HP OpenVMS 8.x manual Overview of Utilities and Console Options

A.1.1 Overview of Utilities and Console Options

The main interfaces that are typically available for configuring and managing your HP Integrity server environment are the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) and the Management Processor (MP). On entry-class Integrity servers, MP has been replaced by the Integrated Lights Out (iLO) Management Processor, which includes all the functionality of MP plus additional features. On some models, the Baseboard Management Control (BMC) utility is provided. Cell-based servers include additional management tools.

EFI is the main boot and preboot interface; it is the core interface to the system firmware and console commands on all models. BMC is provided on entry-class HP Integrity servers (although on a few systems the interface itself is hidden). BMC provides basic management capabilities and access to EFI. MP (or iLO) is available on most systems; on some systems it is available only if the necessary console hardware has been installed and configured. In addition to providing access to EFI, MP provides advanced management functionality (beyond that which is available through BMC), including remote management, network console and Web-based access, and enhanced diagnostic capabilities. Both BMC and MP (iLO) can operate on standby power—even when the Integrity server’s main power switch is turned to the off position.

EFI is the base console environment. You can either use MP (iLO) or BMC to interact with the capabilities of the console interface.

The OpenVMS I64 installation and upgrade procedures assist you in adding a boot option for your newly installed or upgraded system disk. Before you can boot your OpenVMS system, your console must be configured correctly, as explained in Section A.2 (page 152).

The following briefly describes some of the main features of EFI, MP, and BMC.

•Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)

EFI is a menu and command-line interface between the operating system and the system firmware. The EFI interface is available only when the operating system is not booted; on cell-based servers, the interface is available from an nPartition console when the nPartition is in an active state but has not booted an operating system. To configure EFI boot options while the operating system is running, OpenVMS provides the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager utility (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM). Changes made by this utility do not take effect until the system is rebooted.

The EFI Boot Manager, like the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager, provides support for operating system loaders and enables you to configure the firmware and control the booting environment for your OpenVMS operating system. A FAT partition on the boot disk stores the system loader. The Boot Configuration menu (or in some versions of EFI, the Boot Option Maintenance Menu) enables you to add or delete a boot option, change the boot order, select the active console, and more. After you power up the server, the EFI boot manager presents different ways to bring up the system, depending on how you have set up the boot options. For example, you can boot to the EFI Shell. When you select the EFI Shell command-line interface option, you can enter commands at the EFI Shell prompt. For more information about EFI options and commands, see Section A.3 (page 161) and the appropriate hardware documentation.

NOTE: In some HP documents, you might see the acronym POSSE used in place of or in

combination with EFI. EFI is an Intel® specification of an interface between firmware and the operating system. POSSE (Pre-OS System Environment) is the HP implementation of EFI that extends the EFI Shell and EFI Boot Manager to include additional features for managing hardware and system boot options.

•Management Processor (MP)

Management Processor (or, on entry-class Integrity servers, iLO) provides both local and remote access for controlling the system console, reset/power management, and transfer of control (TOC) capabilities. It also enables you to monitor tasks and display detailed information about various internal subsystems. On cell-based servers, MP is a complex-wide tool and is always available, even if nPartitions are not configured or booted in the server complex. In contrast, EFI does not operate as a complex-wide tool and is only available when

150 Configuring OpenVMS I64 Hardware Operation and Boot Operations, and Booting and Shutting Down Your System