IBM Flex System Manager management node

The Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 hardware is a high-performance, multiple-chassis management node based on the Flex System x240 Compute Node. The Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 management node comes preloaded with systems-management software, including IBM® Flex System Manager management software, which enables you to configure, manage, and monitor IBM Flex System resources in multiple chassis.

isometric view of the Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 management node

An Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 management node must be installed in a Flex System Enterprise Chassis for management of multiple chassis. Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 and IBM Flex System Manager management software are not compatible with previous BladeCenter Chassis hardware (BladeCenter H-R, BladeCenter S, BladeCenter E-R, and BladeCenter HT). Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 comes with a preloaded software stack called IBM Flex System Manager management software; this software has an optional Features on Demand key that enables you to manage the hardware resources in multiple Flex System Enterprise Chassis.

When an Flex System Manager Types 7955, 8731, and 8734 management node is installed in a Flex System Enterprise Chassis, it is the main access point for chassis management for the chassis and chassis components. The management software provides information as obtained directly from a managed node rather than using the Chassis Management Module (CMM) as an intermediate aggregator. Because the management software can provide notifications through event action plans, notifications from the managed nodes and CMMs can be turned off. The management software configures the managed nodes and CMMs to send notifications to it.

The management software collects inventory information from the managed nodes and CMMs in the chassis in its management domain. The management software can also display inventory information and vital product data (VPD) for monitored components, and a consolidated event log.

In an IBM Flex System environment with typical usage activity, the management software supports 10 concurrent users.

Note: The maximum number of concurrent users that the management software can support depends on each user’s activities within the management software.

You can use Update Manager in the management software to update firmware and software for resources in a Flex System Enterprise Chassis.

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. The management software disables Electronic Service Agent (ESA) from the CMMs that are configured to report service information, so that there are not duplicate messages. When problems are indicated to be reported to IBM by the managed node, the management software collects Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) information from the managed node and CMM service data. If the DSA information cannot be obtained, service data from the service processor will be collected.