IBM Director
With IBM Director, a network administrator can perform the following tasks:
v View the hardware configuration of remote systems, in detail
v Monitor the usage and performance of critical components, such as
microprocessors, disks, and memory
v Centrally 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:
v Advanced self-management capabilities for maximum system availability.
v Multiple 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.
v Support for IBM and non-IBM servers, desktop computers, workstations, and
notebook computers.
v Support for systems-management industry standards.
v Integration into leading workgroup and enterprise systems-management
environments.
v Ease 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:
v Reduced downtime
v Increased productivity of IT personnel and users
v Reduced 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.
8 IBM System x3950 Type 8878 and System x3950 E Type 8879: User’s Guide