The IBM eServer BladeCenter JS20 - IBM Redbooks

3.2.2 IBM Director
management, the Web interface allows powerful control over all blades and
input/output (I/O) modules that are attached to the BladeCenter chassis.
Management of other BladeCenter resources, such as I/O modules, is also
possible from here, as well as the retrieval of system health information.
BladeCenter-specific features are also configured from here such as the Serial
over LAN (SoL).
IBM Director assists with the remote management of many IBM and non-IBM
machines including the BladeCenter JS20. The IBM Director console allows
system administrators to manage multiple BladeCenter chassis from a common
interface. It is the ideal solution for administering BladeCenter chassis in
heterogeneous environments or environments where a Director infrastructure
exists.
From the IBM Director console, system administrators can monitor resource
utilization. This key feature can be used for performance and capacity planning,
as well as to alert support staff of critical errors such as hardware failure.
IBM Director also allows the remote management of software. You can remotely
reconcile and install software from the console interface. This can be useful in
large environments for such resource-intensive tasks as patch management. By
using the Software Distribution Premium Edition, you can remotely install
patches to several servers at the same time with the click of a button.
You can learn more about IBM Director in 8.1, “IBM Director” on page 140.
3.2.3 IBM Cluster Systems Management
IBM Cluster Systems Management (CSM) provides many useful functions to
manage a cluster from a single point of control. These include resource
monitoring, automated monitoring and operation, remote hardware control,
remote command execution, security, configuration file management, parallel
network installation, and diagnostics.
By consolidating these capabilities, CSM helps to increase efficiency of an
administrator’s time and reduce their expenses. It helps administrators install
their clusters rapidly by automating many configuration tasks and by leveraging
existing open source products.
CSM also provides efficient monitoring of cluster resources without
overwhelming network bandwidth. The automated error detection CSM provides
helps catch problems before they impact the environment, and assists with rapid
50 The IBM Eserver BladeCenter JS20