Setting up AIX or Linux to connect to service and support without an HMC

Learn how to create a service connection to send service information from AIX® or Linux® servers to service and support.

Perform or verify Tasks 1 through 14 to set up connectivity for an AIX or Linux server or servers.
Parent topic: Setting up your server to connect to service and support

Task 1. Before you begin

This procedure contains the complete list of tasks needed to set up connectivity to service and support. Some of these tasks might already have been completed (during initial server setup, for example). If so, you can use this procedure to verify that the tasks were completed correctly.

In this document, an Internet connection is defined as access to the Internet from a logical partition or server by direct or indirect access. Indirect means that you are behind a Network Address Translation (NAT) firewall. Direct means that you have a globally routable address without an intervening firewall, which would block the ports that are needed for communication to service and support.

Task 2. Decide on your connectivity method

Choose the method that best describes your situation.
  • If you do not have logical partitions, use one of the following:
    • Internet connection over Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
    • Direct or shared (if more than one server) dial-up connection over SSL
  • If you have logical partitions and are using the Integrated Virtualization Manager to manage your server, you might want to configure the service processor to contact service and support when the server is not available. For details, refer to Task 12. Configure the service processor.
Note: If you are using the Integrated Virtualization Manager to manage your server, check Service Focal Point for the Integrated Virtualization Manager to see if you need to contact service and support.

Task 3. Prerequisites

  1. Depending on your situation, complete one of the following:
    • For IBM System p5™ or IBM® eServer™ p5 servers, choose from the following options:
      • If HTTPS traffic is restricted, ensure that the following port is open for communication: Protocol TCP port 443 with the following IP addresses: 207.25.252.200 and 129.42.160.48
      • If an HTTP proxy is available within your network, then the Service Agent traffic can be routed to it by specifying the Proxy Type as HTTP and Proxy Port as 80.
    • For dial-up (modem) connection, determine necessary configuration settings, including:
      • Local area code
      • Predial information, such as dialing 9 to dial outside the network
      • Use of commas if delayed dialing is needed
  2. Ensure that TCP/IP is set up and configured correctly. If not, contact the network administrator and consult your operating system documentation.

Task 4. Ensure that your physical networking is set up correctly

  1. Verify the physical connection from your site to service and support. This connection enables you to report hardware problems and other server information to service and support. It also enables you to install fixes. This connection is represented in the following illustration:
    Figure 1. The following figure illustrates the flow of service information and problems through the service connection from the servers to service and support.


    A figure showing three servers and their connection through a modem to service and support.

  2. Continue with Task 5. Obtain or verify an ID.

Task 5. Obtain or verify an ID

You will need an IBM ID to register IBM Electronic Service Agent™ for the operating systems, including AIX and Linux. You also will need this ID to view information that has been reported to IBM through Electronic Service Agent™.

  1. Go to the My IBM Profile Web site at https://www.ibm.com/account/profile.
  2. Verify that you are registered.
    • If you are registered, Welcome back will be displayed on the Web site. Or, you can select Sign in and see if your e-mail address is recognized.
    • If you are not registered, select Register and fill out the registration form. Create an IBM ID for each of the people you want to have access to the information that Electronic Service Agent reports to IBM. You must associate these accounts with a server, usually your central server. (You can add other servers later.) The people for whom you create IDs must have system administrator authority on all registered servers.
  3. Record your IBM ID (the e-mail address that you registered).

Task 6. Install the operating system on your server

For details, refer to the Installing operating systems topic.

Task 7. Configure your TCP/IP network

For instructions, refer to the operating system documentation.

Task 8. Activate TCP/IP on your server

TCP/IP starts automatically, as long as the network adapter is recognized and can communicate with the network when the AIX or Linux operating system is started.

Task 9. Obtain and configure Electronic Service Agent for AIX or Linux

  1. Obtain Electronic Service Agent.
    1. Go to the Electronic Service Agent Web site at http://www.ibm.com/support/electronic/navpage?category=5.
    2. Follow the on-screen prompts to locate the instructions to obtain Electronic Service Agent.
  2. Choose from the following options:
    • To configure Electronic Service Agent for AIX, continue with the next step.
    • To configure Electronic Service Agent for Linux, go to step 8.
  3. To configure Electronic Service Agent for AIX, review the following information:
    In this example, you will configure the following:
    • Electronic Service Agent on the server that has a modem for dial-up connection to service and support
      Note: Alternatively, you can use an Internet or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection instead of the modem to connect to service and support.
    • Electronic Service Agent on the other clients to communicate with the server that has the modem
    Figure 2. This diagram shows three servers and their connection through a modem to service and support.


    This diagram shows three servers and their connection through a modem to service and support.

    Note: For complex network environments involving HTTP proxies, SOCKS proxies, or DMZs, refer to the Electronic Service Agent for IBM pSeries® and IBM RS/6000® User's Guide.
  4. From the System Management Interface Tool (SMIT), configure and start Service Agent Connection Manager (SACM). The SACM is responsible for establishing connectivity to service and support. It enables the gateway server and clients to use a single, secure connection.
    1. Verify that the host name for the SACM is correct. In this example, the SACM is located on the server or logical partition with the modem. Therefore, the SACM is configured to the host name of the server or logical partition with the modem.
    2. Verify the default port 1198. In most cases, the default port is appropriate. You can change the port later, if necessary. This port is necessary for communication between the gateway server and the SACM.
  5. Configure and start the Electronic Service Agent gateway server. This is the server or logical partition that acts as the central management server for all of the clients (monitored servers or logical partitions). The Service Agent gateway server contains the central database, and it initiates communication to service and support. The Service Agent gateway communicates to service and support through the SACM.
    1. Verify that the host name is correct. In this example, the SACM and SA gateway server are located on the same server. It is the server or logical partition with the modem. The SA gateway server is the server or logical partition with the modem. Therefore, the SA gateway is configured to the host name of the server or logical partition with the modem.
    2. Verify that the machine type, model, and serial number are correct.
  6. Configure and start the Electronic Service Agent client. This is the monitored server or logical partition for which system information is collected and reported to service and support.
    1. Verify that the host names for the SA clients and for the SA gateway are correct.
    2. Verify that the machine type, model, and serial number are correct.
  7. Continue with Task 10. Use the Service Agent (SA) Basic User Interface.
  8. To configure Electronic Service Agent for Linux, review the following information.
    In this example, you will configure the following:
    • Electronic Service Agent on the server that has a modem for dial-up connection to service and support
      Note: Alternatively, you can use an Internet or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection instead of the modem to connect to service and support.
    • Electronic Service Agent on the other clients to communicate with the server that has the modem
    Figure 3. This diagram shows three servers and their connection through a modem to service and support.


    This diagram shows three servers and their connection through a modem to service and support.

  9. From the Linux command line, type the following command to configure and start Service Agent Connection Manager (SACM): 
    startsrc -s sacm

    The SACM application enables the gateway server and client servers to use a single, secure connection to reach service and support.

  10. From the Linux command line, type the following command to configure and start the Electronic Service Agent gateway server: 
    /usr/svcagent/bin/sagatewayconfig

    The Service Agent gateway server acts as the central management server for all of the clients (monitored servers or logical partitions). It contains the central database and initiates communication to service and support.

Task 10. Use the Service Agent (SA) Basic User Interface

You will need to install Electronic Service Agent on AIX or Linux to access the SA Basic User Interface. For details, refer to the Electronic Service Agent Web site at http://www.ibm.com/support/electronic/navpage?category=5 Link outside Information Center and search for the appropriate Electronic Service Agent user's guide.

  1. Get familiar with the SA Basic User Interface. The SA Basic User Interface provides a list of properties and the associated fields that you need to complete to configure Electronic Service Agent.
  2. Specify information for the required property fields. Click each property on the left side of the interface, and complete the required fields on the right side of the interface. Required fields are indicated with an exclamation point.

    Depending on how you complete the fields, the interface guides you through the appropriate properties. For example, if you specify that you want to use a modem in the Connection Manager property fields, the interface automatically displays the dialer property fields, so that you can complete the information about your modem.

    For this example, where you have multiple servers or logical partitions running AIX or Linux and you use a modem for outbound connectivity, you need to complete specific information for the following properties:
    ConnectionManager
    Clear False for Connect to SDR using Dialer to enable the dialer. This indicates that you want to use a modem to connect to service and support.
    Dialer
    Specify details about your modem and service and support connection parameters.
    Machines
    Add two SA client servers.
    Enroll
    Register the servers with service and support. This initiates a call to service and support to enroll the servers in service and support's database. To complete the process, service and support sends you a key.
    Call log
    Check the status of the call to service and support. You can see whether the call to service and support is successful.

    To learn about advanced features that go beyond the scope of this example, go to the Electronic Service Agent Web site at http://www.ibm.com/support/electronic/navpage?category=5 Link outside Information Center and search for the appropriate Electronic Service Agent user's guide.

Task 11. Register the ID with Electronic Service Agent for AIX or Linux

  1. From the Service Agent Basic User Interface, click Enroll.
  2. Complete the required fields on the right side of the interface. Required fields are indicated with an exclamation point.
  3. Continue with Task 12. Configure the service processor.

Task 12. Configure the service processor

You might use this type of service connection if your server is not available, because the service processor does not require an operating system to perform its tasks.

To set up your service processor to connect to service and support, you need to attach a modem to the system port on your server. In addition, you need to use the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI) menus to perform several configuration steps.

  1. On the ASMI Welcome pane, specify your user ID and password, and click Log In.
    Note: To perform these tasks, you must have an authority level of either Administrator or Service provider.
  2. In the navigation area, expand System Service Aids.
  3. To configure the service processor system port, follow these steps:
    1. Select Serial Port Setup.
    2. Modify the appropriate fields in the S1 (used with the call-home feature) and S2 (used with the call-in feature) sections.
    3. Click Save settings to save the setting changes.
  4. To configure the modem, follow these steps:
    1. Select Modem Configuration.
    2. Modify the appropriate fields in the S1 and S2 sections.
    3. Click Save settings.
  5. To configure the call-home and call-in policy, follow these steps:
    1. Select Call-in/Call-home.
    2. Enter the desired text into the specified fields.
    3. Click Save settings to save changes.
  6. To test the call-home policy, follow these steps:
    1. Select Call-Home Test.
    2. Click Initiate call-home test. A test of the call-home system is performed as specified by the current port and modem selections.
  7. Continue with Task 13. Test the connection to service and support.

Task 13. Test the connection to service and support

  1. To test the connection for AIX (if you set up Electronic Service Agent on the server or logical partition), follow these steps:
    1. From the System Management Interface Tool (SMIT) on your Electronic Service Agent server, activate the Electronic Service Agent.
    2. Ensure that the Electronic Service Agent Connection Manager is active if it is located on a machine other than the Electronic Service Agent server.
    3. From SMIT, start the Service Agent Advanced User Interface.
    4. To use a modem, follow the instructions to configure the dialer on the Connection Manager screen. The default is to connect to service and support using an existing Internet connection.
    5. Open the Manual Tools folder.
    6. Select Connect.
    7. Monitor the CallLog for the following entry: TEST Connection (Success: 1, Fail: 0).
  2. To test the connection for Linux (if you set up Electronic Service Agent on the server or logical partition), follow these steps:
    1. On your Electronic Service Agent server, activate the Electronic Service Agent.
    2. At a Linux command line, type the following: 
      startsrc -g svcagent
    3. Ensure that the Electronic Service Agent Connection Manager is active if it is located on a machine other than the Electronic Service Agent server.
    4. At a Linux command line, type the following: 
      startsrc -s sacm
    5. Start the Service Agent Advanced User Interface.
    6. At a Linux command line, type the following: 
      /usr/svcagent/bin/sauiascii
    7. If you want to use a modem, follow the instructions to configure the dialer on the Connection Manager screen. The default is to connect to service and support using an existing Internet connection.
    8. Open the Manual Tools folder.
    9. Click Connection.
    10. Monitor the CallLog for the following entry: TEST Connection (Success: 1, Fail: 0).

Task 14. View the server information that was reported

You can use the Internet to view details of the system you have enabled, and see the data collected by Electronic Service Agent. To use the advanced features and receive the full benefits of Electronic Service Agent, you must enter an IBM Registration ID (IBM ID). The first IBM ID entered will have Administrator authority and is able to authorize additional users on the Web site. The second IBM ID is available as a backup for the Administrator.

  1. Go to the IBM Electronic Services Web site at http://www.ibm.com/support/electronic.
  2. Click Sign in (in the upper-right corner).
  3. Type the IBM ID and password.
  4. Choose the following options from the navigation bar:
    • To view your server information, click My systems.
    • To search technical support using your server information to improve the search results, click Premium Search.
      Note: In some cases, the Premium Search feature is available only while your server is under warranty or afterward through a service contract.
    • To view information related to your servers and interests, click My messages.
  5. Enter the requested information.
Send feedback | Rate this page