IBM 755 User Manual

Page 9

IBM United States Hardware Announcement

110-008

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Service Interface

The Service Interface allows support personnel to communicate with the service

support applications in a server using a console, interface, or terminal. Delivering

a clear, concise view of available service applications, the Service Interface allows

the support team to manage system resources and service information in an

efficient and effective way. Applications available via the Service Interface are

carefully configured and placed to give service providers access to important service

functions.

Different service interfaces are used depending on the state of the system and its

operating environment. The primary service interfaces are:

• LEDs
• Operator Panel
• Service Processor menu
• Operating system service menu
• Service Focal Point on the HMC

In the light path LED implementation, when a fault condition is detected on the

POWER7 system, an amber FRU fault LED will be illuminated, which will be rolled up

to the system fault LED. The light path system pinpoints the exact part by turning

on the amber FRU fault LED associated with the part to be replaced.

The system can clearly identify components for replacement by using specific

component-level LEDs, and can also guide the servicer directly to the component

by signaling (turning on solid) the system fault LED, enclosure fault LED, and the

component FRU fault LED. The servicer can also use the identify function to blink the

FRU-level LED. When this function is activated, a roll-up to the blue enclosure locate

and system locate LEDs will occur. These LEDs will turn on solid and can be used to

follow the light path from the system to the enclosure and down to the specific FRU.

First Failure Data Capture and Error Data Analysis

First Failure Data Capture (FFDC) is a technique that helps ensure that when a fault

is detected in a system, the root cause of the fault will be captured without the

need to re-create the problem or run any sort of extending tracing or diagnostics

program. For the vast majority of faults, a good FFDC design means that the root

cause can also be detected automatically without servicer intervention.

FFDC information, error data analysis, and fault isolation are necessary to

implement the advanced serviceability techniques that enable efficient service of the

systems and to help determine the failing items.

In the rare absence of FFDC and Error Data Analysis, diagnostics are required to re-

create the failure and determine the failing items.

Diagnostics

General diagnostic objectives are to detect and identify problems such that they can

be resolved quickly. Elements of IBM's diagnostics strategy include:

• Provide a common error code format equivalent to a system reference code,

system reference number, checkpoint, or firmware error code.

• Provide fault detection and problem isolation procedures.
• Support remote connection ability to be used by the IBM Remote Support Center

or IBM Designated Service.

• Provide interactive intelligence within the diagnostics with detailed online failure

information while connected to IBM's back-end system.

Automatic diagnostics

Because of the FFDC technology designed into IBM Servers, it is not necessary to

perform re-create diagnostics for failures or require user intervention. Solid and