IBM pSeries690 Personal Computer User Manual


 
of the processor on demand activation code to take place. Then use the code to
activate the processor on demand features directly on your server.
Processor on demand activation features will not be fulfilled until you submit the VPD
through the Electronic Service Agent or manually to the following Web site:
http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/pseries/cuod/index.html
When you enter a processor on demand activation code, standby processors will
immediately become activated for use. After their status changes from Standby to
Active, the processors can be dynamically moved to the partition where they are
needed.
Electronic Service Agent and Processor on Demand
When Electronic Service Agent is used to electronically report VPD on a regular basis,
you can eliminate potential delays in the order process for processor on demand
activation features (no manual reporting of VPD is necessary prior to the fulfillment of a
feature upgrade order). To best utilize Electronic Service Agent and to be prepared to
activate processor on demand features conveniently, make sure that Electronic Service
Agent and related communications requirements are up and running. If this is done
before the processor on demand activation features are ordered, the VPD for the
system will already be up to date, and the manual process of updating the VPD is not
needed.
After Electronic Service Agent is installed, follow the procedures under “Activating
Process for Processor on Demand” on page 8 to enable the system to collect and
transfer the required VPD for processor on demand.
If a processor on demand activation feature is ordered and then canceled, an action by
the service representative is required to cancel the order. After the activation code is
posted on the Web or mailed, the order for processor on demand activation features is
considered fulfilled, and the downstream billing process is started.
Dynamic Processor Sparing
In environments with CUoD, Dynamic Processor Sparing allows inactive processors to
act as “dynamic spares”. An inactive processor is transparently activated if a failing
processor reaches a predetermined error threshold, thus helping to maintain
performance and improve system availability. Starting with AIX 5L V5.2, this capability is
offered on pSeries servers with CUoD to help minimize the impact to server
performance caused by a failed processor. This will happen dynamically and
automatically when using DLPAR and the failing processor is detected prior to failure. If
not detected prior to failure or not using DLPAR, a reboot of the system will bring
onboard an alternate processor from the inactive spares. The user can then re-establish
required performance levels without waiting for parts to arrive on-site. Dynamic
Processor Sparing does not require the purchase of an Activation Code, it only requires
the system have inactive CUoD processors available.
Chapter 1. Introducing the Eserver pSeries 690 7