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.

Table 5-9. CSM product positioning

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	Mix of managed nodes running different hardware Coexistence of operating systems such as AIX, Linux on different LPARs Centralized management and administration Latest SP high speed switch environments Nodes with remote hardware control High availability cluster can be part of management domain	Group of Linux servers running on pSeries hardware Centralized management and administration Nodes with remote hardware control feature Environments where only one flavor of operating systems required High availability clusters can be part of management domain	Mix of managed nodes running different xSeries, IntelliStation , e325 and Bladecenter hardware A group of Linux nodes Centralized management and administration Nodes with remote hardware control High availability clusters can be part of management domain