5.5. CSM interoperability
This section describes Cluster Systems Management offerings from IBM and IBM product positioning of CSM with respect to the Parallel Systems Support Program (PSSP) and CSM on IBM xSeries running Linux and pSeries running AIX operating systems.
Specifically, we discuss the following products for interoperability, common features, and when to use each:
CSM for pSeries AIX
CSM for pSeries Linux
CSM for e325 and xSeries Linux
Parallel Systems Support Program PSSP-3.5
Matrix of CSM products
5.5.1. CSM for pSeries AIX
Cluster Systems Management for AIX primarily provides management server functionality to a mixture of managed nodes running on different hardware platforms such as pSeries AIX, pSeries Linux, and xSeries Linux, in addition to serving other cluster functions.
CSM for AIX modular architecture allows independent use of features and functions on each set of managed nodes. It is easy to set up and manage a mixture of clustered nodes. It is mandatory to have a pSeries server running AIX 5.2 to be a management server to support the environment. The following hardware and software is supported as nodes.
Hardware
pSeries (p615, p630, p650, p655, p690) in standalone or LPAR mode. Cluster 1600. HMC connection is a must for hardware control
Any RS6000 without HMC connection with no Hardware Control support
xSeries (x330, x335, x342, x345, x360)
Software
AIX 5.2, AIX 5.1-ML03 on pSeries
SLES 8 on pSeries
RHEL AS 2.1, 3.0 and SLES8 on xSeries
Refer to IBM Redbook: An Introduction to CSM 1.3 for AIX 5L, SG24-6859, for detailed information about CSM on the AIX platform.
5.5.2. CSM for pSeries Linux
Cluster Systems management for Linux on pSeries hardware only supports Linux-managed nodes and cannot support heterogeneous managed nodes. So the management server and managed nodes all must be running Linux in the cluster.
The following hardware and software requirements outline the requisites:
Hardware
pSeries (p615, p630, p650, p655, p690) in standalone or LPAR mode. Cluster 1600. HMC connection is a must for hardware control
Any RS6000 without HMC connection with no Hardware Control support
Software
SuSE SLES 8
5.5.3. CSM for xSeries Linux and e325 (Cluster 1350)
Cluster Systems management for cluster 1350 hardware provides a management environment for cluster 1350 hardware running Intel or AMD Opteron processor-based Linux nodes.
The management server must be xSeries, IntelliStattion or Blade Center hardware; managed nodes can be mixed on hardware, but the Linux operating system cannot be mixed and has to be only one type on all managed nodes.
CSM is integrated with IBM Director software for interoperability and common management functions. The following hardware and software is supported:
Hardware
IBM eServer xSeries (335, 345, 360)
IBM eServer325(AMD Opteron)
IBM eServer Blade Center
Software
RHEL AS 2.1 (not on e325)
RHEL AS 3.0
SLES 8
RH 9
5.5.4. Parallel Systems Support Program (PSSP)-3.5
PSSP version 3.5 is the latest and final developed version of software mainly developed and used for IBM SP2® environment. PSSP’s rich features, such as Reliable Scalable Clustering Technology (RSCT), were the backbone of Cluster Systems Manager (CSM) software as well.
PSSP 3.5 is a cluster management solution for IBM SP2 Power Parallel clusters running High Speed Switch 2 and is widely in use for high performance computing environments. PSSP 3.5 is supported on AIX 5.x and SP high speed Switch and Switch 2 technologies. Version 3.5 is the announced final development version of PSSP and upcoming new SP switch technologies are supported on CSM software.
Following is a list of PSSP-supported hardware and software.
Hardware
IBM SP nodes
pSeries Servers
Any RS6000 supporting AIX 5.x
Software
AIX 5.2
AIX 5.1
5.5.5. Matrix of CSM products
A comparative matrix of CSM products and product positioning is provided outlining major features, limitations, supported environments and when and where to use a specific version. Table 5-9 shows a comparative assessment of CSM product positioning on different hardware and software.
| Feature | pSeries AIX | pSeries Linux | xSeries/e325 Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management server | Must be pSeries AIX 5.2 | Must be pSeries SLES8 | Must be xSeries, Intellistation or Blade Center |
| Managed nodes | Mix of nodes on different hardware and software. AIX and Linux LPARs can co-exist | All managed nodes must be only SLES8 | Mix of hardware allowed, but only one type Linux such as SLES8, RHEL AS3.0 is required |
| DCEM Admin GUI interface | Available | Not available | Available |
| CSM database Backup and Restore | Available | Not available | Not available |
| Diagnostic probes | All probes are available | All except Hardware control are available | All available |
| Software Maintenance | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Event Monitoring | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Hardware Control | Only for HMC and Management process or adapter card-connected servers | Only for HMC-connected servers | Only for Management Processor adapter Card-connected servers |
| Dynamic LPAR | Available only for AIX-managed nodes | Not available | Not available |
| CSM Image Cloning | Supported (mksysb-NIM) | Not supported | Supported (SIS and csmsetupsis) |
| csmstat (Status command for nodes) | Available | Not available | Not available |
| When/Where best suited |
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