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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.

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.

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.

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.

Any clues appreciated. Sorry to be so long winded.



thanks,

Tom

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

"Tom" <"tom at techbait dot net"> wrote in message
news:42e6abe1@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> Any clues appreciated. Sorry to be so long winded.
>
> thanks,
> Tom

A snippet from my notes on these unwieldy machines is given below. You can
use the HMC ASM interface to change teh speed on the serial port if you
wish.
Best of luck.
Jeffrey.
ASCII terminal access
An IBM 3151 terminal set to 19200 baud 8N1 will communicate on the serial
port T5. This has limited functionality but is useful for installing the
operating system (by interrupting with "5" during the boot process) or for
logging on (once the machine has booted).

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.

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...

Allen Bell wrote:
>
> 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...

Mine has that ASMI thing that comes up when you plug it in, then from
that I have to tell it to power up, then it logs me out of the ASMI and
then I get nothing. Oddly for the ASMI to work it requires a 19200 baud
setting. I use the first of the two DB9 ports, and tried several
cables. I am using an old trusty null modem cable now which works on
all the oldest and most tempermental IBM hardware and still nothing.
I'll keep trying. I can't make any headway with the network console
server, which stinks b/c I have to take my laptop in there to do it the
other direct connect way - and the room is warm despite the air
conditioning and I have to stand with no Internet access. I know I know
the violin is playing for me... ;-)

--Tom

As it says HMC=0 you must delete this HMC connection first to get
anything displayed on the serial port after system has started:

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoce...US/info/iphbp/
disconnecthmc.htm
(or just attach an HMC)

If this doesn't help try a factory reset:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoce...n_US/index.htm

Finally, call IBM :-)

Bye
Holger

Holger Emme wrote:
> As it says HMC=0 you must delete this HMC connection first to get
> anything displayed on the serial port after system has started:
>
> http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoce...US/info/iphbp/
> disconnecthmc.htm
> (or just attach an HMC)
>
> If this doesn't help try a factory reset:
> http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoce...n_US/index.htm
>
> Finally, call IBM :-)
>
> Bye
> Holger
I get this under that section. There is no "HMC Connections" option as
specified in that document.

S1> 4

System Configuration

1. System Name
2. Processing Unit Identifier
3. Configure I/O Enclosures
4. Time Of Day
5. Firmware Update Policy
6. PCI Error Injection Policy
7. Interposer Plug Count
8. Hardware Deconfiguration
9. Program Vital Product Data
10. Service Indicators
98. Return to previous menu
99. Log out

The closest thing I see is option number 8, which unfortunately gives me:

S1> 8

Hardware Deconfiguration

1. Deconfiguration Policies
2. Processor Deconfiguration
3. Memory Deconfiguration
98. Return to previous menu
99. Log out



So once again I have no idea how this thing works despite the many pages
of Doc I have printed. I assure you that it does indeed say HMC=0 on
the LED panel.

I'm not sure why the terminal doesn't work as expected.

Tom wrote:

> Holger Emme wrote:
>
>> As it says HMC=0 you must delete this HMC connection first to get
>> anything displayed on the serial port after system has started:
>>
>> http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoce...US/info/iphbp/
>> disconnecthmc.htm
>> (or just attach an HMC)
>>
>> If this doesn't help try a factory reset:
>> http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoce...n_US/index.htm
>>
>> Finally, call IBM :-)
>>
>> Bye
>> Holger
>
> I get this under that section. There is no "HMC Connections" option as
> specified in that document.
>
> S1> 4
>
> System Configuration
>
> 1. System Name
> 2. Processing Unit Identifier
> 3. Configure I/O Enclosures
> 4. Time Of Day
> 5. Firmware Update Policy
> 6. PCI Error Injection Policy
> 7. Interposer Plug Count
> 8. Hardware Deconfiguration
> 9. Program Vital Product Data
> 10. Service Indicators
> 98. Return to previous menu
> 99. Log out
>
> The closest thing I see is option number 8, which unfortunately gives me:
>
> S1> 8
>
> Hardware Deconfiguration
>
> 1. Deconfiguration Policies
> 2. Processor Deconfiguration
> 3. Memory Deconfiguration
> 98. Return to previous menu
> 99. Log out
>
>
>
> So once again I have no idea how this thing works despite the many pages
> of Doc I have printed. I assure you that it does indeed say HMC=0 on
> the LED panel.
>
> I'm not sure why the terminal doesn't work as expected.

If you do in fact have an HMC availble, I would highly encourage you to
set it up and try to use it for your first install. If it says HMC=0 on
the front it means that no HMC was found when the power cords where
plugged in. Unfortunately the service processor will attempt to pull a
DHCP IP address as soon as the power cables are plugged in (Powered off
state). If it doesn't find one, it uses a default IP address (Available
in the documentation). You will need to verify the current IP address
the service processor has via the ASMI menu, then enter this into the
HMC to make it connect. (It will be something like 192.255.255.255)
You'll want to put the service processor on a private network along with
the HMC (The Tx RJ45 ethernet port I believe).

Here is a starting point on getting the HMC setup and configured properly:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoce...phby/ascii.htm
It's not really too bad, just power it up and step through the initial
power on configuration that comes up.

As far as the documentation, yes they kind of made a mess of it this
go-around. However, everything that applies to the i5 hardware is
exactly the same as the p5 hardware. Just verify the machine type is one
of the pSeries machine types for a given model (9111, 9113, 9117, ect).

Once you get the HMC up and connected, verify you have the latest
firmware installed on the 520 (Very bottom of page):
https://techsupport.services.ibm.com.../download.html

Lastly, you'll need to create a partition and assign resources to it
(cpu's, memory, disks, pci cards, ect.) before you can load AIX.

Still not working? It's a new machine right? Take advantage of your free
IBM warranty: 1-800-426-7378 and open a hardware call. They will step
you through getting it working with a cherry on top.

Other things:
---------------------------------------------
Here are your control panel functions:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infoce...5/normfunc.htm

The RJ48 connector on the front is the same connector as S1 on the rear
of the unit.

Get yourself a windows pc, configure Hyperterminal to "autodetect
speed" and connect the laptop to the serial port on the backside (there
aren't many, so you should be able to get it right irrespective of what
the manual says).
That will give you access to the servicve processor menu on bootup. The
service processor loads the aix kernel and that becomes your console
too.
If you use minicom, pl. set speed to 19200 (if 9600 bps doesn't work).
BTW -make sure your laptop is connected to powersupply and doesn't
powerdown when installing. AIX is not too good at resuming the
installation process.

regards
-kamal