> My problem is I have no idea how to get this thing to boot off the
>>> AIX 5.2 installation media and none of the AIX or Model 520 doc which
>>> I have tells me how to do it.
>>>
>>> Can someone either tell me how or point me to the correct
>>> documentation? I have never had this sort of problem breaking an AIX
>>> machine boot (F5 or 5) but this one won't give me a raw console to do
>>> that.
>>
>>
>>
>> I've never used a p5 system without an HMC, so I'm not really sure.
>> However it may take some time for it to realize there is no HMC
>> attached and adjust itself appropriately. Does it hang on an LED code?
>>
>>> We currently have it connected to a Cisco console server and when the
>>> machine is off this gives me the ASMI interface which has no pathway
>>> into a raw console the way the HP pre boot IPL does - at least I
>>> can't see it. When the machine's power comes up this gets cut off
>>> and the console server port is frozen.
>>
>>
>>
>> How long did you wait? Just like the old Service Processor days, the
>> ASMI menu cuts out once IPL begins. After that it's just a regular old
>> serial port just as you would expect. I don't know what happens next
>> though on an HMC-less machine though. How long did you wait? I
>> wouldn't be suprized if it took 15 minutes or longer for a slow boot
>> before you get to the SMS menu or OS initialization. Again, do you
>> have any LED messages or indications of a failure?
>>
>>> So, to sum up, I need a raw console on this machine and have no idea
>>> how to get there. I tried the front Rj45 port, nothing, the rear HMC
>>> ports, nada, the rear terminal ports ---> zilcho......
>>>
>>> I've worked on all sorts of vedor UNIX hardware and have never been
>>> so dead in the water clueless as to how to make a piece of machinery
>>> simply boot or boot into OS install media.
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, you pretty much have to read some documentation, especially if
>> you are doing something unusual like not using an HMC.
>>
>>> Any clues appreciated. Sorry to be so long winded.
>>>
>>>
>>> thanks,
>>>
>>> Tom
>
>
> You know, I suspected that once the ASMI stuff cuts out that the port
> becomes a regular terminal port, but no matter how long I wait nothing
> seems to come up. This machine apparently DOES have an HMC. I can't
> find anything in the doc on how to work the LED panel buttons, but after
> blinking several long codes during the come up phase it eventually says
> HMC 0 on this panel. There is also an RJ45 connector on this front HMC
> panel but I do not know if it's TERM accessible (seems not) or I need
> some IBM software on my laptop to communicate with it.... or some
> hardware device.
>
> I have downloaded a huge Redbook on i5 but can't find a similar huge P5
> book. I did manage to find a smallish operating manual for p5 but is
> heavy on schematics and lite on working the LED's or how to get it to
> boot. It mentions SMS menus and all of that older stuff I'm used to but
> nothing seems to come up once that ASMI menu cuts out. Perhaps I need
> more patience. I dunno.
>
> I don't see any error codes (or what looks like errors) and the
> Exclamation point LED is not lit.
>


Hi,

I don't know if this will help, but I set up my first p520 just two days
ago. It was a standalone, not a rack-mount, but I don't think that makes
a big difference.

On the back there were two DB9 serial ports right next to each other. I
plugged my cable into the one furthest away from the outer edge, I don't
know if it makes any difference... I had to set the terminal to make
sure that DTR handshaking was on and 9600 baud, no parity (also make
sure you have the right cable, DTE/DCE, that crap).

I noticed when the machine first started booting, the terminal went into
lock mode, probably some noise on the line, I reset it and it worked
fine. I got all the usual stuff I was used to on AIX 4.3 and other
hardware, the press 1 for this to be the console, etc.

It sounds to me like maybe you have a bad flow control setting, cable,
or port selection.

Hope this helps...