Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 Server Administration

Course Overview

The Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 Server Administration course is presented as instructor- led training in a classroom. This course provides students with the skill set necessary to identify the features and architecture specifics of the Sun SPARC Enterprise M4000/M5000/M8000/M9000/M9000 with Expansion Cabinet servers. These skills include performing configuration and platform administration methodologies supported by Sun on these Sun servers and being familiar with and using troubleshooting tools and techniques available within the Solaris Operating System (OS) relevant to this server line. The hands-on labs offered in this course might involve accessing equipment that resides at a location other than where the training is delivered. Students will not have physical access to this equipment.

Audience

• 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

Skills Gained

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• 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

Prerequisites

To succeed fully in this course, students should be able to:

• 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
• Troubleshoot server and network system software and hardware

Course Outline

Module 1 - Introduction to the Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 Servers

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

Module 2 - Sun SPARC Enterprise Architecture Overview

• Compare and contrast the Jupiter bus interconnect with bus interconnects for Sun's predecessor mid-range and high-level server product lines
• Document the architectural similarities and differences across the Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 server product line
• Classify and label architectural components across the entire Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 server product line
• Differentiate between uni-XSBs and quad-XSBs
• Identify the terms used in board nomenclature in the Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 server line

Module 3 - Service Processor Architecture and Configuration

• Document the functions of the service processor
• Compare and contrast the differences between each Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 server???s service processor
• Describe the service processor architecture
• List the features of the DSCP and XSCF networks
• Compare the differences between the physical network configurations available
• Perform an initial configuration of the service processor
• Identify the features of the service processor firmware
• Upgrade the service processor firmware

Module 4 - Platform Administration and Configuration

• Manage administrative privileges
• Manage user accounts
• Configure user accounts to make use of the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
• Configure the Domain Name Service (DNS)
• Configure the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
• Manage the platform environment
• View hardware configurations
• Configure Capacity on Demand (COD)

Module 5 - 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 OpenBoot PROM (OBP) device tree
• Configure the Solaris OS after installing it on the domain
• Access domain configurations using standard Solaris OS utilities

Module 6 - Dynamic Reconfiguration

• Document the benefits of dynamic reconfiguration
• Describe the restrictions and concerns that can occur with DR
• Analyze domain configuration status using DR
• Perform the steps required for removing uni- and quad-XSBs using DR
• Perform the steps required for installing uni-and quad-XSBs using DR
• Move uni- and quad-XSBs between domains using DR

Module 7 - Data Colection and Fault Analysis

• Create and configure snapshots
• Locate and view domain console logs
• Locate and view POST logs
• Locate and view FMA logs
• Identify escalation paths
• Isolate hardware faults using FMA
• Configure SunVTS
• Configure the explorer Command

Follow On Courses

• Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 Server Administration Assessment (WGS-PREX-411)
• Solaris System Performance Management (SA-400)

Sun SPARC Enterprise MX000 Server Administration / IES-411