Configuring the IBM Flex System Manager management software

After you install the Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 hardware in an Flex System Enterprise Chassis, you need to configure the hardware and the IBM® Flex System Manager management software.

Before you begin

The following topics describe important IBM Flex System Manager management software and Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 configuration tasks.

Before you configure management software, make sure that you have completed the following tasks:

  • Install the Flex System Enterprise Chassis and other components in the rack. For more information about installing the chassis and components, see Installing the system.
  • Install your Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 hardware into the chassis. For more information about installing the Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 hardware, see Installing the Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734.
  • Configure the CMM; for example, set IP addresses and user authentication.
    Important: If the CMM is not configured correctly before the Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 is installed, you will not be able to set up management software.
  • Configure the Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 according to the procedures in Installing the Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734. The Management Server Setup wizard opens.
  • Initial setup
    The IBM Flex System Manager management software web interface guides you through the initial setup of the systems-management software.
  • Additional setup
    The Additional Setup tab on the Home page lists more configuration and setup tasks for IBM Flex System Manager management software.
  • Backing up the management software image after setup
    Back up the IBM Flex System Manager management software image at the end of the setup process, so that you can restore the configuration data from initial setup if the management node fails. The backup image includes all applied fixes, data on managed chassis, and any custom settings.
  • Adding or removing NTP servers
    You can use the IBM Flex System Manager management software web interface to add or remove a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server in your IBM Flex System environment.
  • Changing an IBM Flex System Manager management node IP address
    Before you change the management network IP address for a management node that is managing one or more chassis in centralized user management mode, make sure that you remove the chassis from centralized management mode. For managed chassis in decentralized user management mode, you must update the NTP configuration for each chassis and CMM with the new management node IP address.
  • Changing IBM Flex System Manager management node and CMM IP addresses
    To change both the IBM Flex System Manager management node and Chassis Management Module (CMM) IP addresses, make sure that you follow the correct procedure to ensure that the management software can manage the chassis after you configure the network settings.

What to do next

During initial setup of the IBM Flex System environment, you must update the management software, management node firmware, and firmware for resources in your chassis: Chassis Management Modules, compute nodes, and network devices. Initial setup describes wizards that can help you update firmware for managed components through the management software web interface. After initial setup, you can use Update Manager (on the Plug-ins tab on the Home page) or the command-line interface for advanced update capabilities. For more information about these advanced update capabilities, see the documentation in Updating firmware and software.

See Initial setup for educational information about initial setup of your IBM Flex System Manager management software and hardware.

Important: If configured and activated in the management software, IBM Electronic Service Agent™ (ESA) automatically reports hardware problems to IBM Support and collects system service information for monitored systems. For more information about setting up ESA, see Setting up Electronic Service Agent (ESA) in Additional setup.
Parent topic: IBM Flex System Manager management node