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ALOM Setup on Sun's V210 and V240 servers

News Solaris ALOM ALOM setup using root account ALOM Setup using serial management interface Recommended Links  Reference

ALOM is an independent system controller providing a command-line interface that controls Sun Fire V series servers including, but not limited to, V210 and V240. ALOM enables the administrator to run diagnostics (such as POST) remotely and can be configured to send email alerts of hardware failures/warnings or other server-related events. Components that ALOM can monitor include, for example, system temperature and voltages, CPUs, disk drives, fans, and power supplies.

ALOM is a special imbedded computer that runs independently of the server, using the server's standby power. Therefore, its firmware continues to function when the server operating system goes offline, into init S mode due to severe configuration errors or when the server is powered off.

It can be setup from root account on the server or via serial management inteface.

Most important capabilities:

ALOM setup using root account

You need to assigned a separate IP address, netmask and gateway for ALOM Net Interface and connect the cable to use it

If you have root access to this machine you can use scadm utility to set IP address, netmask and gateway for ALOM network interface.

scadm is located at platform dependent directory that for V210 boxes is /usr/platform/SUNW,Sun-Fire-V210/sbin/

/usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm set netsc_ipaddr 10.194.128.41 
/usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm netsc_ipaddr 10.194.128.41
/usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm netsc_ipnetmask 255.255.240.0
/usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm netsc_ipgateway 10.194.128.1

To view setting you can use

/usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm show | grep netsc

and network settings of your workstation. Here is sample output from my sample V140:

# /usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm show | grep netsc
	
	netsc_tpelinktest="true"
	netsc_dhcp="false"
	netsc_ipaddr="10.194.128.41"
	netsc_ipnetmask="255.255.240.0"
	netsc_ipgateway="10.194.128.1"

but it will not show the value of important variable netsc_tpelinktest (should be true).

/usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm shownetwork

but it will not show the value of important variable netsc_tpelinktest (should be true).

After that you need to set password for the default admin account (admin). Syntax is:

# /usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm  userpassword admin

It will prompt you for password and then again.

After changing the parameters mentioned above you need to reset the ALOM to make changes permanent:

# /usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm resetrsc

After that you need to use any telnet client to connect to specified IP address at port 23. If everything done correctly you can login to ALOM. To test the capabilities of ALOM type command

showenvironment

It should produce quite a bit of statistics about your server. After testing use the logout command to end your ALOM session and to close your ALOM  connection.

Again the default account is called admin. The password should the same that you set. There might be a default password too (probably admin :-). I did not check that.

To switch to console you need command (option -f ensure that console is writable, otherwise you can get read-only console):

console -f 

To switch from console mode to ALOM SC mode you need to log off and press magic combination "#." (pound-dot).

Option -f generally is not needed and just forces ALOM to release the write lock from another user and assign it to your console session. This places the other user's console session in read-only mode. In case there is a conflict you will get the following message:

Warning: User <username> currently has write permission to this console and forcibly removing them will terminate any current write actions and all work will be lost. Would you like to continue [y/n]?

At the same time, the user who has the write lock receives the following message:

Warning: Console connection forced into read-only mode.

Before you use the -f option with the console command, you need to configure variables for both OpenBoot PROM and the Solaris operating environment on your host server.

To configure the OpenBoot PROM variable, type the following command at the ok prompt:

ok setenv ttya-ignore-cd false

Next, you need to configure the Solaris operating environment. Log in as root and type the following commands at the superuser prompt. Type the second command all on one line, even though it appears on two lines in the example.

# pmadm -r -p zsmon -s ttya

# pmadm -a -p zsmon -s ttya -i root -fu -m
"/dev/term/a:I::/usr/bin/login::9600:ldterm,ttcompat:ttya login\: ::tvi925:n:" -v 1

Full list of settable parameters include sending alerts via email configuration that is also important for security and can be integrated into Tivoli but is not covered in this version of the instructions (essentially it is identical to setting network parameters, only different variables need to be involved):

Advanced Lights Out Manager v1.5.1

parameter value
--------- -----
if_network true
if_modem false
if_emailalerts true
sys_autorestart xir
sys_bootrestart none
sys_bootfailrecovery none
sys_maxbootfail 3
sys_xirtimeout 900
sys_boottimeout 120
sys_wdttimeout 60
netsc_tpelinktest true
netsc_dhcp false
netsc_ipaddr 10.194.128.41
netsc_ipnetmask 255.255.240.0
netsc_ipgateway 10.194.128.1
mgt_mailhost 10.194.145.1
mgt_mailalert(1) nikolai.bezroukov.basf.com 2
sc_customerinfo flosnort
sc_escapechars #.
sc_powerondelay true
sc_powerstatememory false
sc_clipasswdecho true
sc_cliprompt flosnort
sc_clitimeout 0
sc_clieventlevel 2
sc_backupuserdata true
sys_eventlevel 1
ser_baudrate 9600
ser_parity none
ser_stopbits 1
ser_data 8
netsc_enetaddr 00:03:ba:fa:47:ea
sys_hostname flosnort
sys_enetaddr 00:03:ba:fa:47:e1

 

ALOM Setup using serial management interface

Also you can configure ALOM setting while you are logged on via ALOM network interface. Easiest way is to use setupsc command. If network settings were changed you have to reset SC with resetsc command.

Very important: you need to reset SC before any network settings modification take place.

 

1. Collect the required setup data for the network management interface as shown here.

Description Value
ALOM Net Management Interface IP Address  
ALOM Net Management Interface Netmask  
Network Gateway IP Address  
Mail Host IP Address  
Recipient Email Address  
Some Customer Data (up to 40 characters, optional)  
SC CLI Prompt (up to 16 characters, optional)  
   

2. Establish a serial connection to the port named Serial Mgt (settings: 9600 8N1). On a system running the Solaris OS, enter the following:

prompt% tip /dev/term/a -9600
connected

Enter the escape sequence [#.] to get the serial console prompt.

3. First set a login password for the default user admin :

sc> password
password: Changing password for admin

Enter new password: ********

Re-enter new password: ********

sc>

4. Set up the network management interface:

sc> setupsc
Entering Interactive setup mode. To exit and discard changes to that 
point, use Ctrl-C or to exit and save changes to that point, use Ctrl-Z.
Do you wish to configure the enabled interfaces [y]? y

Should the SC network interface be enabled [y]? y

Should the SC email alerts be enabled [y]? n

Do you wish to configure the network interface [y]? y

Should the SC use DHCP to obtain its network configuration [n]? n

Enter the SC IP address [100.100.100.100]? <sc-ip-address>

Enter the SC IP netmask [255.255.255.0]? <sc-ip-netmask>

Enter the SC IP gateway address [100.100.100.100]? <sc-gateway-ip>

Should the TPE link test be enabled [y]? y

Do you wish to configure the managed system interface [y]? y

What level of SC events should be reported to the managed system where 
valid settings are 0 (none), 1 (critical), 2 (critical and major) and 3 
(critical, major and minor) [2]? 2

What action should the SC invoke if the OS is hung. The available 
options are 'none', 'xir' or 'reset' where an xir will attempt to 
collect diagnosis data before invoking a reset [xir]? xir

How many seconds should be allowed for an XIR to complete (maximum 
timeout of 10800s) [900]? 900

Do you wish to configure the network management interfaces [y]? y

Enter the number of mail servers to configure [0]? 1

Enter the IP address for mail server 1 [100.100.100.100]? <mailhost-ip>

Enter the number of email recipients to configure [0]? 1

Enter the email address for recipient 1 (maximum of 30 characters) []? 
 <email@address>

Enter the level of events to send to recipient 1 where valid settings 
are 1 (critical), 2 (critical and major) and 3 (critical, major and 
minor) [2]? 2

Do you wish to configure the SC parameters [y]? y

Enter any customer data for this platform (maximum of 40 characters) []?
<some-customer-data>

Enter the console session escape sequence (2 characters). The first 
character can be any printable characters or control-A through 
control-Y except for control-C, control-D, control-H, control-J, or control-M. 
The second character must be a ".". [#.]? #.

Enter level of events to be displayed over the CLI where valid settings 
are 0 (none), 1 (critical), 2 (critical and major) and 3 (critical, 
major and minor) [2]? 2

Should poweron sequencing be enabled [y]? y

Enter the SC cli prompt (maximum of 16 characters) [sc]? <sc-cli-prompt>

Enter the SC CLI timeout in seconds (maximum of 10000s) [0]? 0

Should password entry echo '*'s [y]? y

Your ALOM configuration profile has been successfully completed. To 
activate your network configuration, please reset the SC.

sc>
5. Verify your configuration settings:
sc> showsc
Advanced Lights Out Manager v1.5.1

parameter value
--------- -----
if_network true
if_modem false
if_emailalerts true
sys_autorestart xir
sys_bootrestart none
sys_bootfailrecovery none
sys_maxbootfail 3
sys_xirtimeout 900
sys_boottimeout 120
sys_wdttimeout 60
netsc_tpelinktest true
netsc_dhcp false
netsc_ipaddr 10.194.128.41
netsc_ipnetmask 255.255.240.0
netsc_ipgateway 10.194.128.1
mgt_mailhost 10.194.145.1
mgt_mailalert(1) nikolai.bezroukov.basf.com 2
sc_customerinfo flosnort
sc_escapechars #.
sc_powerondelay true
sc_powerstatememory false
sc_clipasswdecho true
sc_cliprompt flosnort
sc_clitimeout 0
sc_clieventlevel 2
sc_backupuserdata true


To change a single parameter, use the command setsc [param] [value].

6. Activate the configuration:
sc> resetsc -y
User Requested SC Shutdown

[...]

Please login: 
7. Test the ALOM network connection:

 

prompt% telnet <sc-ip-address>

Copyright 2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.

Sun(tm) Advanced Lights Out Manager 1.5.1 (myhostname)

Please login: admin
Please Enter password: ********

sc>

8. Here is the ALOM command list:

sc> help
Available commands
------------------
poweron {FRU}
poweroff [-y] [-f]
removefru [-y] {FRU}
reset [-y] [-x]
break [-y]
bootmode [normal|reset_nvram|diag|skip_diag|bootscript="string"]
console [-f]
consolehistory [-b lines|-e lines] [-g lines] [-v] [boot|run]
showlogs [-b lines|-e lines] [-g lines] [-v]
setlocator [on|off]
showlocator
showenvironment
showfru
showplatform [-v]
showsc [-v] [param]
shownetwork [-v]
setsc [param] [value]
setupsc
showdate
setdate [[mmdd]HHMM | mmddHHMM[cc]yy][.SS]
resetsc [-y]
flashupdate [-s IPaddr -f pathname] [-v]
setdefaults [-y] [-a]
useradd <username>
userdel [-y] <username>
usershow [username]
userpassword <username>
userperm <username> [c][u][a][r]
password
showusers [-g lines]
logout
help [command]
sc>

9. Here is the example output from the showenvironment command:

sc> showenvironment

=============== Environmental Status ===============


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
System Temperatures (Temperatures in Celsius):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sensor         Status Temp LowHard LowSoft LowWarn HighWarn HighSoft HighHard
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MB.P0.T_CORE    OK      49     --      --      --      88       93      100
MB.T_ENC        OK      21     -6      -3       5      40       48       51

--------------------------------------
Front Status Panel:
--------------------------------------
Keyswitch position: NORMAL

--------------------------------------------------------
System Indicator Status:
--------------------------------------------------------
MB.LOCATE            MB.SERVICE           MB.ACT
--------------------------------------------------------
OFF                  OFF                  OFF

--------------------------------------------
System Disks:
--------------------------------------------
Disk   Status            Service  OK2RM
--------------------------------------------
HDD0   OK                OFF      OFF
HDD1   NOT PRESENT       OFF      OFF

----------------------------------------------------------
Fans (Speeds Revolution Per Minute):
----------------------------------------------------------
Sensor           Status           Speed   Warn    Low
----------------------------------------------------------
F0.RS            OK               11440     --   1000
F1.RS            OK               10546     --   1000
F2.RS            OK               11250     --   1000
F3.RS            OK               11250     --   1000
MB.P0.F0.RS      OK               15697   2000   2000
MB.P0.F1.RS      OK               16875   2000   2000

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voltage sensors (in Volts):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sensor         Status       Voltage LowSoft LowWarn HighWarn HighSoft
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MB.P0.V_CORE   OK             1.46      --    1.26    1.54       --
MB.P1.V_CORE   OK             1.41      --    1.26    1.54       --
MB.V_VTT       OK             1.24      --    1.17    1.43       --
MB.V_GBE_+2V5  OK             2.51      --    2.25    2.75       --
MB.V_GBE_CORE  OK             1.20      --    1.08    1.32       --
MB.V_VCCTM     OK             2.54      --    2.25    2.75       --
MB.V_+2V5      OK             2.50      --    2.34    2.86       --
MB.V_+1V5      OK             1.49      --    1.35    1.65       --
MB.BAT.V_BAT   OK             2.95      --    2.70      --       --

--------------------------------------------
Power Supply Indicators:
--------------------------------------------
Supply    Active  Service  OK-to-Remove
--------------------------------------------
PS0       ON      OFF      OFF

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Power Supplies:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply  Status        Underspeed  Overtemp  Overvolt  Undervolt  Overcurrent
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS0     OK            OFF         OFF       OFF       OFF        OFF

----------------------
Current sensors:
----------------------
Sensor          Status
----------------------
MB.FF_SCSI       OK
sc>

For a short description of the available commands, use the command help [command].

10. The scadm command provides functionality equivalent to that of the ALOM commands on the operating system level. This command must be executed by the user as root:

# /usr/platform/`uname -i`/sbin/scadm help

USAGE: scadm <command> [options]
  For a list of commands, type "scadm help"

scadm - COMMANDS SUPPORTED

  help, date, set, show, resetrsc, download, send_event, modem_setup,
  useradd, userdel, usershow, userpassword, userperm, shownetwork,
  loghistory, version

scadm - COMMAND DETAILS
  scadm help => this message
  scadm date [-s] | [[mmdd]HHMM | mmddHHMM[cc]yy][.SS] => print or set date
  scadm set <variable> <value> => set variable to value
  scadm show [variable] => show variable(s)
  scadm resetrsc [-s] => reset SC (-s soft reset)
  scadm download [boot] <file> => program firmware or [boot] monitor
  scadm send_event [-c] "message" => send message as event (-c CRITICAL)
  scadm modem_setup => connect to modem port
  scadm useradd <username> => add SC user account
  scadm userdel <username> => delete SC user account
  scadm usershow [username] => show user details
  scadm userpassword <username> => set user password
  scadm userperm <username> [cuar] => set user permissions
  scadm shownetwork => show network configuration
  scadm loghistory => show SC event log
  scadm version [-v] => show SC version (-v verbose)

#

 
For More Information
 

Reference

Command Description
help Displays a list of all ALOM commands with their syntax and a brief description of how each command works.
resetsc [-y] Reboots ALOM. The -y option allows you to skip the confirmation question.
reset [-y] [-x] Generates a hardware reset on the host server. The -x option generates the equivalent of an XIR (externally initiated reset) on the server. The -y option allows you to skip the confirmation question.
poweroff [-y] [-f] Removes the main power from the host server. The -y option allows you to skip the confirmation question. The -f option forces an immediate shutdown.
poweron Applies the main power to the host server or FRU.
flashupdate
 
Updates the ALOM firmware. This command downloads main and bootmon firmware images to ALOM.
removefru [-y] [FRU] Prepares a FRU (for example, a power supply) for removal, and illuminates the host server's OK-to-Remove LED. The -y option allows you to skip the confirmation question.
setsc Sets the specified ALOM parameter to the assigned value.
setupsc Runs the interactive configuration script. This script configures the ALOM configuration variables.
setdate Sets the date and time, when the managed operating system is not running.
setdefaults [-y]
[-a]
Resets all ALOM configuration parameters to their default values. The -y option allows you to skip the confirmation question. The -a option resets the user information to the factory default (one admin account only).
setlocator [on/off] Turns the Locator LED on the server on or off. This function is available only on host servers that have a Locator LED.
showlocator Displays the current state of the Locator LED as either on or off. This function is available only on host servers that have a Locator LED.
showplatform [-v] Displays information about the host server's hardware configuration, and whether the hardware is providing service.
showenvironment Displays the environmental status of the host server. This information includes system temperatures, power supply status, front panel LED status, hard disk drive status, fan status, voltage and current sensor status, and keyswitch position.
showfru Displays information about the FRUs (field-replaceable units) in a host server.
showusers [-g]lines Displays a list of users currently logged in to ALOM. The display for this command has a similar format to that of the UNIX command who. The -g option pauses the display after the number of lines you specify for lines.
shownetwork [-v] Displays the current network configuration information. The -v option shows additional information about your network, including information about your DHCP server.
showsc [-v] Displays the current NVRAM configuration parameters. The -v option is needed for full version information.
showlogs [-v] Displays the history of all events logged in the ALOM event buffer.
showdate Displays the ALOM set date. The Solaris operating environment and ALOM time are synchronized, but ALOM time is expressed in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) rather than local time.
usershow Displays a list of all user accounts, permission levels, and whether passwords are assigned.
useradd Adds a user account to ALOM.
userdel [-y] Deletes a user account from ALOM. The -y option allows you to skip the confirmation question.
userpassword Sets or changes a user password.
userperm Sets the permission level for a user account.
password Changes the login password of the current user.
console [-f] Connects to the host system console. The -f option forces the console write lock from one user to another.
break [-y] Drops the host server from running the Solaris operating environment into OpenBoot PROM or kadb. The -y option allows you to skip the confirmation question.
bootmode [skipdiag | diag | reset_nvram | normal | bootscript="string"] Controls the host server OpenBoot PROM firmware method of booting.
logout Logs out from an ALOM shell session.
consolehistory [-v] [boot | run] Displays the host system console output buffers. The -v option displays the entire contents of the specified log.


Etc

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Quotes

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Bulletin:

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History:

Fifty glorious years (1950-2000): the triumph of the US computer engineering : Donald Knuth : TAoCP and its Influence of Computer Science : Richard Stallman : Linus Torvalds  : Larry Wall  : John K. Ousterhout : CTSS : Multix OS Unix History : Unix shell history : VI editor : History of pipes concept : Solaris : MS DOSProgramming Languages History : PL/1 : Simula 67 : C : History of GCC developmentScripting Languages : Perl history   : OS History : Mail : DNS : SSH : CPU Instruction Sets : SPARC systems 1987-2006 : Norton Commander : Norton Utilities : Norton Ghost : Frontpage history : Malware Defense History : GNU Screen : OSS early history

Classic books:

The Peter Principle : Parkinson Law : 1984 : The Mythical Man-MonthHow to Solve It by George Polya : The Art of Computer Programming : The Elements of Programming Style : The Unix Hater’s Handbook : The Jargon file : The True Believer : Programming Pearls : The Good Soldier Svejk : The Power Elite

Most popular humor pages:

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Last updated: March 12, 2019