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Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) network does not work when AC power first applied - IBM xSeries and System x

Troubleshooting


Problem

The Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) network does not work when AC power is first applied

Resolving The Problem

Source
 
RETAIN tip: H097485

Symptom

When the system is first connected to AC power, but has not yet been powered on, the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) network does not work. Remote access to the BMC with out-of-band applications such as SMBridge via Serial Over LAN (SOL) is not possible.
 
Once the system has been powered on for the first time, the BMC network will function. It will continue to work even if the system is subsequently powered down, as long as AC power is not removed from the system. If AC power is removed from the system, the BMC Network will not work until the system is powered up again.
 
Affected configuration

The system may be any of the following IBM eServers:

  • xSeries 366, Type 8863, any model
  • xSeries 260, Type 8865, any model
  • xSeries 460, Type 8872, any model
  • System x3850, Type 8864, any model
  • System x3800, Type 8866, any model
  • System x3950, Type 8878, any model.
Solution

None

Workaround

To get the BMC Network to function after the system is first connected to AC power, press the power on button to power on the system.

Additional information

For reference, the BMC can be accessed via the onboard Gigabit Ethernet port 1 using the Serial over LAN protocol. The BMC Network is configured in the Configuration/Setup utility. Click here for more information on Configuration/Setup Utility program - Servers. After the system is powered on, the BMC network will
operate regardless of whether the system is powered on or off.
 
By design the BMC network stops working when AC power is removed and does not restart until AC power is reapplied and the system is powered on.

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

System x:Operating system independent / None

Older System x:Operating system independent / None

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Document Information

Modified date:
29 January 2019

UID

ibm1MIGR-59317

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