stratus ftserver system management

Stratus ftServer System Management

Flexible, robust system management for mission-critical computing across the enterprise

by Stratus Technologies

June 6, 2011

1 Stratus ftServer System Management

Contents Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 2

Overview .................................................................................................................................................... 2

ftServer Management Feature Summary ...................................................................................................... 3

The Stratus ActiveService Network ........................................................................................................... 3

The Stratus Virtual Technician Module ..................................................................................................... 3

The ftServer Uptime Manager and Uptime Manager Interface ................................................................. 3

System Management Enterprise Enablement ........................................................................................... 4

ftServer Management Feature Additional Information .................................................................................. 4

The Stratus Virtual Technician Module ..................................................................................................... 4

VTM Features ........................................................................................................................................ 4

The VTM Console .................................................................................................................................. 5

The ftServer Uptime Manager Interface .................................................................................................... 6

Accessing the Uptime Manager Interface Remotely ............................................................................. 8

System Management Enterprise Enablement ........................................................................................... 8

SNMP Agent .......................................................................................................................................... 8

WMI Integration ...................................................................................................................................... 8

Stratus ftServer System Event Logs ...................................................................................................... 8

Email notification .................................................................................................................................... 9

Summary/Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 9

Additional Resources .................................................................................................................................. 10

Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 11

Figures Figure 1: The VTM Control Panel Main Page ............................................................................................... 5 Figure 2: The ftSys Management Console ................................................................................................... 7 Figure 3: The ftSys Status Console .............................................................................................................. 7 Tables Table 1: ftServer Systems Management Feature Summary ....................................................................... 11 Table 2: Stratus Virtual Technician Module Features ................................................................................. 12


Introduction The strictly centralized, hierarchical model that once prevailed in enterprise computing has given way to communities of intelligent systems that communicate with one another over the Internet. System management has made great strides to support this model of computing. Virtually all of today‟s servers offer local and remote management that addresses day-to-day operation of the hardware, operating system, and application software. For example, it is now possible to configure the server‟s network topology, add new users, set security policies, modify the registry, or even perform a full installation on a new system located in a remote location. Stratus® ftServer® systems are designed to use industry-standard hardware components and to support off-the-shelf operating systems so that they appear as standard x86 servers to third-party management tools. By adhering to industry-standard protocols, Stratus provides a suite of tools to manage ftServer systems both locally and remotely and to integrate them with a wide variety of third party management tools. More importantly, this management capability is augmented by the fault-tolerant architecture of the ftServer system itself and the robust Service and Proactive Availability Management that back it up. This combination insures that ftServer systems seamlessly integrate within existing management frameworks and that they provide the highest levels of uptime and ease of management. This document describes the tools available for monitoring and managing ftServer systems in a variety of scenarios ranging from local or remote configuration of a single server to integration with an enterprise management software suite controlling a large-scale heterogeneous server infrastructure.

Overview The centerpiece of Stratus's system management infrastructure is the ActiveService™ Network Proactive Availability Management capability built into every ftServer system. The ActiveService Network interfaces with a software component named the System Uptime Manager, which constantly monitors the ftServer system for potential problems. The ActiveService Network alerts Stratus when a potential problem is detected and provides Stratus the information and tools needed to quickly resolve the situation. The ActiveService Network removes most of the uptime-oriented system management burden from the customer and places it in the hands of Stratus's availability experts. Complementing the ActiveService Network are multiple tools, described in this document, that enable direct management of ftServer systems by the end user. These management tools and technologies are compatible with and complementary to whatever other management tools an ftServer system user chooses to deploy. Stratus's unique application-transparent fault-tolerance technology fully supports the vast majority of off-the-shelf system management tools, whether they are from the operating system vendor or from a third party. Contact Stratus if you have questions regarding a management tool supplied by a specific operating system vendor or a third party.


ftServer Management Feature Summary

The Stratus ActiveService Network In 1982, Stratus was the first server vendor to introduce “call-home” and “dial-in” system-management technologies as a core component of its server systems. Stratus has continued to invest extensively in its management and service technology, and today‟s ActiveService Network (ASN) is the result of those ongoing investments. For example, earlier call-home and dial-in was implemented using modems and phone lines; but Stratus now delivers that capability over the Internet to provide a simpler, more resilient, higher-bandwidth, less costly, and more secure solution than its modem-based predecessor. Key ActiveService Network features include:

Real-time “always-on” monitoring of ftServer operation

Highly secure Internet-based notification to Stratus of potential ftServer problems

Collection and delivery of diagnostic data to Stratus for problem analysis

Highly secure, firewall-compatible, and customer-controllable Internet-based Stratus remote service access to customer systems for problem debug/analysis

In-band (OS up) and out-of-band (OS down, e.g., BIOS or power-off) operation

ftServer configuration tracking and management

Heartbeat mechanism to ensure proper connectivity The ASN infrastructure monitors thousands of possible failure/problem cases, reports potential problems to Stratus, and supplies Stratus the data needed to resolve any issues.

The Stratus Virtual Technician Module The Stratus Virtual Technician Module (VTM) is an autonomous management subsystem built into every ftServer system and accessed via a pair of dedicated, redundant network interfaces. The VTM itself is implemented as a fault-tolerant pair, and remains active regardless of the state of the ftServer system (powered up, powered down, operating system booted, operating system down, etc.). As such, the Virtual Technician Module is particularly well suited to out-of-band management, management that is independent of the state of the server or its operating system. The Virtual Technician Module has similar capabilities to other out-of-band management solutions from other major server vendors and includes some features that are unique to Stratus‟ Fault-Tolerant architecture. Portions of Stratus's ActiveService Network are implemented in the Virtual Technician Module. For example, should the ftServer system‟s OS become unavailable, it is the Virtual Technician Module that notifies Stratus and provides the means for Stratus to remotely diagnose and recover the system.

The ftServer Uptime Manager and Uptime Manager Interface The heart of the ftServer system management software is a component called the ftServer Uptime Manager. The ftServer Uptime Manager is responsible for managing the well-being of the ftServer system. It continuously monitors the ftServer system‟s hardware and software components, processes the resulting information, and takes appropriate actions, such as bringing a newly inserted component online or reporting a problem via the ActiveService Network and/or the enterprise integration utilities.


The user interface for the ftServer Uptime Manager is the Uptime Manager Interface. This administrative interface provides detailed insight into the ftServer system‟s operation. Through the Uptime Manager Interface one can see an inventory of system components, display the state of each system component, review the failure history of a component, or control the online/offline state of various components. This Uptime Manager Interface is implemented in a manner consistent with the look and feel of each OS (Microsoft Management Console for Windows-based systems, command line for Linux- and ESX-based systems, and Virtual Infrastructure client plug-in for ESX-based systems), but has the equivalent capability in all operating systems. The Uptime Manager Interface may be used to manage the ftServer system both locally and remotely.

System Management Enterprise Enablement What distinguishes enterprise management suites from a tool like the Virtual Technician Module is that they monitor and manage groups of systems or groups of devices that include systems. Examples of enterprise management suites range from large-scale software suites, such as BMC Patrol, CA Unicenter, or Microsoft System Center, that are used manage multiple components (server, storage, network) within an infrastructure to more specialized, server-oriented products, such as HP Insight or Argent Guardian. These enterprise management tools utilize a variety of methods to integrate with managed devices with two of the most common being:

Interfacing with industry-standard protocol to exchange device information and control managed devices

Obtaining information about managed devices and their components by examining system logs

Stratus is able to interface with enterprise management tools using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Windows Management Interface (WMI), and email alerts. As one would expect, ftServer systems collect extensive data in system logs for proactive monitoring and diagnosis. This data can be harvested by enterprise management tools.

ftServer Management Feature Additional Information

The Stratus Virtual Technician Module The Virtual Technician Module (VTM) is an integrated component in each CPU-I/O enclosure. The VTM allows authorized system administrators to manage and diagnose the ftServer system from the local system or, more typically, from a remote management console. VTMs connect to the Internet through dedicated Ethernet ports at the rear of each CPU-I/O enclosure and may be used to automatically connect to the ActiveService Network

VTM Features

System administrators typically use third party tools such as Remote Desktop or the Stratus Uptime Interface to monitor and configure an ftServer system. However, if the host system is inaccessible because of network or system problems, or if the host is not fully configured, you can log on to a VTM to troubleshoot the problem or perform system installation. In addition to


being redundant, VTMs are powered by standby power; therefore, they are always accessible over the network, even if the system is powered off. Key features of the Virtual Technician Module include:

A secure Web-based user interface for accessing its capabilities

Monitoring the state of the host system

Ability to remotely control power on the server

Remote console/keyboard/mouse capabilities, usable for BIOS, boot loader, and operating system

Remote storage capabilities for upgrades or installations from a remote console with no actual physical access to the system

SNMP Agent Remote access to logs of events on the host system

Advanced troubleshooting capabilities

The VTM Console

The VTM Console is a Web-based management interface for the VTMs. It enables system administrators and the Stratus Customer Assistance Center (CAC) or authorized Stratus service representatives to control, monitor, and diagnose an ftServer system. A connection may be established to the VTM console in a standard Web browser from any location or over a LAN. After a connection is established, the VTM Console Main Page is presented.

Figure 1: The VTM Control Panel Main Page


The VTM Control Panel Main Page provides access to the following capabilities, using either the navigation bar or the shortcuts: Remote Control Remote Control Provides access to system controls that include: Power ON, Forced Power OFF, Power Cycle, System Reset, OS Shutdown, Dump, and Activate System ID LED Switch.

Viewing IPMI Information Accessing the IPMI Information in the navigation bar provides access to the VTM system event log and firmware information.

Logging on with Remote KVM Remote KVM Console allows you to control the keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) of a system remotely from a VTM console regardless of state of the system. Because of the overhead of the Remote KVM, its response time is slower than that of other methods of remote management such as Remote Desktop. Consequently, it is recommended only for use when the system is not fully functional, such as during troubleshooting or remote installs.

Connecting Remote Media Remote Media allows you to easily transfer data to and from the managed system. You can configure CDs, DVDs, USB flash drives, floppy disks, or ISO image files on your remote management PC to act as local USB storage devices on the ftServer system.

Viewing Configuration Settings Accessing Configuration in the navigation bar provides access to the VTM Network and Service

The ftServer Uptime Manager Interface The Uptime Manager Interface is a management utility that interfaces with the ftServer System Uptime Manager to provide a hierarchical view of the system and enable monitoring and control of system components, including the duplexed components and their states. The user interface is implemented in a manner that is consistent with the look and feel of the particular operating system as follows:

For Windows-based systems, the Uptime Manager Interface is implemented as an MMC (Microsoft Management Console) plug-in and is named the ftSys Management Console (ftSMC). The basis for the ftSMC is provided by the Microsoft implementation of Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) and WMI protocols. Figure 2 shows a screenshot of the ftSMC in which a CPU enclosure node has been expanded to display the individual components within the enclosure.

For Linux-based systems, the Uptime Manager Interface is implemented as a command line utility and is named the Fault Tolerant Server Maintenance Interface (ftsmaint).

ftServer systems running VMware vSphere utilize ftsmaint but also have an additional Uptime Manager Interface option, named the ftSys Status Console. The ftSys Status Console is accessible as a vSphere Virtual Center Plug-in or via a Web browser. This VMware-only option provides the ability to graphically display the state of system components. Figure 3 shows a screenshot of the ftSys Status Console.


Figure 2: The ftSys Management Console

Figure 3:The ftSys Status Console


Accessing the Uptime Manager Interface Remotely

While it is the primary interface for local management of ftServer systems, the Uptime Manager Interface may also be accessed remotely, thus providing a common location-independent management interface. These remote access options include:

Network protocols such as Secure Shell (SSH) for ftsmaint may be used to establish a secure connection to the remote server.

A variety of third-party tools (e.g. pcAnyware) that can be used based upon the preference of the organization. One of the more secure methods is to establish a WebEx session and share the desktop, because, in addition to the connection being secure, all actions of the remote user are visible to the organizer, who can terminate desktop sharing at any time.

System Management Enterprise Enablement The ftServer fault-tolerant architecture is by design transparent at the application level. As a result, non-Stratus tools may not be aware of the Stratus system‟s replicated hardware and other unique characteristics. Stratus ftServer systems provide a number of interfaces that allow an ftServer system to interface with enterprise management tools and to make these unique characteristics available for use. Since the format and presentation of the information varies by operating system and version of Stratus Automated Uptime Layer, it is recommended that Stratus be engaged in order to customize the information for a particular environment. The following sections describe the interfaces that ftServer systems provide.

SNMP Agent

Stratus provides a Stratus Management Information Base (MIB) and an SNMP agent for each operating system. This agent provides notification of events via SNMP "traps". These traps typically include information to identify the device and the event. Basic machine state information (system duplexed, system simplexed) may be obtained by using SNMP "gets" for all operating systems. The ability to obtain component state information via SNMP gets is operating-system dependant.

WMI Integration

The ftServer Uptime Manager Interface for Windows-based systems is implemented using the WMI protocol. This enables WMI-aware enterprise management tools to access information about ftServer systems running the Windows operating system.

Stratus ftServer System Event Logs

Stratus creates and stores a wealth of information about the health and status of ftServer systems and components. These events are typically stored in a standard directory for events associated with the operating system that is running, such as the Windows event log. There are also additional logs used for data not specific to the operating system, or for Stratus fault-tolerant extensions. The format, location, and amount and variety of data captured and stored vary by operating system. It is recommended that Stratus be consulted in order to optimally utilize event log data.


Email notification

Stratus provides the ability to send email alerts for a subset of events. Configuration settings include:

Email address(es) to send notification messages to

A comment to include in each message

The sender name and domain name This feature is currently available only on Windows-based ftServer systems. Contact Stratus for availability on other operating systems.

Summary/Conclusion The need for flexible and robust system management continues to grow as enterprises disperse mission-critical computing across geographies and time zones. Stratus ftServer systems have been designed to meet this challenge by delivering a comprehensive management offering that:

Extends the standard operating system management capabilities to monitor and control the fault-tolerant aspects of ftServer systems

Allows location-independent service, installation, and maintenance of ftServer systems

Uses industry standards to seamlessly integrate with enterprise management solutions

Integrates with the Stratus ActiveService Network to enable on-demand access to expert support engineers through the Stratus service infrastructure to enhance the availability dimension of system management.

Stratus ftServer systems deliver the highest Uptime Assurance in the industry, using resilient technologies combined with proactive availability management and monitoring services. These capabilities allow Stratus to act as a trusted partner by minimizing downtime while rapidly and expertly resolving issues. The ftServer system‟s unique application-transparent architecture allows it to seamlessly interoperate with a suite of system management products in addition to the unique tools available with the ftServer system. The result is industry-leading levels of availability, manageability, and serviceability for Stratus ftServer systems and the applications they run.


Additional Resources Stratus Documentation

Remote Access Security for ftServer Systems – Located with ftServer-related white papers at Stratus.com

Stratus ftServer: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide (R642)

Stratus ftServer 2600, 4500 and 63x0 Systems: Installation Guide (R657)

Stratus ftServer System Administrator’s Guide for the Windows Operating System (R014W)

Stratus ftServer System Administrator’s Guide for the Linux Operating System (R003L)

Stratus ftServer System Administrator’s Guide for VMware (R002E) Stratus Education Offerings

ActiveService Manager User Interface (WB0095), Self-study

ftServer System Administration - Windows (580), Instructor-led

Windows System Administration: ftServer Features (WB5007), Self-study

ftServer System Administration - Linux (590), Instructor-led

Linux System Administration: Stratus ftServer Features, (WB5505), Self-study

ftServer System Administration - VMware (1100), Instructor-led


Appendix The following summary describes the various tools that may be used to manage an ftServer system. These tools are complementary and may be used separately or in combination. For example, using the Stratus SNMP agent to alert a corporate-wide management station of a potential ftServer problem and remotely invoking the Uptime Manager Interface to diagnose and resolve the issue.

Table 1: ftServer Systems Management Tool Summary

OS

Feature Stratus or 3rd Party

Function L1 W1 V1

Uptime Manager Interface

Stratus User interface to the ftServer Uptime Manager to be used for local or remote management of ftServer systems. The capabilities are the same for the Windows, Linux, and VMware ESX operating systems, but the user interface is implemented in a manner appropriate for the individual operating system.

Virtual Technician Module

Stratus For remote troubleshooting or installation of ftServer systems. For basic remote access, remote desktop or the OS specific interface to the Stratus System Uptime Interface are the recommended methods.

SNMP Agent Stratus Interfaces to enterprise management solutions to provide system events and status.

2

3 2

Remote Desktop

3rd party These tools allow a remote user (system administrator or Stratus Service) to remotely control a management console.

Enterprise management

3rd party Used to monitor and manage groups of servers or an entire infrastructure. Typically make use of custom agents, alerts from industry-standard protocols such as SNMP, and examination of event logs. Stratus is able to interface with these tools using SNMP, WMI, email alerts, and harvesting of comprehensive system event logs.

4

Notes:

1. L = Linux, W = Windows, V = VMware 2. System and component state available via SNMP gets. 3. System state available via SNMP „gets. 4. WMI and email alerts are only available on ftServer systems running the Windows operating system.


Table 2: Stratus Virtual Technician Module Features

Access

Directory Services Authentication Future Support

DNS/DHCP 1

Locally Stored Accounts

Browser Interface

Command Line Interface

Secure Socket Layer

Secure Shell

RC4 (Virtual KVM)

Dedicated NIC

Modem connection 2

VPN support 3

Configuration and Management

Advanced Server Management (ASM)

Virtual Power

Virtual Media

Virtual KVM

Monitoring

Present power reading 4

Power usage reporting 4

Ambient temperature reporting 4

Alert Administrator (SNMP Passthrough) 5

System health & configuration display

Availability, Diagnosis and Repair

POST and failure sequence replay

VTM and server integrated management log

Remote NMI

Remote dump

Redundant components

Auxiliary power

Virtual Unit Indicator Display

Notes:

1. Requires manual intervention to update the system name. Future release will automatically update the system name

2. Internet connection is recommended due to its superior security, higher bandwidth, better availability, and lower cost.

3. Requires that the ftServer system establish a connection with Stratus. 4. This is available via the Uptime Manager Interface primarily because this is of little or no use on a non-

operational system. 5. SNMP Traps only. SNMP Gets for state information will be available in a future release.

Stratus, the Stratus logo, ftServer, and the ftServer logo, are registered trademarks of Stratus Technologies Bermuda, Ltd. The Stratus Technologies logo and ActiveService are trademarks of Stratus Technologies Bermuda, Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

© 2011 Stratus Technologies Bermuda Ltd. All rights reserved.

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