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NetServer Agents 5.50 readme for Linux
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This readme contains an overview and known issues for the NetServer
Agents. Current versions are:

For RedHat 7.0  : 5.50.09
For RedHat 6.2  : 5.50.09
For SuSE 7.0    : 5.50.09
For Debian 2.2  : 5.50.09

The purpose of this document is to insure that you are aware of the latest
information for your NetServer Agents. To check for periodic updates, go to
http://www.hp.com/toptools.


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Contents
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1. Release Notes
2. Overview
3. Installation
4. Uninstall
5. Known Issues
6. Important Notes


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1. Release Notes
----------------

New Features for All Distributions:
- None.

Issues Fixed on release 5.50.09 for all supported distributions
- ITT can be launched from TTDM when clicking on Management Home Page option
  for machines running ITT and SNMP Agents at the same time.
- Unformatted traps were fixed.


Issues Fixed for the Other Distributions:
- None.


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2. Overview
-----------

Welcome to the NetServer Agents, Hewlett-Packard's NetServer manageability
software based on the SNMP protocol (Simple Network Management Protocol.)
It is provided for free on an "as is" basis. HP does not currently provide 
support for this version.

The Linux version of the SNMP Agents was developed based on the extensibility
of the UCD SNMP agent package (see http://net-snmp.sourceforge.net.)


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3. Installation
---------------

3.1. Before You Begin

Before starting the installation of the NetServer Agents on your HP NetServer
machine, verify that all requirements are satisfied.


3.1.1. Hardware Requirements

This version of the NetServer Agents for Linux can be installed only on a
specific set of HP NetServer computers, listed below:

E60, E800,
LPr, LXr8500, LP1000r, LP2000r,
LC2000, LC2000r,
LH3000, LH3000r, LH6000, LH6000r and
LT6000r


3.1.2. Software Requirements

This product needs the following packages installed in the system to run:


3.1.2.1 For Red Hat:
- Kernel: 
  - Red Hat 6.2: 
     2.2.16-3
     2.2.16-3smp
     2.2.17-14
     2.2.17-14smp
     2.2.19-6.2.1
     2.2.19-6.2.1smp
     2.2.19-6.2.7
     2.2.19-6.2.7smp
  - Red Hat 7.0: 
     2.2.16-22
     2.2.16-22smp
     2.2.17-14
     2.2.17-14smp
     2.2.19-7.0.1
     2.2.19-7.0.1smp
- RPM 4.0.2
- Curl 7.7.2
- UCD SNMP 4.2


3.1.2.2 For SuSE:
- Kernel:
  - Suse 7.0: 
     2.2.16
     2.2.16-smp
- Curl 7.7.2
- UCD SNMP 4.2


3.1.2.3 For Debian
- Kernel:
    - Debian 2.2: 
     2.2.17
- Curl 7.7.2
- UCD SNMP 4.2

The Curl and UCD SNMP packages you will find in the distribution CD together
with the NetServer Agents packages.

For information about how to upgrade the kernel, go to the link below:
http://www.redhat.com/support/docs/howto/kernel-upgrade/kernel-upgrade.html

For information about how to upgrade the RPM package, go to the link below:
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHEA-2001-016.html


3.1.3. Hard Disk Space Requirements

The minimum amount of hard disk space needed for this product is 22 MBytes.


3.1.4. Management Software

The current implementation of Netserver Agents was tested and approved for
use with the HP TopTools Device Manager 5.5.


3.1.5. Coexistence with Other HP Products

As of this writing there are no known coexistence problems with other
HP products.


3.2.  Installation Details

IMPORTANT NOTICES:
++++++++++++++++++

    1. For RPM based distributions only (e.g. RedHat and SuSE), when updating
       the NetServer Agents package, remove the old package before proceeding
       with the installation:

	    # rpm -e agents_lx

    2. Before installing the NetServer Agents on a HP machine running Linux,
       verify if your platform satisfies the hardware and software requirements
       as listed in section 3.1. If all requirements are satisfied, just follow
       procedure listed below for each supported distribution. Note that
       letters xx and yy in package names specify respectively the patchlevel
       and release of the product.
       For instance, agents_lx-5.50.09-01_debian22.i386.deb refers to NetServer
       Agents version 5.50, patchlevel 09, release 01 for Debian 2.2.

    3. Sometimes, when snmp is being started, the following message is
       displayed:

          # Creating directory: /var/ucd-snmp

       Please, press Enter key to continue.


3.2.1. For Red Hat:

    1. Locate in the distribution CD the zip file containing the appropriate
       NetServer Agents installation files for your version of Linux (the
       installation files are separated in directories named by distribution
       version).

    2. Expand the zip file containing the NetServer Agents to a temporary
       location on your Linux system (for example /tmp)
           # unzip -o <name_of_the_package> -d /tmp
       for example,
           # unzip -o customer.zip -d /tmp

    3. Install the UCD SNMP packages (see notes below) - notice the asterisk 
       in the command below:
           # rpm -U /tmp/ucd-snmp-*zzz.i386.rpm

    4. Copy the alternate configuration file for the SNMP service (see item 6
       - Important Notes):
           # cp -f /tmp/snmpd.conf /etc/snmp/

    5. Install the Curl package (see notes below):
           # rpm -U /tmp/curl-7.7.2-yy_zzz.i386.rpm

    6. Install the NetServer core component (see notes below):
           # rpm -U /tmp/hpserver-core-5.02.xx-yy_zzz.i386.rpm

    7. Install the NetServer Agents package (see notes below):
           # rpm -U /tmp/agents_lx-5.50.xx-yy_zzz.i386.rpm

    8. Register the SNMP daemon for automatic execution:
           # /sbin/chkconfig snmpd on

    9. Start the SNMP daemon:
           # /sbin/service snmpd start

    10. No system reboot is necessary.


3.2.2. For SuSE:

    1. Locate in the distribution CD the zip file containing the appropriate
       NetServer Agents installation files for your version of Linux (the
       installation files are separated in directories named by distribution
       version).

    2. Expand the zip file containing the NetServer Agents to a temporary
       location on your Linux system (for example /tmp)
           # unzip -o <name_of_the_package> -d /tmp
       for example,
           # unzip -o customer.zip -d /tmp

    3. Install the UCD SNMP packages (see notes below):
       NOTICE: In order to update the ucd-snmp packages you must use remove
               (-e) and install (-i) rpm options instead of update (-U). E.g.:
               instead of 'rpm -U ucd-snmp*.rpm' use 
               'rpm -e ucd-snmp ucd-snmp-utils; rpm -i ucd-snmp*.rpm' 
                (without the quotes.)
               If you are not sure about how to proceed, try the steps below: 

       3.1. Discover all UCD-SNMP packages and its dependencies:
            # rpm -q --whatrequires ucd-snmp libsnmp.so.0

       3.2. Remove those packages (if there is no relevant packages, skip to 
            the next step):
            # rpm -e <package names>

       3.3. Install the new packages
            # rpm -i /tmp/ucd-snmp-*zzz.i386.rpm

    4. Copy the alternate configuration file for the SNMP service (see item 6
       - Important Notes):
           # cp -f /tmp/snmpd.conf /etc/snmp/

    5. Install the Curl package (see notes below):
           # rpm -U /tmp/curl-7.7.2-yy_zzz.i386.rpm

    6. Install the NetServer core component (see notes below):
           # rpm -U /tmp/hpserver-core-5.02.xx-yy_zzz.i386.rpm

    7. Install the NetServer Agents package (see notes below):
           # rpm -U /tmp/agents_lx-5.50.xx-yy_zzz.i386.rpm

    8. Register the SNMP daemon for automatic execution:
       Edit /etc/rc.config and replace the string "no" for "yes" at
       the START_SNMPD field.

    9. Start the SNMP daemon, if it is not already running:
       To verify its status, type:
           # /sbin/init.d/snmpd status

       To start it, type:
           # /sbin/init.d/snmpd start

    10. No system reboot is necessary.


3.2.3. For Debian:

    1. Locate in the distribution CD the zip file containing the appropriate
       NetServer Agents installation files for your version of Linux (the
       installation files are separated in directories named by distribution
       version).

    2. Expand the zip file containing the NetServer Agents to a temporary
       location on your Linux system (for example /tmp)
           # unzip -o <name_of_the_package> -d /tmp
       for example,
           # unzip -o customer.zip -d /tmp

    3. Install the UCD SNMP packages:
    	   # dpkg -i -G /tmp/libsnmp-base_4.2.1-4_all.deb      
	   # dpkg -i -G /tmp/libsnmp4.2_4.2.1-4_i386.deb
	   # dpkg -i -G /tmp/snmp_4.2.1-4_i386.deb
	   # dpkg -i -G /tmp/snmpd_4.2.1-4_i386.deb
	
       3.1. Edit the file /etc/default/snmpd and change the value of TRAPDRUN 
            to "no" (without the quotes).
       
       3.2. Restart the SNMPD daemon:
	    # /etc/init.d/snmpd restart

    4. Copy the alternate configuration file for the SNMP service (see item 6
       - Important Notes):
            # cp -f /tmp/snmpd.conf /etc/snmp/

    5. Install the Curl package:
            # dpkg -i -G /tmp/libcurl_7.7.2-1_i386.deb

    6. Install the NetServer core component:
            # dpkg -i -G /tmp/hpserver-core-5.02.xx-yy_debian22.i386.deb

    7. Install the NetServer Agents package:
       
            7.1 Before installing agents-lx, if there are hard disk cage 
	    devices, look for special files /dev/sg*. If there are no such 
	    files, create them using the following commands:
	           # cd /dev
	           # ./MAKEDEV sg
                   # cd -
        
	After that, install NetServer Agents package:     
            # dpkg -i -G /tmp/agents-lx-5.50.xx-yy_debian22.i386.deb

    8. No system reboot is necessary.

		

3.3. How to verify that the NetServer Agents are Running

To make sure NetServer Agents are running on the machine verify if the
following services are running: hpasrsvc, hpcagsvc, hpesysvc, hpevcsvc, 
hpevttrapd, hplersvc, hpnictrapd, hppfmsvc, hprccsvc, hpsdnsvc, hpsftsvc, 
hpswvsvc, hptatsvc, hpvcptrapd and snmpd.

Notice that hpsftsvc service will only be running if the system has a hard
disk cage installed.


The command to verify the status of a service is:


3.3.1. For Red Hat:
    # /sbin/service <service_name> status

    The output should be similar to:

    <service_name> (pid <process id>) is running...


3.3.2. For SuSE:
    # /sbin/init.d/<service_name> status

    The system replies with:
    - No process, if the service is not running.
    - OK, if the service is running.


3.3.3. For Debian
    # ps axo command | grep <service_name>

    The command will output:
    - the service name, if it's running;
    - nothing, otherwise.

      


3.4. Using the NetServer Agents

To access information supplied by the NetServer Agents you need an SNMP
enabled management tool such as the TopTools Device Manager 5.5 or OpenView.


------------
4. Uninstall
------------

4.1. For distributions based on RPM

If you wish to remove the NetServer Agents from your system, execute the 
following steps, logged on as root:

    # rpm -e agents_lx
    # rpm -e hpserver-core

Notice that the hpserver-core package may be in use by other HP products and
if so the last command will tell you and will not uninstall the package.
No reboot is necessary.

Notice that rpm displays a warning messages about missing files. You can
safely disregard these messages.

The uninstall of the NetServer Agents does not remove the history data 
files from your computer, enabling the Agents to keep historic information
after a package upgrade.


4.2. For Debian

If you wish to remove the NetServer Agents from your system, execute the 
following steps, logged as root:
    
    # dpkg -P agents-lx
    # dpkg -P hpserver-core

Notice that the hpserver-core package may be in use by other HP products and
if so the last command will tell you and will not uninstall the package.
No reboot is necessary.

The uninstallation of the NetServer Agents does not remove the history data 
files from your computer, enabling the Agents to keep historic information
after a package upgrade.


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5. Known Issues
---------------

5.1. General Issues:

- The hpnicagt, responsible for gathering information about the network
  interface cards installed in the system, does not support token ring cards.
- The Hard Disk Status page does not show any information.
- Due to a limitation of the UCD-SNMP master agent when handling character
  strings, the fields in System Location and User Name in page Configuration
  Settings must be filled with valid characters only. Valid characters are
  letters, numbers, space, '<' and '>' (without the quotes.)
- Due to a limitation of the UCD-SNMP master agent when handling character
  strings, in order to clear the fields System Location or User Name in page 
  Identity you must fill those fields with '<text>' (without the quotes) in
  page Configuration Settings.
- The software version agent will report updates for the NetServer Agents 
  only after restarting the hpswvsvc service or clicking on Update button.
- There is no information about the SCSI subsystem in the Detailed Report 
  page.
- There is no Remote Locator button in the Reports page.
- When the system is under a very high load, some information from agents
  may not be shown due to a timeout.
- The agents will stop responding if the disk utilization reach 100%.


5.2. Issues for SuSE 7.0 Linux user's only:

- Sometimes, a wrong bios or firmware update is reported on 
  Reports page / Configuration Changes / Bios / Firmware section.
- Sometimes, Detailed Report page can not be displayed by TTDM.



5.3. Issues for Red Hat 6.2/7.0 user's only:

- The value reported for I/O port of network interfaces may be wrong.
- The string "HP" present in Identity page / Model field and in 
  Reports page / System Information group / Model field is showed 
  in lowercase when comparing it with Windows SNMP Agents version.
- The base address value displayed for I/O port field present in 
  reports page / Detailed Reports /Network Interface card group.


5.4. Issues for Debian 2.2 Linux user's only:

- Under a stress of event log or when Event Log is full, 
  the performance of Status tab / System event log slow down and 
  several minutes are needed to recovery all logged events.
- Sometimes, a wrong bios or firmware update is reported on 
  Reports page / Configuration Changes / Bios / Firmware section.
- When hpserver-core is being uninstalled, warning messages are displayed
  about directories not empty being removed. Those messages can be 
  safely disregarded.


------------------
6. Important Notes
------------------

- The default configuration file of the UCD SNMP package does not define
  the accessible network address and the community name. We provided an 
  alternative configuration file that permits read/write access to all hosts 
  in step 4 of item 3.2 - Installation Details.
  If this open permission is not acceptable, do not execute the step 4 of the
  Installation Overview and please consult the manual pages of the UCD SNMP
  configuration file using the command below in order to learn how to
  configure the SNMP daemon to reply remote queries:
    # man snmpd.conf

- Some packages necessary for Agents depend on other packages that are not 
  released with these agents. Those packages occasionally may depend on other
  software too. As an example, agents-lx depends on curl and ucd-snmp, which 
  depend on openssl.
  If some necessary packages are not installed by rpm utility, the system 
  administrator should solve those dependencies for the completeness 
  installation of the agents for Linux.

