Problem encounter, please help!

[Chin Meng]

Basically, My company have bought two HP machine one is HP9000 K570, another is HP9000 V2200. Within them using the MC/Service Guard.Beside of this, we also using Informix and BaaN. My question is how do I shutdown the machine with the command and how do I manually up the system? This because company going to have long holiday. Therefore, I have not encouter this problem yet!. Is any impact and priority that I need to be concerned before I jump into steps?

Thank you so much for all experts.

[Alexander M. Ermes · Accepted solution]

Hi there.
First way : shutdown informix and Baan manually
with existing scripts. Then shutdown the K570 first with 'shutdown -h now'.
When that is done, do the same on the V-class
machine. You will be asked to enter your own shutdown message. Just enter N for no.
Short way : Shutdown the machines, first K570, then V-class. The shutdown scripts for Inormix and Baan should be included in the shutdown process. When the final shutdown message is there,
switch of the serves first, then the disks and then the rest of the equipment.
Rgds
Alexander M. Ermes

[Matt Livingston]

When shutting down the servers you will need to ensure that you are logged in as root.
As for starting the machines up again, do everything in the exact reverse order as outlined in Alexander's response.

Switch on any external devices (tape drives, etc.) attached to the system.
Switch on any disks that are independently powered.
Then switch on the server itself.
There should be no need to interact with the IPL process, so just let it run through until a login prompt is displayed on your console.

The Informix and Baan applications should start up automatically.

[Chin Meng]

Thank you for both of you.

I think during that time. I will totally switch off anything including the UPS and power supply. When I want to up the system, I just do manual switch on for power supply and UPS and waiting for the system run until it ask for the login name, right? Is that so? So scary!! Which machine I need to switch on first, K class or V class?

Thank a lot for all experts

[Alexander M. Ermes]

Thanks to Matt for more detailed description.
Switch on the UPS first. Then go thru the disks and the other equipment. You then should wait for about two minutes for the disks to speed up and run selftests. Then switch on
the V-class first. This machine might take a bit longer to complete the startup. Then go for the K570.
Rgds
Alexander M. Ermes

p.s. Even the experienced guys once started from a situation like that, so don't worry to ask

[Paula J Frazer-Campbell]

Hi
Stopping you server completely for an extended period is not recommended, as you are liable to encounter disk problems when you restart.

It is far safer to leave it running.

If you log a call with HP they will also suggest that this is best.

HTH

Paula

[Dan Hetzel]

Hi Chin,

What are you considering as a "long holiday" ?

The shutdown procedure has been explained in detail by Alexander and Matt, so I won't waste everybody's time to repeat it.

I totally agree with Paula, you'd better keep your systems running. As with all electronics, and especially computers, power/temperature cycles put the most strain on the equipments.
So, unless your company is really having a LONG holiday period, leave them up and running.
That's why I was asking you "How long...."

Best regards,

Dan

PS: To make sure that informix and baan automatically stop/start, check in the /sbin/init.d directory. You most probably have a couple of scripts in there.

[Chin Meng]

Thank you for all fellows guiding me.

Paula, back to you suggestion that keeping the system running would be far safer than shut it off. I will going to shutdown the servers about 7 days long. I think shutdown the system will help me automatically perform the maintenance, I mean some sort like clear all the memory buffer and cooling down the CPU and some diagnotics. Are these no good for the servers?

Thank you so much to all experts.

[Paula J Frazer-Campbell]

Hi

If you keep the servers running then there is less chance of a component failure, as you are not stressing them by cooling and reheating.

The greatest chance of a system failure is always on starting a server from cold as contacts oxidise when not active and can loose their connectivity; components expand as they heat up ? different materials at different rates. Hard disks can stick (head to platter).
Your servers are also in a humid environment albeit that they are kept in a bespoke computer room (I hope) which again would make me and many Sys Admins keep them running.

Yes stop your database, but leave them running.


Paula