What's the Management Workstation For - on SuperDomes

[Alzhy]

I have built nPars on a SD system and have never actually accessed used its Management Workstation (a A5???)..
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On Sun E10K's, I can understand the need for what is called a System Service Processor (or SSP) who's function is basically as gateway to the complex -- ie. starting up/powering down domains and boards.
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On an HP SuperDome what is its need? Sorry but I do not have training at all on HP platforms -- only on vPars which tuched a bit on nPars. The rest I rely on TFM and the valuable parametrs "?/HE/-h" to get what commands are available and their meaning..

[Todd McDaniel_1]

Are you referring to the GSP? It can be used to reset the host remotely, in the case of a hang or necessary reboot. also, there are logs that you can use to evaluate problems on the superdome complex...

I have a SD48 way, but mine is only 1 partition. but in your case, I think it would be very valuable.... go to docs.hp.com and search for superdome. There are several good docs there.

[Alzhy]

Todd,
I am not referring to the GSP -- where we have both LAN and a Console (serial) connections. I am just wondoering why SuperDomes are always shipped with an HP Workstation (called the service management workstation??) and mostly on a private network with the SD complex...

I already use the GSP ( or MP on rp8400s) to carve the nPars and access the Console(s), boot the partitions, etc... So what essentially is that HP workstation hanging in there for?
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BTW, where will be your SD? - FRF, STL, SFLD or SAn Ramon... Ours will be mostly in FRF.

[Joshua Scott · Accepted solution]

The Support Management Station (SMS) runs the Superdome Scan tools to aid in diagnostics, testing, and hardware replacement. If there is ever a problem with the superdome, the CE would run diagnostic tools from the A500 SMS to help figure out what the problem is.

-Josh

[Alzhy]

Thanks Joshua!

So I was right after all - that it is essentially not needed for "operating" the SuperDOme as all else can be handled via the GSP/MP as in all Cell based HP servers.

[Hemanth Gurunath Basrur]

Hi,

Refer to the foll. links for more info.

http://www.interex.org/conference/iworks2001/sessions/sn096/

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/parseCurl.do?CURL=%2Fcm%2FQuestionAnswer%2F1%2C%2C0xbb91663ce855d511abcd0090277a778c%2C00.html&forumId=2&admit=716493758+1067006504670+28353475

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Hemanth

[Joshua Scott]

Nelson,

Yes, it actually doesn't come with a display or keyboard on purpose so that people won't use it as a console for the SD.

-Josh