The VMware ESX esxhost365x1 is an IBM x3650 7979 Quad Core CPU server and esxhost365x2 is also am IBM x3650 Quad code CPU server. The error messages looks like CPU related, comparing these new x3650 server with older x3650 where vmotion works fine we figured out it is because newer x3650 BIOS version is latest then the older x3650.

This was a very helpful tip and tempting enough to compare BIOS setting on both the servers. It turned out to be related to Execute Disable Bit CPU settings in BIOS which for some reason was disabled on newer IBM x3650 . Once I set this feature to “enabled”, I was able to eliminate the error message.

so if you can not do vmotion on IBM x3650 servers then check out BIOS settings in there.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

ShareThis

The xCAT is cluster administration toolkit which is open source cluster and is a great resource for provisioning IBM blade servers. Since xCAT is open source it is free to use but there isn’t a good support available online. When I start configuring xCAT I realized after setting up all settings for AMM and blades in chassis I couldn’t execute remote (rpower) command, looking closely in rpower script I realized it is using telnet to connect to AMM.

I was getting connection refused error from xCAT while running rpower command because telnet was disable on IBM AMM.Here is how I enabled telnet which fixed my xCAT issue :

To enable telnet (the less secure option)

1. From AMM web browser console navigate to IBM AMM Control -> Network Protocols
2. Scroll down to Telnet Protocol
3. Enable Telnet mode using the drop down box
4. Save the settings.
   

You should be good to go but wait you need to restart the AMM to make this change effective. Note: The SSH and Telnet services can be assigned to non-standard ports in the IBM BladeCenter. This can be checked under AMM Control -> Port Assignments.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

ShareThis

I have installed IBM Director 5.20.3 on IBM x3650 server on Red Hat Enterprise 4 AS but for blade server provisioning you need to purchase Remote deployment manager (RDM) which is very inexpensive piece of software. However installing RDM is not very straight forward, part of problem is IBM documentation.

If you want to install RDM for blade server provisioning then make sure you have following software installed which are prerequisite for running RDM on IBM Director:

• IBM Director server with BladeCenter Manager component.
• SSPT server

These are prerequisites, needed even if you are not using BladeCenter and even if you are not using remote-storage tasks, this is somewhat new to me.I received error message when i start installing Remote deployement manager on Red Hat server runnning IBM Director 5.20.3. Then i start looking for correct version of SSPT for Director version 5.20.3, running some google search i was able to find SSPT for older version of Director. I came across IBM forums where other guys were asking the same question so i find the URL to download corret SSPT version.

For downloading and finding the correct SSPT version for RDM install on Windows and Linux platform read my article on where to download SSPT for RDM 4.40..

Again to summarize the whole thing in 3 line here is what you need to do before you start installing RDM on IBM Director server :

1.Look for BladeCenter manager component on IBM Director server, if not installed you can install it from Director server CD setup by selecting custom install option.

2. Download and install the correct SSPT version.

3.Once you are done with above 2 steps installing RDM is very easy.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

ShareThis

Sometimes restarting Bladecenter management module can be a easy solution to fix the non-working keyboard. However if you had tried restating MM or Advanced management module (MM) but still you can’t use keyboard then you are really stuck, here is a fix that might work for you .

If everything fails try updating the Baseboard management controller (BMC) firmware. On HS21 IBM blades you can follow directions on how to update the BMC firmware here on sysdigg. This solution worked for me, if you are in similar situation where keyboard is not working on IBM Blade servers you can try this fix – this fix can work for you

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

ShareThis

If IBM blades are brand new and you don’t have no operating system installed then to update Baseboard management controller (BMC) and other firmware’s you have to do it manually on each blade, one at a time, you just can’t do it on mass number of blades.

There is clustering tool called xCAT which can be used to update x86 firmware, but setting up xCAT needs some time. However for new IBM blade users updating BMC firmware is itself overwhelming because there are different version of firmware available on IBM site and finding one you need is not very easy either.IBM HS21 blade BMC can be found online on IBM site.

1.on IBM site in search menu type “5073202″ to search for document ID which is updated 8-2008 with latest information on BMC firmware for HS21 XM blades. Click on results where BMC firmware update version is listed as 1.25

2. Latest version of BMC firmware version is 1.25 as of release date 8-25-2008, firmware is available for download in 3 format ISO, IMG and zip format. I was told by IBM support that update runs faster using zip file.

3. Next extract the zip file on your PC , once you extract the BMC firmware update file you will find there is single pkt file called MJBT25A.pkt.Just don’t ask me what pkt stands for its IBM terminology.

4. Next login to AMM admin using web browser and surf down to Blade Tasks then click on Firmware update.

5. Select the IBM blade number you want to update BMC firmware and upload the MJBT25A.pkt file, click to confirm and wait for update to run it takes few minutes to update the BMC firmware

That’s all you need to do for updating BMC firmware on IBM Blades.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

ShareThis

If you are planning to install IBM Director 5.20 then you should also install service update 2, there are lot of bugs that has been fixed in service update 2.There is download link available for IBM Director 5.20 on IBM site but finding the link is little bit hidden, there is a small form you have to fill out before you start the download.

Where to download IBM Director 5.20:

1. For downloading IBM Director 5.20 click the URL listed below :
Download IBM Director 5.20 from IBM
2. Under choose option select “IBM Director 5.20?

3. Fill out the form at IBM director download site with appropriate Information and click submit to start download

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

ShareThis

Boot sequence on IBM blades can be changed by getting into individual blade BIOS setting but if you need to change boot sequence on several  IBM blades then there is another simpler way to achieve this.

I am going to use PXE boot on IBM HS21 blade center so i have to set PXE as the first boot method for all the Blade servers. Here is how you can change IBM blade server boot sequence from AMM (Advanced management Module) or Management Module (MM).

1.       1.Login to IBM Blade center advanced management Module (AMM)

2.       2.Select IBM Blade Tasks on right side of the screen.

3.       3.Under Blades Tasks, select configuration:

4.       4.In Boot configuration you will see various blade configuration options:

5. Click on Boot sequence to this will take you to Boot Sequence list with all blades listed, click on any of the blade from the list and then you can select devices to boot from with your preferred boot sequence.

1st device Network

2^nd device hard drive 0

3^rd device CDROM

4^th device USB Floppy

For enabling PXE boot on blade server select Network as first boot device in Blade Boot sequence. on Blade server boot sequence can be changed from command line using xCAT – Linux clustering tool. xCAT works very fast compared to Management console web interface for changing boot sequence.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

ShareThis

IBM just announced release of long awaited Systems Director version 6.1 on September 23^rd. IBM has put lot of enhancements in IBM systems Director 6.1 to give it a new face lift. There is a secret behind the new face lift in IBM Director 6.1, it is based on HP systems Insight manager, if you are familiar with HP systems insight manager you know that it is totally web based system manager software.

Unlike HP system insight manager, IBM Director in past wasn’t a web based software but it uses Java based application console. HP Insight manager is very robust, stable and comes with very friendly navigation options. Because of growing popularity of HP insight manager IBM arranged conference call between some of the experienced user on HP insight manager and IBM Director Developers and here is the output – a newly designed web based IBM Director Version 6.1.

IBM Director version 6.1 will be available for downloads on:

Web download: November 21, 2008
Physical media: December 12, 2008

Some of the new Features added in IBM Director Version 6.1 are:

• Simplified management features web 2.0 design and time saving Navigation features.
• IBM Director 6.1 comes with user friendly navigation bar and task options.
• Director Version 6.1 comes with left and central Management navigation Tabs for faster navigation.
• In IBM Director 6.1, Tasks Links are located on left navigation bar.
• IBM Director 6.1 includes improved monitoring, automation, virtualization Management
• In IBM Director 6.1 onscreen help, tutorials and IBM information materials are always at your finger tips
• Locating Tasks and server resources in IBM Director 6.1 is much easier.

You can watch a demo on IBM Director Version 6.1 here

Where to  Download IBM Systems Director 6.1 ?

Finding IBM Director setup link is not very easy , I will be posting direct download Link for IBM Director 6.1 right here. Keep visiting here

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

ShareThis