NEC Express5800-320Ma Administrator's Guide

Express5800/320Ma:

System Administrator’s Guide

NEC Solutions (America), Inc.

NR014W

Notice

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.

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Software described in NEC (a) is the property of NEC and/or its licensees, (b) is furnished only under license, and (c) may
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NEC documentation describes all supported features of the user interfaces and the application programming interfaces
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This document is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be copied, reproduced, or
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VERITAS, VERITAS SOFTWARE, the VERITAS logo, Business Without Interruption, VERITAS The Data Availability
Company , and VERITAS V olume Manager are trademarks or registered trademarks of VERITAS Software Corporation in
the U.S. and/or other countries.

The NEC Solutions (America), Inc. logo, Express5800/320Ma, and the Express5800/320Ma logo, are trademarks of NEC
Solutions (America), Inc. ActiveService Network is a trademark of Stratus Technologies Bermuda, Ltd. All other
trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

Manual Name: Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Part Number: NR014W
Express5800/320Ma Software Release Number: 4.1.0
Publication Date: January 2006

NEC Solutions (America), Inc.
10850 Gold Center Drive, Suite 200
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

© 2006 NEC Solutions (America), Inc. All rights reserved.

Contents

Preface xi

1. Introduction to System Administration 1-1

System Administration Tools 1-1

Active Upgrade 1-1
ftServer Management Console 1-2
Software Availability Manager 1-2
ActiveService Network 1-2
Virtual Technician Module 1-3
VTM Console 1-3
Disk-Management Tools 1-4

System Software Features 1-4

Fail-Safe Software 1-4
Services 1-4
Open Driver Architecture 1-4

Rapid Disk Resync Disk Mirroring 1-5
Initial Configuration 1-6
Documentation 1-6

Express5800/320Ma Help System 1-6
Windows Documentation 1-7

2. Operating and Monitoring Your System 2-1
System Startup and Shutdown 2-1

Enabling the System Power Button 2-2
Managing CPU Element Resynchronization 2-3
Managing CPU Element Bringup 2-3

Connecting Serial Port 1 to the Modem 2-4
Controlling the Modem 2-5
Remote Access to Your System Desktop 2-5

Remote Desktop 2-5

Running ftSMC Remotely 2-6

Using VTM Console 2-6
Using the VTM 2-6

Contents iii

Contents

Setting Up a VTM Administrator Account 2-6
Configuring VTM Administrator Email Paging 2-7
Configuring the SMTP and SNMP Settings 2-7
Setting Paging-Severity Levels 2-8

Windows System Event Logs 2-8

Setting the Size of Event Log Files 2-9

Archiving Event Log Files 2-9
Monitoring Stratus Services 2-9
BIOS Settings 2-10

Determining the BIOS Version 2-10
Enabling IMAPI for Writing to CDs 2-10
Floppy Disk Drive Volume Letter 2-11
Serial Ports 2-11
Uninterruptible Power Supplies 2-12

System Shutdown with UPS Battery Rundown 2-12

Changing the IP Address of Systems with a UPS 2-12
SNMP Traps 2-13
Installing Hotfixes and Security Updates 2-13
Important Things to Avoid 2-14

3. ftServer Management Console 3-1
CPU and I/O Enclosures and Elements 3-1
ftSMC Overview 3-2
Running ftSMC 3-2

Running ftSMC Directly on Your Express5800/320Ma

System 3-2

Running ftSMC on a Remote Computer 3-3

Adding the ftServer Management Console Snap-in to

MMC 3-3
Virtual Modems 3-4
Using VTMs to Troubleshoot Systems 3-5
Determining the Value of the Send Alarms

By Property 3-6
Opening a Previously Saved MMC Console 3-6

Running ftSMC by Remote Access 3-6

Performing ftSMC Tasks 3-6

ftSMC Interface 3-6

Details Pane 3-8
Icons Used in ftSMC 3-9
Refreshing the ftSMC Display 3-11

Viewing and Changing Properties 3-12

Required Operational States for Commands 3-13

iv Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

4. Disk Storage Management 4-1
Data Fault Tolerance 4-1
Guidelines for System Disks 4-2
Using RDR for Fault Tolerance 4-2

Automatic Virtual Disk Expansion 4-3
Managing RDR Disks 4-4
Notes on Using RDR to Mirror Disks in Internal Storage 4-5

Disk Failures during Resynchronization 4-5
Write Caching 4-6
Read-load Balancing 4-6

Mirroring Dynamic Disks with RDR 4-10
Setting the Active RDR Disk (Plex) 4-10
Deleting the RDR Configuration on a Physical Disk 4-11
Removing a Physical Disk from an RDR Virtual Disk 4-12
Deporting a Physical Disk from an RDR Virtual Disk 4-13
Creating a Spare Bootable RDR Disk 4-14
Breaking a Physical Disk from an RDR Virtual Disk 4-14
Setting or Clearing the MTBF for Disks 4-15

Setting the MTBF Faultcount Limit for Disks 4-15
Booting a System with a Backup RDR Boot Disk 4-16
Reusing Data Disks 4-16

Reusing a Stored-Data Disk 4-16

Removing the RDR Configuration from a

Stored-Data Disk 4-16

Resynchronizing RDR Disks 4-17

Resynchronizing a Backup Boot RDR Disk 4-18
Recovering and Replacing RDR Disks 4-18
Verifying RDR Disks 4-19
Configuring the Priority of RDR Virtual Disk

Resynchronization 4-20

Using Volume Mirroring for Fault Tolerance 4-20

Mirrored Volume Resynchronization 4-21

Volume Resynchronization After Rebooting 4-21
Inserting or Removing More Than One Disk at a Time 4-22

ftSMC Interface for Storage Enclosures and Subsystems 4-22

Storage Enclosure Node 4-23

Slot Node 4-23

Disk Node 4-23

Sensor Nodes 4-23
EMC Attached Storage 4-24

Mirroring Disks in Your Express5800/320Ma System 4-24

Mirroring Disks in Internal Storage 4-25
Configuring and Creating RDR Disks 4-25

Contents

Contents v

Contents

Finding a Physical Disk 4-25

Finding an Internal Physical Disk 4-25
Finding an External Physical Disk 4-27

5. Troubleshooting 5-1
MTBF Statistics 5-1

Clearing the MTBF 5-2

Changing the MTBF Threshold 5-2
Taking Components Offline and Bringing Them Online 5-2
Hard Disks 5-2

Recovering a Disk 5-2

Replacing a Failed Disk in Windows Disk Management 5-3

Replacing a Failed Disk with an Uninitialized Disk 5-4
Replacing a Failed Disk with an Initialized Disk 5-4

Hardware Installation Wizard 5-5
Determining That a Component Has Failed 5-5

Using LEDs to Troubleshoot Hardware 5-5

Using ftSMC to Troubleshoot Hardware 5-5
Locating Components 5-6

Device IDs and Device Paths 5-6

Diagrams of Component Locations 5-8

System Elements and Internal Storage Disk Locations 5-8
When Windows Does Not Respond 5-9
Delayed System Restart 5-9
Unresponsive Mouse and Keyboard 5-10
Remote Event Notification and Service 5-10

Remote Reporting of Events 5-10

Autonomous Call Home 5-10

System Inventory Reports 5-10

SNMP Traps 5-10

Event-Log Entries 5-11

Remote Service 5-11

Making Dump Files 5-11

Using the Dump Button 5-12
System Memory Dumps 5-12

Dump and Go 5-13
Online Diagnostic Codes 5-13
Disaster Recovery 5-14

Safe Mode 5-14

Booting From a Spare System Disk 5-14

WinPE 5-15

Windows Hotfixes Distributed by

NEC Solutions (America), Inc. 5-15

vi Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Appendix A. Advanced Topics A-1

Disabling Hyperthreading A-1
Using Windows Headless Mode and Console Redirection A-2
Security Configuration Wizard A-2

Appendix B. Online Diagnostic Codes B-1

Online Diagnostic Test Codes B-1

CPU Diagnostic Test Codes B-1
I2C Bus Diagnostic Test Codes B-3
Primary I/O Element Diagnostic Test Codes B-4
Secondary I/O Element Diagnostic Test Codes B-10

Index Index-1

Contents

Contents vii

Figures

Figure 3-1. ftSMC Tree 3-4
Figure 3-2. Virtual Modems 3-5
Figure 3-3. ftSMC User Interface 3-7
Figure 3-4. Details Pane 3-8
Figure 3-5. System Inventory Icons 3-9
Figure 3-6. Simplexed Icon for Invalid Configurat ion 3-10
Figure 3-7. Warning and Error Icons 3-10
Figure 3-8. Warning and Inventory Error Icons 3-11
Figure 3-9. Threshold Warning Icon 3-11
Figure 3-10. ftSMC Details Pane Refresh Options 3-12
Figure 3-11. Properties Command in Shortcut Menu 3-12
Figure 4-1. Mirroring RDR Virtual Disks 4-8
Figure 5-1. Warning and Error Icons 5-6
Figure 5-2. Component Levels 5-7
Figure 5-3. CPU-I/O Enclosure, and Disk Slot Labeling 5-9

viii Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Tables

Table 3-1. ftSMC User Interface Key Elements 3-7
Table 3-2. ftSMC Warning and Error Icons 3-10
Table 3-3. Operational State for Associated Commands 3-13
Table 4-1. RDR Disk Numbering 4-7
Table 4-2. FC Host Bus Ada p ter Stat e an d Re ason Property Values 4-24
Table 5-1. System Devices and Device IDs 5-7

Tables ix

Tables

x Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Purpose of This Manual

The Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide documents tasks and
information for system administra to rs of Express5800/320Ma systems.

Audience

This manual is intended for anyone who administers or troubleshoots
Express5800/320Ma systems.

Notation Conventions

This document uses the notation conventions described in this section.

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

Warnings, cautions, and notes provide special information and have t he following
meanings:

WARNING

!

A warning indicates a situation where failure to take
or avoid a specified action could ca use bodily harm or
loss of life.

Preface

CAUTION

!

A caution indicates a situation where failure to t ake or
avoid a specified action could damage a hardwar e device,
program, system, or data.

NOTE

A note provides important information about the opera tion
of an Express5800/320Ma system.

Typographical Conventions

The following typographical conventions are used in ftServer documents:

Preface xi

Preface

• The bold font emphasizes words in te xt or indicates te xt that y ou type, the name of

a screen object, or the name of a programming element. For example:

Before handling or replacing system components, make sure that you are
properly grounded by using a grounded wrist strap.

In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab.
Call the RegisterDeviceNotification function.

• The italic font introduces new terms and indicates progr amming and command-line

arguments that the user defines. For example:

Many hardware components are custom er -r ep la cea b le un its (CRUs), which
can be replaced on-site by system adm inistrators with minimal tr aining or tools.

copy filename1 filename2
Pass a pointer for the NotificationFilter parameter

• The monospace font indicates sample program code and output, including

message text. For example:

#include <iostream.h>

Getting Help

If you have a technical question about Express5800/320Ma hardware or software, try
these online resources first:

• Online support from NEC Tech nical Support. You can find the latest technical

information about an Express5800/320Ma through online product support at the

NEC Technical Support Web site:

• Online product support for Microsoft

support is the computer manufacturer wh o provided your software, or an
authorized Microsoft Support Provider . You can also find the latest technical
information about Microsoft Windows
product support at the Microsoft Help and Support Web site:

If you are unable to resolve your questions with t he help available at these online sites,
and the Express5800/320Ma system is covere d by a service agreement, please
contact NEC Technical Support (866-269-1239).

The operation completed successfully.

http://support.necsam.com/servers/

®

products. Your primary source for

®

and other Microsoft products through online

http://support.microsoft.com/

xii Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Notices

Preface

• All regulatory notices are provided in the site planning guide for your system.

• Although this guide documents modem functionality, modems are not av ailab le f or

all systems. Ask your sales representative about modem availability.

• ActiveService Network (ASN) is not currently availabl e, but may be ordered in the

future.

Preface xiii

Preface

xiv Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Chapter 1

Introduction to System Administration

The following topics provide an introduction to Express5800/320Ma system

administration.

• “System Administration Tools” on page 1-1

• “System Software Feature s” on page 1-4

• “Initial Configuration” on page 1-6

• “Documentation” on page 1 -6

• “Windows Documentation” on page 1-7

Features of Express5800/320Ma system software further support system
fault-tolerance for properly configured systems.

If you have a service contract, NEC Solutions ( America), Inc. or an a uthorized se rvice
representative provides continuous, remote, system monitoring and diagnosis for
ActiveService Network (ASN) management.

Disk-management tools are also available on yo ur Expr ess 58 0 0/32 0M a syste m .

1-

System Administration Tools

System administration tools enable you to monitor system performance and
system-component status, diagnose errors, and ide ntify failed comp onents. Using th e
tools, you can take failed components offline and pu t replaceme nt components onlin e.

These features include Active Upgrade, ftServer Management Console, Software

Av ailability Manager (SAM), ActiveService Network (ASN), Virtual T echnician Module
(VTM), the VTM console, and disk-management tools.

Active Upgrade

Optional Active Upgrade™ technology enables you to upgrade your
Express5800/320Ma system and application software wit h minimal downtime.

Instead of taking your system offline to run upgrade procedures, you can use the Active
Upgrade process to split the system into two independently-running systems, one

Introduction to System Administration 1-1

System Administration Tools

“side” of which you upgrade while the other side continues to run your applications
without interruption. See the Express5800/320M a: Active Upgrade User’s Guide or the
Active Upgrade online help for more information.

To use Active Upgrade, your system requires a VTM.

ftServer Management Console

The ftServer Management Console (ftSMC) is a graphical user interface that enables
you to monitor and manage your system’s fault-tolerant software and hardware. See

Chapter 3 for details.

Software Availability Manager

The Software Availability Manager (SAM) performs predictive software availability
management. SAM monitors system activity to predict possible software failures and
to alert you to take action. SAM is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in
supplied by NEC Solutions (America), Inc.

See the Express5800/320Ma Software Availability Manager User’s Guide for complete
information.

ActiveService Network

Your Express5800/320Ma systems offers an optional, secure network, the
ActiveService Network (ASN). ASN enables NEC Technical Suppor t or your authorized
service representative to provide remote monitoring, diagnosis, troubleshooting, and
problem-resolution services to your systems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access to
the ASN requires a service contract with NEC Solutions (America), Inc. or an
authorized service representative and is implemented across a modem or over the
Internet.

Having ASN connectivity enables:

• Y our system to send alerts (call-home alarm messages) to NEC T echn ical Support

or your authorized service representative when unusual events occur on the
system

• NEC Technical Support or your authorized service repres en ta tive to access the

system through a connection to the ASN

Your system can connect to the ASN through:

• A modem connected to the system

• The VTM or an ftGateway system (a system configured as a gateway for ASN

connectivity)

• The Internet

1-2 Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Internet-based ASN connects over a secure path to your authorized service
representative. Internet-based ASN does not support ftGateway.

After verifying a hardware problem, your authorized service representative can send
out a replacement CRU.

See the Express5800/320Ma ActiveService Network Configuration Guide for more
information.

Virtual Technician Module

The Virtual Technician Module (VTM) is a system-management module supported on
your Express5800/320Ma system. VTMs provide remote-management capabilities
using the VTM console (a Web-based console), including:

• Advanced Video Redirection (AVR)

• Access to attached storage

• Diagnosis of a system that is without power

• Power-cycling of a system

VTM is required for the use of Active Upgrade.

System Administration Tools

AVR enables you to manage the host computer remotely over t he Web-based console.
Using AVR, you can view the remote system desktop and redirect its local keyboard
and mouse.

VTM supports Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DHCP dynamically
assigns IP addresses to the VTMs, and also supports static IP addresses. The two
VTMs on each VTM-equipped system require a total of four IP addresses.

VTM Console

The VTM console is the Web-based interface for systems t hat support VTM. Th e VTM
console enables you, NEC Technical Support, or your authorized service
representative to control, monitor, and diagnose the syst em. You can access the VTM
console over a LAN or modem.

Because the VTM console is Web-based, you can use it in a Web browser from any
location. You can use the VTM console even if the host system’s operat ing system is
out of operation and its network connections are lost.

Introduction to System Administration 1-3

System Software Features

Disk-Management Tools

Disk-management tools enable you to monitor disk stat us, mirror entire physical disks,
create logical volumes, mirror volumes across multiple disks, and perform other
data-storage operati ons. For information, see Chapter 4 and the Windows Server 2003
documentation.

See also “Rapid Disk Resync Disk Mirroring” on page 1-5.

System Software Features

Express5800/320Ma System Software has features designed to support fa ult-tolera nt
operation and high availability. These features include fault-tolerant, fail-safe software,

services, open architecture drivers, and Rapid Disk Resync disk mirroring.

Fail-Safe Software

Express5800/320Ma System Software works in conjunction with lockstep technology
to prevent many software errors. Fail -safe software features capture issues and report
them to NEC Technical Support or your authorized service representa tive. Even data
in memory can be constantly protected and maintained.

NEC Solutions (America), Inc. also provides drivers that increase the fault tolerance
and manageability of third-party drivers for other adapters in the system.

Services

NEC Solutions (America), Inc. provides software fault-tolerant services that run on your
system as Windows-based services. These services constantly monitor for, and
respond to, hardware problems. Applications do not need custo mization to support the
services.

These services start automatically when the system boots and remain running during
normal operation. If a situation requires system administrator intervention, you can use
Computer Management to manually start and stop system services. See “Monitoring

Stratus Services” on page 2-9 for details.

See the Express5800/320Ma: Techni cal Re fe re nc e Gu ide for descriptions of the
Stratus services.

Open Driver Architecture

Your Express5800/320Ma system supports both vendor-supplied drivers and
NEC-supplied drivers for PCI adapters. For PCI adapters that you supply, your
Express5800/320Ma system supports vendor-supplied drivers. For PCI adapters that
NEC Solutions (America), Inc. provides, NEC Solutions (America), Inc. supplies drivers
that it has enhanced with support for surprise removal.

1-4 Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

System Software Features

In addition, your Express5800/320Ma system uses other dr ivers developed by NEC
Solutions (America), Inc. These drivers allow the system and all PCI devices to
integrate with the ASN, and provide management of all system de vices and device
fault-tolerance.

ASN integration provides:

• Automatic reporting of device failures to the NEC Technical Support

• Notification to you by the NEC Technical Support when a device fails

• Inventory reporting to the NEC Technical Support that lists all PCI devices in the

system

• Comprehensive debug information about all devices in the system for use by the

NEC Technical Support in troubleshooting your system

Management of PCI devices includes:

• On your Express5800/320Ma system, hot-plug support alerts the plug-and-play

manager to bring a device into service or take it out of service. You can initiate
bring-up or bring-down from ftSMC. Hot-plug support also initiates discovery of
newly attached or removed devices.

NOTE

You must remove the CPU-I⁄ O enclosure from the
system in order to remove a PCI adapter.

• Display of information so that you know whether removing a device will

compromise the system. The drivers can set LEDs and values in ftSMC that let you
know whether you can safely remove a component.

• Display of information about the device in ftSMC.

Device fault-tolerance includes:

• Automatic restart of failed devices. The device will be restarted after transient

faults, un til it falls below its mean-time-between faults (MTBF) threshold.

• T rac king the MTBF of a de vice and management of the de vice when it experiences

faults. You can set parameters to take the device out of service when the device
experiences an unacceptable MTBF. You can configure the rules for MTBF
management.

Rapid Disk Resync Disk Mirroring

Rapid Disk Resync (RDR) disk-mirroring technology provides faster resynchronization
of mirrored disks than other mirroring methods after transient fa ilures or when a single

Introduction to System Administration 1-5

Initial Configuration

disk is briefly removed from service. For optimal performance, use RDR to mirror disks
in internal storage.

Initial Configuration

Configure the following items before you use your system:

• System Software. See the Express5800/320Ma: Software Installation and

Configuration Guide for software installation and configuration details.

• Disk storage. Create a backup system disk and mirror the disks in your system. If

you are implementing RDR disk mirroring, see the Express5800/320Ma: Software
Installation and Configuration Guide for details. If you are implementing volume
mirroring, see your disk-management tool documentation.

• Network connections. Configure Ethernet adapters in teams to achieve

increased throughput and f ault tolerance . In a team, one adapter is primary and the
other adapters in the team are secondary. See the Express5800/320Ma: Software

Installation and Configuration Guide and the Express5800/320Ma: PCI Adapter
Guide for details about configuring Ethernet adapter teams.

• Uninterruptible power supply. See your system’s hardware installation guide for

information about connecting a UPS to a system. See the Express5800/320Ma:
Software Installation and Configuration Gu ide for information about how to
configure a UPS for use with your system.

Documentation

The Express5800/320Ma: Site Planning Gui de provides lists of Express5800/320Ma
system documentation. You can find additional information in the o nline Help syst em.

Express5800/320Ma Help System

The Express5800/320Ma Help system consists of the following:

• General Help. You can access this help from the Help button on an application’s

menu bar, or by pressing F1.

• Context-Sensitive Help. This help is available for certain items within

help-enabled applications (such as the ftSMC snap-in). T o access this help , select
an icon in the ftSMC system inv entory tree and press F1. Alternatively, right-click
an ftSMC system inventory tree icon, and in the shortcut menu, click Help.

• What’s This? Help for ftSMC. This help is available for items in the details pane

of the ftSMC snap-in. To access this help, right-click the question mark (?) icon in
front of the item, and in the shortcut menu, click What’s this?. See Figure 3-4 for
an example. This help is also available from certain dialog boxes having the
What’s this? help icon (?) in their upper-right corner. For e xampl e, in a Properties

1-6 Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

dialog box in ftSMC , clic k the help ico n (?), then click a box, and a pop-up window
is displayed.

Windows Documentation

This manual does not document system administration tasks that you perform as an
administrator of a Windows-based server unless there are associated tasks that are
specific to your systems. System administration tasks include:

• Configuring networks and managing access to network resources

• Configuring Windows Server 2003 services

• Configuring domain controllers

• Implementing and managing Active Directory

• Setting up user accounts and managing users

• Setting up and configuring printers

• Managing server security

• Backing up and restoring data

For help with these kinds of tasks, see the associated Microsoft Help system and the
Microsoft documentation provided with Windows Server 2003.

Windows Documentation

Introduction to System Administration 1-7

Windows Documentation

1-8 Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Chapter 2

Operating and Monitoring Your System

For information about system operation, see the following topics:

• “System Startup and Shutdown” on page 2-1

• “Controlling the Modem” on page 2-5

• “Remote Access to Your System Desktop” on page 2-5

• “Using the VTM” on page 2-6

• “Windows System Event Logs” on page 2-8

• “Monitoring Stratus Services” on page 2-9

• “BIOS Settings” on page 2-10

• “Enabling IMAPI for Writing to CDs” on page 2-10

• “Floppy Disk Drive Volume Letter” on page 2-11

• “Serial Ports” on page 2-11

• “Uninterruptible Power Supplies” on page 2-12

• “SNMP Traps” on page 2-13

• “Installing Hotfixes and Security Updates” on page 2-13

2-

• “Important Things to Avoid” on page 2-14

System Startup and Shutdown

For normal system startup and shutdown, and to completely remove power from the
system, see the operation and maintenance guide for your system.

CAUTION

!

Always shut do wn the operating system bef ore turning the
system power off.

Operating and Monitoring Your System 2-1

System Startup and Shutdown

NOTES

1. Give the system time to recover automatically
from problems. If the system hangs for any reason
while it is booting, wait at least ten minutes before
intervening manually.

2. If a system contains failed components, it may
attempt to boot for an extended period of time. This is
because the system makes up to six attempts to boot,
each time trying with a different combination of
components. You can monitor the boot process on the
screen or in a VTM console session.

You can accomplish an orderly shutdown of the system from a remote computer by
accessing the Windows desktop and choosing Shut Down from the Start menu.

You must physically be at the system to see the message indi ca tin g that it is safe to
power off the system. To turn off power, use the power button, the standby
circuit-breaker switches, or the VTM consol e. Note, however, that the Windows Shut
Down command automatically powers down the system.

Enabling the System Power Button

The system power button performs an or derly shutdown when pressed once. However,
if no one is currently logged onto the system, the p ower butt on may not wor k pro perly
on all versions of the Windows operating system. You may need to enable the system
power button to operate correctly in the event that no one is logged onto a syst em.

To enable the system power button to shut down a system onto which no one has yet
logged, enable the following Windows Security option:

Shutdown: Allow system to be shutdown without having to log on

For information about enabling this option, refer to the Windows Help topic To edit a

security setting on a Group Policy object and follow the instructions for a Local
computer or a Group Policy object.

2-2 Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Managing CPU Element Resynchronization

On systems running Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, a CPU element returning
to service must resynchronize with the functioning CPU element. A CPU element
requires resynchronization:

• After bringing down and then bringing up a CPU element

• After a transient CPU element error

• After powering down a system and then powering it up

• During online BIOS upgrade

During the resynchronization period, the system will not respond to network
connections. Therefore, it is important t o set the timeout period and/or number of r etries
for network applications to be large enough to prevent timeouts during
resynchronization. The length of the resynchronization perio d is proportional to the
amount of system memory configured.

By default, resynchronization occurs as soon as the CPU element that was taken out
of service is determined to be operational or the failed enclosure is replaced. However,
you can defer resynchronization to a more convenient time, such as an off-peak period.
See the ftSMC help for information about scheduling CPU bringup.

System Startup and Shutdown

Managing CPU Element Bringup

You can specify two times of day at which to enable, or t o which to defer, the return t o
service of CPU elements that have been removed from service (shot). You use two
commands—Enable CpuBoard Bringup and Defer CpuBoard Bringup—which the
Windows Scheduler executes. Along with the commands, you specify two times of day:
one time when an offline CPU element can be brought up, and another time to which
CPU Bringup is deferred. See the ftSMC snapin Help for instructions in setting these
commands.

When Scheduler executes the commands, Enable CpuBoard Bringup changes the
CpuBringUpPolicy property under the Srabid driver to Enable Bringup. This setting
enables CPU elements that were removed from service to come back into service. It
also brings up any CPUs that are in the Removed from Service state for a reason of
Deferred BringUp, as long as they don't exceed the MTBF thresh old.

When Scheduler executes the Defer CpuBoard Bringup command, it changes the
CpuBringUpPolicy property under the Srabid driver to Defer Brin gup. With this sett ing,
if a CPU element is removed from service, the CPU elements come ba ck into service
at different times.

For example, consider the situation in which Defer CpuBoard Bringup is scheduled for
every day at 8 a.m., and Enable CpuBoard Bringup is scheduled for every day at 9 p.m.
In this case, if any CPU element gets removed from service after 8 a.m., it will not be

Operating and Monitoring Your System 2-3

System Startup and Shutdown

allowed to come back into service until after 9 p.m., when Scheduler executes Enable
CpuBoard Bringup. At that time, Enable CpuBoard Bringup will automatically bring up
any CPU element that has been deferred between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Connecting Serial Port 1 to the Modem

On systems that have modems and no VTMs, you must change a BIOS setting to
enable Serial Port 1 (also known as Serial Port A) to connect to the modem. Without
this change in the BIOS settings, the system will not allow the internal modem to use
Serial Port 1, and the port will remain available for any other serial port connection.

When performing this procedure from the ftServer Setup utility, use the arrow keys to
navigate within the utility.

You can also change the BIOS setting from ftSMC while the system is running by

performing the procedure that follows this one.

To change the BIOS setting during a system reboot

1. Shutdown and reboot the system.

2. While the system is rebooting, press the F2 key to enter the ftServer Setup utility.
The system may take a minute or so to displa y the ftServer Setup utility Main menu.

3. On the ftServer Setup menu, select the Advanced tab.

4. On the Advanced tab, select I/O Device Configuration, then press Enter.

5. Select Serial PortA Connection, then press Enter.

6. Use the plus key (+) to toggle to Internal Modem, then press Enter.

7. Press Esc, then select Exit Saving Changes and press Enter.

8. At the Setup Confirmation dialog box (with “Yes” highlighted), press Enter to return
to the system boot process.

To change the BIOS setting from ftSMC with the system running

1. In ftSMC, expand ftServer (Local), ftServer Drivers, right-click the BIOS Setup
node, and select Properties.

2. In the BIOS Setup Properties page, set the ComAModem property to True, and
click OK.

3. Restart the syst em to enable the BIOS update to take effect.

2-4 Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

Controlling the Modem

CAUTION

!

When you replace or install a modem, you must turn
power to the modem connector off to prevent damage to
the modem and the system.

Use the following pr ocedure to change the po wer state of the modem wh ile the system
remains online. Otherwise, shut down the system and remove the power cords, as
described in the Express5800/320Ma: Operation and Maintenance Guide.

Powering the modem on or off while the system is online

1. In ftSMC, expand ftServer (Local) and ftServer Call Home Modem.

2. Refer to the PowerState property in the details pane, or the state of the power
(green) LED on the modem, to verify that the power is on or off.

3. If the modem power is on, select Initiate BringDown to turn it off. If the modem
power is off, select Initiate BringUp to turn it on.

Remote Access to Your System Desktop

Controlling the Modem

You can remotely access your system’s Windows desktop in different ways, depending
on how your system is set up. Remote Desktop and VTM console enable remote
access to the Windows desktop from a remote com p ut er .

Remote Desktop

Microsoft Remote Desktop is installed by default on your system. However, it is not
enabled by default.

To enable Remote Desktop

1. Right-click My Computer and select Properties.

2. In System Properties, click the Remote tab.

3. Select the check box under Remote Desktop to enab le users to conn ect remotely
to the computer.

4. The Remote Sessions dialog box will appear, stating that some local accounts
might not have passwords. Click OK.

Operating and Monitoring Your System 2-5

Using the VTM

NOTE

Users must have passwords to access remote desktops
with the Remote Desktop application. See Microsoft
documentation for details.

Running ftSMC Remotely

See “Running ftSMC on a Remote Computer” on page 3 -3 or “Running ftSMC by

Remote Access” on page 3-6 for details about running ftSMC on a remote system.

Using VTM Console

If your system has VTMs, you can use VTM console to remotely access the server
desktop to turn off system power and boot the host system. See the
Express5800/320Ma Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide for mor e details.

CAUTION

!

Before using the VTM console to turn off system power,
always attempt to perform an orderly shutdown of the
operating system.

Using the VTM

Using the VTM includes the following major procedures:

• “Setting Up a VTM Administrator Account” on page 2-6

• “Configuring VTM Administrator Email Paging” on page 2-7

• “Configuring the SMTP and SNMP Settings” on page 2-7

• “Setting Paging-Severity Levels” on page 2-8

See “Using VTMs to Troubleshoot Systems” on page 3-5 for related information.

Setting Up a VTM Administrator Account

You set up a VTM administrator account, which enables you to log on to the VTM
Console, from the ftSMC. (Note that the VTM administrator account is separate from
your Windows administrator account.)

2-6 Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide

To set up a VTM administrator account

1. In ftSMC, expand ftServer (Local), ftServer Configuration, right-click
ActiveService Network, and select Properties.

2. On the dialog box, click the SMM tab.

3. Enter values into the following fields:

– SMM Admin ID. Your VTM administrator login na me.
– SMM Admin Password. Your VTM administrator password.
– SMM Admin Dialback Number. The phone number you use to dial in to the

VTM adapter. After you dial in and are authenticated as the Admin, the VTM
hangs up the connection and dials the dialback number to reestablish the
connection.

4. Click OK.

Configuring VTM Administrator Email Paging

You can configure your VTM to email you VTM aler ts. Verify that your SMTP server IP

address is correct if you are enabling email paging.

To configure VTM administrator email paging

1. In ftSMC, expand ftServer (Local), ftServer Configuration, right-click
ActiveService Network node, and select Properties.

2. In the properties page, click the SMM tab.

Using the VTM

3. In the SMM Admin Enable Email box, set the value to False to disable or True to
enable the sending of VTM email aler ts.

4. In the SMM Admin Email Address box, enter your email address.

5. Click OK.

Configuring the SMTP and SNMP Settings

Configure the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) and Simple Net work Management
Protocol (SNMP) settings to indicate the IP add resses to use for VTM email notification
and for communication between the VTM and th e SMTP/SNMP servers. Conta ct your
network administrator for the correct addresse s.

To configure SMTP and SNMP settings

1. In ftSMC, expand ftServer (Local), ftServer Configuration, right-click VTM
Network Config node, and select Properties.

2. On the VTM Network Config Properties page , click the SMTP/SNMP tab.

3. Enter values for the following properties:

Operating and Monitoring Your System 2-7

Windows System Event Logs

– SMTP Server IP. A required value: The IP address of your email server.
– SNMP Community. A required value: A filter for incoming SNMP messages

and outgoing SNMP traps.

– SNMP Server 1–7 IP. The IP addresses of the SNMP servers that receive VT M

SNMP traps.

4. Click OK.

Setting Paging-Severity Levels

Set the paging-severity level to notify users when entries are made in the VTM system
event log (SEL). Use the settings to indicate how severe an error must be before you
receive a notification about it. These are errors that relate to a particular area of the
VTM adapter; for example, power, temperature sensors, and so on.

The available security levels are:

• None. The user notification for this group is inactive.

• Warning. The VTM notifies users when SEL entries in this group exceed warning

thresholds.

• Critical. The VTM notifies users when SEL entries of the group exceed critical

thresholds.

• All. The VTM notifies users of every SEL entry of events in the group.

After you set or change the paging-severity levels, the VTM reboots.

To set paging-severity levels

1. In ftSMC, expand ftServer (Local), ftServer Configuration, right-click VTM
Network Config, and select Properties.

2. On the VTM Network Config Properties page, click one of the Paging Severity
tabs and set values, as desired, for the displayed properties. Set values on the
other Paging Severity tab the same way.

3. Click OK.

Windows System Event Logs

The system maintains logs of application and system events. These event logs can
help you, or the NEC Technical Support, if problems occur on the system.

In the Windows Administrative Tools, you can use Event Viewer to view the different
logs and to set the size of the application and system event logs. To prevent loss of
event log data, maintain a regular schedule for manually archiving event log files or
obtain a third-party tool that performs automated event-log archiving.

2-8 Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide