Parent topic: Installing the operating system
Related information:
Linux service and productivity tools include hardware diagnostic aids and productivity tools, and installation aids. The installation aids are provided in the IBM® Installation Toolkit for Linux, a set of tools that aids the installation of Linux on IBM servers with POWER® architecture. You can also use the tools to update the PS703 or PS704 blade server firmware.
The hardware diagnostic aids and productivity tools are available as downloadable Red Hat Package Manager (RPM) files for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES). The IBM Installation Toolkit for Linux on POWER is available as an ISO compact disc (CD) image, which you can use to create your own CD. The Service and productivity tools for Linux systems site describes how to create a CD.
The hardware diagnostic aids and productivity tools are required for such hardware reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) functions as first-failure data-capture and error-log analysis. With the tools installed, problem determination and correction are greatly enhanced and the likelihood of an extended system outage is reduced.
For example, the update_flash command for installing system firmware updates can be performed only if the hardware diagnostic aids and productivity tools are installed.
Other tools modify various serviceability policies, manipulate system LEDs, update the bootlist, and capture extended error data to aid analysis of intermittent errors.
Other commands and a boot-time scanning script constitute a hardware inventory system. The lsvpd command provides vital product data (VPD) about hardware components.
The Error Log Analysis (ELA) tool provides automatic analysis and notification of errors that are reported by the platform firmware. ELA writes analyzed error data to /var/log/platform and to the servicelog. If a corrective action is required, a notification event sends the event to registered tools and subscribed users.
Install the LINUX operating system before you download and install the hardware diagnostic aids and productivity tools for Linux on POWER. The Installation Toolkit for Linux on Power is provided as-is only. You are not entitled to IBM Software Support for the Installation Toolkit.
Install the Virtual I/O Server and the Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM) before you install your Linux operating system if you plan to have a virtual environment.
