IBM Director, UpdateXpress program

IBM Director

With IBM Director, a network administrator can perform the following tasks:

vView the hardware configuration of remote systems, in detail

vMonitor the usage and performance of critical components, such as microprocessors, disks, and memory

vCentrally manage individual or large groups of IBM and non-IBM

x86-processor-based servers, desktop computers, workstations, and notebook computers on a variety of platforms

IBM Director provides a comprehensive entry-level workgroup hardware manager. It includes the following key features:

vAdvanced self-management capabilities for maximum system availability.

vMultiple operating-system platform support, including Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional, AIX®, i5/OS™, Red Hat Linux®, SUSE Linux, VMware, and Novell NetWare. For a complete list of operating systems that support IBM Director, see the IBM Director Compatibility Document. This document is in Portable Document Format (PDF) at http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-61788.It is updated every 6 to 8 weeks.

vSupport for IBM and non-IBM servers, desktop computers, workstations, and notebook computers.

vSupport for systems-management industry standards.

vIntegration into leading workgroup and enterprise systems-management environments.

vEase of use, training, and setup.

IBM Director also provides an extensible platform that supports advanced server tools that are designed to reduce the total cost of managing and supporting networked systems. By deploying IBM Director, you can achieve reductions in ownership costs through the following benefits:

vReduced downtime

vIncreased productivity of IT personnel and users

vReduced service and support costs

For more information about IBM Director, see the documentation on the IBM Director CD that comes with the server, the IBM Director Information Center at http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/eserver/v1r2/topic/diricinfo/fqm0_main.html, and the IBM System x and xSeries Systems Management Web page at http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/xseries/systems_management/, which presents an overview of IBM Systems Management and IBM Director.

The UpdateXpress program

The UpdateXpress program is available for most System x and xSeries servers and optional devices. It detects supported and installed device drivers and firmware in the server and installs available updates. You can download the UpdateXpress program from the Web at no additional cost, or you can purchase it on a CD. To download the program or purchase the CD, go to http://www.ibm.com/servers/ eserver/xseries/systems_management/ibm_director/extensions/xpress.html. Additional information about UpdateXpress is available from the System x and xSeries Tools Center at http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/toolsctr/v1r0/ index.jsp.

8IBM System x3950 Type 8878 and System x3950 E Type 8879: User’s Guide