CMS, Chapter 1 - Introduction

Cubix Management System
Chapter 1 - Introduction

Purpose of Document
Overview
BC Processors
QL Processors
BC Supervisors
QL Supervisors

Purpose of Document

CMS is equipped with an extensive help system. Therefore, this manual will not attempt to document the user interface of CMS. Instead, this manual will provide an overview of CMS architecture and detailed instructions for CMS installation.

Overview

The Cubix Management System (CMS) is a complete system for Cubix device management. CMS provides monitoring, alarming, supervisory control, and usage reporting of all Cubix devices on a NetWare network from a central management console. CMS performs all network communications using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) encapsulated in IPX packets. If Novell's Management System (NMS) is installed on the network, CMS may be integrated with NMS to provide a single seamless management system.

Cubix Device Types

Cubix devices are designed to provide as much processor power in as small of an enclosure as possible. These processors are typically connected to a network and used as file servers and platforms for network resources, including host processors for remote network access, fax servers, e-mail servers, and other background processes.

There are four types of devices that CMS manages. A brief overview of each device type is presented below. A more detailed description is provided in the subsequent sections. Readers already familiar with these Cubix device types may proceed to the System Architecture chapter for an explanation of CMS and its functions.

. BC Processor - Cubix single board computer available with 80386, 80486, or Pentium processors in ISA and EISA models.

. QL Processor - Cubix single board computer designed specifically as NetWare workstations available with up to two 80386 or 80486 processors per ISA board.

. BC Supervisor - The BCVision software application that manages a Cubix IES Supervisory System.

. QL Supervisor - NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) that manages the QL boards installed in a single NetWare file server or router.

BC Processors

Cubix BC processors are single board computers designed for installation in Cubix enclosures. Each board includes all of the components of a standard PC, plus an integrated Ethernet controller. The Pentium based product also includes an integrated SCSI interface.

. BC 3030 - 80386 ISA processor board (older model without the Ethernet controller)

. BC 3035 - 80386 ISA processor board with an integrated Ethernet controller

. BC 4030 - 80486 ISA processor board (older model without the Ethernet controller)

. BC 4035 - 80486 ISA processor board with an integrated Ethernet controller

. BC 4000 - 80486 EISA processor board (older model without the Ethernet controller)

. BC 4045 - 80486 EISA processor board with an integrated Ethernet controller

. BC 5055 - Pentium EISA processor board with integrated Ethernet and SCSI controllers

QL Processors

Cubix QL processors are single board computers designed to function as NetWare workstations. QL processor boards must be installed in the backplane of a NetWare file server or router. The QL architecture uses the bus of this server/router to perform network communications, thus eliminating the need for network controllers for the QL workstations. Each board includes up to two complete workstations. Each workstation is equipped with all of the components of a standard PC.

. QL 3001 - Single 80386 based diskless workstation

. QL 3002 - Dual 80386 based diskless workstations (2 per board)

. QL 3222 - Dual 80386 based workstations, each equipped with a hard disk drive controller (2 per board)

. QL 4001 - Single 80486 based workstation with a hard disk drive controller

. QL 4222 - Dual 80486 based workstations, each equipped with hard and floppy disk controllers (2 per board)

BC Supervisors

To monitor and control the BC Processors, Cubix provides the IES (Intelligent Environmental Sensor) Supervisory System. An IES is a hardware component installed in Cubix enclosures. The IES monitors the enclosure environment, including temperature, bus voltages, fuse status, etc. The IES also monitors the BC processors installed in the enclosure and automatically resets any processor that becomes inactive. Each IES is equipped with an interface to a Cubix data highway. This is an out-of-band highway that connects up to thirty-one IES modules to a BC processor board dedicated to managing the data highway and the IES modules connected to it. This BC processor is referred to as the BC Supervisor, and must be running the BCVision application software.

When CMS manages a BC Supervisor, the BCVision functions available from the console of the BC Supervisor become available from the CMS console as well. A summary of these functions is listed below. Refer to the IES Supervisory System documentation for a complete explanation of the BCVision functions.

BCVision Functions

Environmental Monitoring

Each IES on the data highway monitors the environment of the subsystem in which the IES is installed. BCVision displays the environmental conditions and alerts the user if an environmental fault occurs. Environmental monitoring includes:

. Voltage monitoring - the power voltages are monitored and an alarm generated if the voltages go out of tolerance

. Temperature monitoring - the temperature of the subsystem is monitored and an alarm generated if the temperature exceeds the maximum threshold

. Peripheral fuse monitoring - the keyboard and floppy fuses are monitored and an alarm generated if a fuse blows

. Slot fuse monitoring - on the ERS/FT II subsystem each slot on the backplane is fused; these fuses are monitored and an alarm generated if a fuse blows

. Fan rotation monitoring - the fans are monitored and an alarm generated if a fan fails

BC Processor Monitoring

Each IES monitors the activity of the BC processors installed in the subsystem with the IES. A status of each processor is reported by BCVision. BCVision also controls the following processor functions:

. Processor reset (automatic or on demand)

. Processor control (placing a BC processor online or offline)

QL Supervisors

QL processors are monitored and controlled by a NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) installed on the file server or router containing the QL boards. This NLM monitors the network communications and status of the QL processors, and automatically resets any processor that become inactive. The NLM is the QL Supervisor.

Cubix also provides the QLVision software application. QLVision runs on any NetWare DOS workstation and provides a user interface for the QL Supervisor NLMs installed on the network, displaying the status of the QL processors and allowing the user to perform control functions on these processors.

When CMS manages a QL Supervisor, the QLVision functions become available from the CMS console. A summary of these functions is listed below. Refer to the QL Series Guide to Operations for a complete explanation of the QLVision functions.

QLVision Functions

QL Processor Monitoring

Each QL Supervisor NLM monitors the activity of the QL processors installed in a file server or router. A status of each processor is reported by QLVision. QLVision also controls the following processor functions: