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Chapter4
4. System Control
This chapter describes the interaction and functions of system controllers in the following
sections:
• “Levels of System Control” on page 80
• “System Controller Interaction” on page 81
• “L1 Controller” on page81
• “Console Hardware Requirements” on page 84
• “Operating the L1” on page 84
• “L2 Operation” on page 89
• “Upgrading L1 Firmware” on page 99
The control system for the SGI Altix 450 series servers manages power control and sequencing,
provides environmental control and monitoring, initiates system resets, stores identification and
configuration information, and provides console/diagnostic and scan interface.
Each IRU enclosure has a system controller that can communicate with other IRU system
controllers when they are NUMAlinked together under a single system image. Each system
controller constantly shares its information with all controllers in the system. Note that optional
mass storage enclosures do not have a system controller.
Figure 4-1 shows an example system control network using a separate (remote) workstation to
monitor a single-rack Altix 450 system.