Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 Server Administration

Course Description

The Sun SPARC(R) Enterprise MX000 Server Administration course provides students with the skill set necessary to identify the features and architecture specifics of the Sun SPARC Enterprise M4000/M5000/M8000/M9000 servers. These skills include performing configuration and platform administration, as well as becoming familiar with and using troubleshooting tools and techniques available within the Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS) relevant to this server line.The hands-on labs offered in this course may involve accessing equipment that resides at a location other than where the training is delivered. Students will not have physical access to this equipment.Students who can benefit from this courseSenior Sun Enterprise System Administrators, Senior Service Providers, Operations Managers, Information Technology Planners, and Individuals responsible for configuring, upgrading, and supporting the Sun SPARC Enterprise servers

Skills Gained

• Describe the architecture, functional goals, and reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) features of the Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 servers
• Identify system components by location, layout, and function
• Perform configuration and platform administration methodologies supported by Sun on the Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 servers
• Be familiar with and use troubleshooting tools and techniques available within the Solaris OS
• Configure and manage the platform using service processor utilities
• Initialize and configure the Solaris OS on a domain
• Define and edit nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM) parameters
• Perform flash programmable read-only memory (PROM) image updates
• Create, manage, and delete multiple domains using hardware, system configuration, and domain component lists (DCLs)
• Use OpenBoot programmable read-only memory (PROM) commands to gather system information and interpret results

Who Can Benefit

* Senior Sun Enterprise system administrators * Senior service providers * Operations managers * Information technology planners * Individuals responsible for supporting mainframe-style networked database servers * Individuals responsible for configuring, upgrading, and supporting the Sun SPARC Enterprise servers

Prerequisites

• Provide administration support for the Solaris OS
• Understand the fundamentals of data storage administration
• Understand the fundamentals of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networking and administration
• Understand general enterprise server concepts

Syllabus

Introduction to the Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 Servers

• Compare and contrast the five Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 server models
• Differentiate hardware features across the entry-level server M3000
• Differentiate hardware features across the mid-range server product line
• Differentiate hardware features across the high-end server product line
• List the common features of all five Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 servers

Sun SPARC Enterprise Architecture Overview

• Compare and contrast the Jupiter bus interconnect with previous bus interconnect technologies
• Document the architectural similarities and differences
• Classify and label architectural components across the server product line
• Differentiate between uni-XSB and quad-XSB
• Identify the terms used in board nomenclature

Service Processor Architecture and Configuration

• Document the functions of the service processor
• Compare and contrast the differences between each MX000 servers service processor
• Add users and administrative privileges
• Perform an initial configuration of the service processor
• Compare the differences between the physical network configurations available
• List the features of the DSCP and XSCF networks
• Identify the features of the service processor firmware
• Upgrade the service processor firmware

Platform Administration and Configuration

• Manage user accounts
• Configure LDAP, DNS, and SNMP
• Manage the platform environment
• View hardware configurations
• View COD commands

Domain Administration and Configuration

• Document the characteristics of a domain
• List the components required to build a domain
• Create a domain from the service processor
• Document the structure of the OBP device tree
• Configure the Solaris OS after installing it on the domain

Dynamic Reconfiguration

• Document the purpose and benefits of DR
• Analyze the locations from which DR can be performed
• Discuss the concepts of DR in preparation for attaching and detaching boards
• List and describe I/O, memory, CPU and XSB restrictions and concerns that can occur during DR
• Perform DR from the XSCFU

Data Colection and Fault Analysis

• Configure log archiving and auditing and collect their data using the snapshot command
• Collect fault data
• List the current FRU replacement guidelines
• Use Sun Explorer to gather system information