Document fins/I0644-1
FIN #: I0644-1
SYNOPSIS: Support Policy for 3rd party software on E10K SSP
DATE: Jan/23/00
KEYWORDS: Support Policy for 3rd party software on E10K SSP
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- Sun Proprietary/Confidential: Internal Use Only -
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FIELD INFORMATION NOTICE
(For Authorized Distribution by SunService)
SYNOPSIS: New support policy for third party application software on
the E10000 System Service Processor (SSP).
TOP FIN/FCO REPORT: No
PRODUCT_REFERENCE: E10K SSP Workstation
PRODUCT CATEGORY: Server / SW Admin
PRODUCTS AFFECTED:
Mkt_ID Platform Model Description Serial Number
------ -------- ----- ----------- -------------
Systems Affected
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- E10000 ALL Ultra Enterprise E10000 -
- E10000-HPC ALL Ultra Enterprise 10000 HPC -
- A21 ALL Ultra 5 -
- A26 ALL Enterprise 250 -
X-Options Affected
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X2750A - - E10000 System Service Processor -
PART NUMBERS AFFECTED:
Part Number Description Model
----------- ----------- -----
- - -
REFERENCES:
DOC: OpenSSP White Paper, 806-7352-10
URL: http://dhpg.west/salestools/customer/openssp.pdf
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
Until recently, System Service Processor (SSP) software was the only
application supported on the SSP of a Sun Enterprise E10000 server.
This was required to prevent non-SSP software from interfering with
the SSP's critical mission of monitoring and controlling the E10000 system.
Running third party applications was prohibited. This inability to run
third-party application software on the SSP has made it more difficult
for customers to manage the SSP workstation with third-party software
such as monitoring agents, backup agents, and boot disk management utilities.
A new policy for support of such third-party software has been approved.
It is called "OpenSSP". It describes SSP resource requirements, the
maximum permitted resource consumption for third-party software, and
techniques to help insure that the SSP receives the resources it needs
to function properly.
The following is the "Statement of Support" for OpenSSP approved by the
Starfire Business Team on 11/29/2000:
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"Starfire System Service Processor (SSP) support policy with respect to
executing non-SSP software on the SSP. Applications that run on the
SSP, other than the SSP software and the Solaris Operating Environment,
are considered non-SSP software. The intent of this policy is to
provide limited support for lightweight agents such as monitoring
agents, backup agents, and boot disk management utilities. Non-SSP
software that is not specifically required to run on the SSP should not
run there. Any software that alters or replaces the binaries required
by SSP software is specifically not supported. This includes
modification of dynamically linked libraries, syslog facility, inetd
services, etc. Software that reduces SSP's reliability, availability,
or serviceability (such as the ability to install patches or reboot the
SSP while domains remain in operation) is also not supported.
Any customer who wishes to install third-party software on the
System Service Processor (SSP) workstation, which controls a Sun
Enterprise 10000 system, should follow the procedures outlined in the
"OpenSSP White Paper",
http://dhpg.west/salestools/customer/openssp.pdf
Sun has tested the E10000 SSP with loads simulating lightweight agents
such as local backup agents and network monitoring agents. The following
parameters were used in these tests:
* Solaris Operating Environment Release: 7 or 8
* System Service Processor Release: 3.4
(plus patch 
110193 for SSP performance improvement)
* Total real memory and swap space must meet or exceed the minimum
levels determined by the "SSP Memory Worksheet" in the OpenSSP White
Paper.
The E10000 SSP works correctly in such a test environment. Lightweight
processes which are at least as lightweight as our test load should not
interfere with the Service Processor software functionality.
If a customer believes that the aggregate of all their lightweight
agents do not violate any of the constraints above, Sun service will
assist the customer in the resolution of any SSP problems which arise
in their configuration."
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IMPLEMENTATION:
---
| | MANDATORY (Fully Pro-Active)
---
---
| | CONTROLLED PRO-ACTIVE (per Sun Geo Plan)
---
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| X | REACTIVE (As Required)
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CORRECTIVE ACTION:
An Authorized Enterprise Field Service Representative may avoid the
above mentioned problems by following the recommendations as shown
below.
Follow the procedures outlined in the "OpenSSP White Paper,"
http://dhpg.west/salestools/customer/openssp.pdf
In Summary:
1) Determine that your SSP workstaion meets the minimum hardware and
software requirements for OpenSSP. These requirements are generally
greater than the SSP minimum requirements. They include running
SSP version 3.4 with Patch 110193 on Solaris 7 or 8.
Use "uname -r", "pkginfo -l SUNWsspr" and "showrev -p
|grep 110193"
to determine if the minimum software levels are installed.
Sample Output:
# uname -r
5.8
# pkginfo -l SUNWsspr |grep VERSION
VERSION: 3.4.0,REV=2000.08.20.19.44
# showrev -p |grep 110193
Patch: 110193 Obsoletes: Requires: Incompatibles:
Packages: SUNWsspop, SUNWsspr
2) Estimate the amount of real memory and swap space required by your
SSP and third-party software. This amount can be above the OpenSSP
minimum requirements. See pages 7-12 and Appendices A and B in the
"OpenSSP White Paper".
3) Verify that your CPU utilization is not too high. If it is, consider
using a faster CPU or a more powerful workstation, for example, a Sun
Enterprise 250 instead of a Sun Ultra 5 workstation. See pages 12-18
in the "OpenSSP White Paper".
4) Third-party software should not run on the SSP workstation unless the
procedures followed in the "OpenSSP White Paper" are followed. To
detect
possible third-party (i.e., non-SSP and non-Solaris Operating Environment)
software, use the "ps -ef" (or similar) command to list all
processes on
the system.
The following long-lived processes are expected on a Solaris SSP workstation.
Any process not owned by user "root" or "ssp" should not be
there.
Other processes not in the list below may indicate non-SSP and non-Solaris
software:
SSP Processes:
Runs as user "ssp":
bringup, cbs, datasyncd, edd, hostview, hostview_child, hpost, fad, fod,
machine_server, netcon_server, netcon, obp_helper, straps
Solaris Processes (all run as user "root"):
/usr/lib/*, /usr/sadm/*, /usr/sbin/*, /usr/dt/bin/*, /usr/openwin/bin/*,
dt*, mibiisa, esd (SunMC), and cst* (CST)
COMMENTS:
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Implementation Footnote:
i) In case of MANDATORY FINs, Enterprise Services will attempt to
contact all affected customers to recommend implementation of
the FIN.
ii) For CONTROLLED PROACTIVE FINs, Enterprise Services mission critical
support teams will recommend implementation of the FIN (to their
respective accounts), at the convenience of the customer.
iii) For REACTIVE FINs, Enterprise Services will implement the FIN as the
need arises.
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