Monitoring CIMC for hardware failures

[jwood.ok]

I have a number of UCS C220's and from what I understand you can monitor CIMC via SNMP, but my question is, what do you use to monitor?  I've had 2 hard drive failures now where the only indication was alarm & amber lights.  I'd really prefer to find out about it by a notification.  Would appreciate any suggestions, thanks.

[mjafri]

Hi John,

It is always suggested to use CIMC for monitoring your Cisco rack-server, however you can use any SNMP tool to monitor the hardware components.

SNMP uses MIBs to get the info from CIMC, below is contains info related to MIBs for CIMC and UCSM

https://communities.cisco.com/docs/DOC-37197

Here is the config GUI:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/c/sw/gui/config/guide/2-0/b_Cisco_UCS_C-series_GUI_Configuration_Guide_201/b_Cisco_UCS_C-series_GUI_Configuration_Guide_201_chapter_01010.html#d77259e789a1635

Have a look to the attachment for more on config details.

*Please do not forget to rate all useful posts.

Regards,

MJ

[jwood.ok]

Mjafri, 

I would love to only use CIMC, but from what I can tell, it has no notification capabilities, or am I mistaken?  It isn't extremely helpful if it can't email me when their is a hardware failure, which is why I would need to look into monitoring with another tool.

[mjafri]

John,

For email notification, yes CIMC would not work. If you have this integrated with UCSM (with Blade servers), there is a feature of smart-call home which send an email during the failure.

Regards,

MJ

[jwood.ok]

I see, I'm not familiar with UCSM.  I'm assuming that is something separate you would need a license for, correct?

[mjafri]

Its totally different DC equipment (B series blade servers). UCSM is used to manage those, which have Fabric Interconnects (5K platform based switches). 

You can integrate your C-series rack-server with UCSM.

Regards,

MJ

[jwood.ok]

I'm not sure I understand, mjafri.  So UCSM is intended to be used for B series but can also be used with C series?

[Walter Dey]

John

https://www.ciscolive.com/online/connect/sessionDetail.ww?SESSION_ID=78509&tclass=popup

is a nice session about this topic: C-Series UCSM Integration Best Practices

Standalone C-Series server can be managed IMC Supervisor

https://www.ciscolive2015.com/connect/sessionDetail.ww?SESSION_ID=1701

Walter.

[jwood.ok]

I assume the IMC Supervisor is a separate software that would need to be licensed?  It looks like I have access to download it but I didn't understand the cost of it.

[mjafri]

Hi John,

No licence or cost is required. This is a physical chip present on UCS-C series server and you need to configure the Ip to access it. 

Check the below link:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/servers-unified-computing/ucs-c200-m1-high-density-rack-mount-server/111455-setup-cimc-c-series.html

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/c/hw/C220/install/C220/install.html

Regards,

MJ

[jwood.ok]

No, I mean I have CIMC configured already, I can access the CIMC manually, but if I understand correctly, the IMC supervisor monitors UCS C series servers via the CIMC for hardware errors, etc.  So the IMC Supervisor has no cost?

Also, I'm assuming you would run the IMC Supervisor on some hardware OTHER than the UCS servers to monitor them, correct?

[mjafri]

John,

Oh i got u...i was getting confuse with CIMC & IMC. Yes, it required the licence. This will help you to manager C & E series rack server. 

For more info on licence and installation check this:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/Cisco-IMC-Sup/mgmt-guide/1-1/b_Cisco_IMC_Supervisor_Mgmt_Guide_1_1/b_Cisco_IMC_Supervisor_Mgmt_Guide_1_1_chapter_01.html

Here is the data sheet:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/servers-unified-computing/ucs-c-series-rack-servers/datasheet-c78-733571.html

Regards,

MJ