Re: Cache battery replacement -- MIDRANGE-L

I just posted these to the System i Network forums that might be of
interest regarding disk space (you are likely aware of these but just in
case)
Check for journal receivers, if there are a lot of "old" ones on your
system, back them up to tape and delete them. those can take up TONS of
disk space.

Check the number of spooled files on the system, if you have lots of old
spooled files hanging around, back them off to tape & delete them (actual
spooled file data is stored in files in the QSPL library)
any save files that are old/unused, back up to tape & remove.

if you have lots of temp applied PTFs (note this is not my preference but
is an option) perm apply those PTFs and schedule an IPL that will remove
the PTF save files.

Check the IFS for unused/old files, if possible back up to tape & delete.
lots of times the IFS is the "forgotten" realm that will eat up disk space
BIG time.

Check for files with lots of deleted records, reorg those files to
compress out those records, even if they are "deleted" the disk space is
still reserved for those records.

Thanks,
Tommy Holden

From: Vern Hamberg <vhamberg@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 02/22/2011 08:06 AM
Subject: Re: Cache battery replacement
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Jerry

You could gain some space by applying all PTFs permanently.

I know you know this stuff, but some thoughts -

Do you know what is taking all the space? Is it all valid? You might not
have enough space to run RTVDSKINF, if so, try DSPOBJD *ALL/*ALL *ALL to
*PRINT - for IFS, try opening a netserver share to root and run a
recursive dir from a command prompt, redirected to a file on the PC.
That'd take care of the DSPOBJD, too, I think, if even THAT would take
too much space. Although 80% shouldn't kill you on any of these, even
RTVDSKINF.

Is there anything you can archive to tape?

Look for lots of spooled files.

Look for journal receivers.

Do you have a web server running from this machine? Look for logs and
change settings to keep only the last 7 days.

On 2/22/2011 6:40 AM, Jerry C. Adams wrote:

Replies in-line.

Jerry C. Adams
IBM i Programmer/Analyst
Blind people come to the park just to listen to him pitch. -Reggie

Jackson

on Tom Seaver
--
A&K Wholesale
Murfreesboro, TN
615-867-5070

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Jones
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 4:14 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Cache battery replacement

Jerry,

Put the cursor in that column& hit F1 for help on the different

possible

statuses.

I'd love to, but we're so scrunched for space (running at about 80%

used)

that I elected to *not* install on-line help. In fact, I'm going to

remove

some stuff (such as Advanced Job Scheduler which we don't use anyway),

but

install a couple of things I *want* (Openness Includes and QShell).
Hopefully the deletions will balanced out the additions. If not QShell

will

be the first to go.

Just found the problem analysis, repair, and parts manual for your 250:

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/iseries/v5r1/ic2924/v5r1hwpdf/pdf/y4459653.pd

f

I found that, too. Didn't tell me as much as it probably told you, Rob,

the

good Doctor and others.

Thanks.

On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 3:31 PM, Jerry C. Adams<midrange@xxxxxxxx>

wrote:

John,

Is this the panel you mentioned regarding WRKDSKSTS F11?

--Protection--
Unit ASP Type Status Compression
1 1 MRR ACTIVE
1 1 MRR ACTIVE

On the WRKHDWRSC *STG here it shows:

Resource name . . . . . . . : DC01
Text . . . . . . . . . . . . : Disk Storage Controller
Type-model . . . . . . . . . : 675A-006
Serial number . . . . . . . : 10-1152012
Part number . . . . . . . . : 0000021P5221

I found the System Builder manual. I'm probably mis-reading, but it

looks

like the 2748/2763 are only required if more than 4 disk units are
installed
(expansion unit? We don't have one) or RAID-5 is required. The 675A

is a

MFIOP. I'll admit I'm not sure what the manual means here: "The MFIOP
(CCIN
675A) and the processor are combined together on the planar board. It

also

includes embedded base disk unit controller. A separate #9728 is not
required. The #2407 includes a #9740 Base RAID Disk Unit Controller.

The

MFIOP drives two low-speed slots C08, C09, and two high-speed PCI slots

C03

and C07. It supports #2740/#9740, #2741 or #2748 PCI RAID Disk Unit
Controllers only, if there are more than four disk drives, and RAID-5

required." Except the part about " also includes embedded base disk

unit

controller".

Anyway, nice to know that, when things degrade to a snail's pace, I can

use

WRKDSKSTS to see something.

Jerry C. Adams
IBM i Programmer/Analyst
All I know is that we lost the game. What's so historic about that?
-Harvey
Haddix after pitching 12 perfect innings and losing 1-0 in the

thirteenth.

--
A&K Wholesale
Murfreesboro, TN
615-867-5070

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Jones
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 2:25 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Cache battery replacement

2748 disk controllers have 26MB of cache. 2763 controllers have 10MB.
Those are the two controllers I see for Model 250 systems in the System
Builder I have from that era. WRKHDWRSC *STG should show you which
controller you have.

Also, most if not all of the time you can see if the cache batteries

are

still good by doing a WRKDSKSTS followed by F11. The Status column
normally
shows "DEGRADED" if the cache batteries have failed and the write cache

disabled. This doesn't let you predict or anticipate battery failure

the service tools function, but it does let you confirm that the cache
memory is in fact being used (which it only does if the batteries are
good).

On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 12:22 PM, Jerry C. Adams<midrange@xxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Boy, Rob, I never would of thought of going that route. But it did, I
think, tell me something. There was nothing in the Advanced Analysis

list

that remotely looked like it had anything to do with batteries (and I
looked
in some pretty obscure items). So maybe there aren't any cache

batteries

in
the 250.

As far as the "old" part goes, I figured that. I still have to

maintain

my

previous employer's software and run functions for the auditors (even

after

you close the doors, they're still there!) so I compare things

whenever

I

have a chance, and STRSST menus are different. I'm pretty sure I'll

have

to
live with the old (V5R1 and Model 250) for awhile (sigh).

Jerry C. Adams
IBM i Programmer/Analyst
I know Koufax's weakness. He can't hit. - Whitey Ford
--
A&K Wholesale
Murfreesboro, TN
615-867-5070

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 11:54 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: RE: Cache battery replacement

On old unsupported hardware which will not have some new ptf's to

allow

you to see it at the command line, nor the cache battery option in SST
there is another SST option
STRSST
1. Start a service tool
4. Display/Alter/Dump
1. Display/Alter storage
2. Licensed Internal Code (LIC) data
14. Advanced analysis
1=Select BATTERYINFO
Options . . . . . -list -all
But that really doesn't tell you jack
Concurrently

Can

Be
Resource Serial Type Frame Card Maintainable

Safely

Name Number Model ID Position Battery Pack
Replaced
DC09 YL1088121002 57B7-001 3C00 C9 Yes No

You miss all the date information.

http://ibmsystemsmag.blogs.com/i_can/2010/07/i-can-display-the-status-of-you

r-ioa-cache-batteries.html

Rob Berendt
--
Group Dekko
Dept 1600
Mail to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com

From: "Jerry C. Adams"<midrange@xxxxxxxx>
To: "'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'"
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 02/21/2011 11:46 AM
Subject: RE: Cache battery replacement
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Good advice. Had a cache battery die on a Model 720 and it took me

all

day
to figure out why things had ground to a snail's pace. The Model 520
actually gave out a shout when it wanted its diaper changed.

The new employer has a Model 250 (running V5R1). I don't know if it

has

a

cache battery or not (though I suspect that it does). SST doesn't

show

an

option '9' and I couldn't find anything about cache batteries in any

the
other options, though I could have missed it or misinterpreted it.

Seems I'm wrong guessing that there is cache on the 250. The System
Handbook shows 0 for L2 Cache. But, then, the Handbook only shows

6818

model disk units (17.54 gig) whereas ours has 6717 units (8+ gig).

Jerry C. Adams
IBM i Programmer/Analyst
When we played, World Series checks meant something. Now all they do

screw up your taxes. -Don Drysdale
--
A&K Wholesale
Murfreesboro, TN
615-867-5070

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 8:43 AM
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Cache battery replacement

I strongly suggest checking your cache batteries on a regular basis

and

when the time to warning gets down to 45 days or so, calling IBM and
ordering it then. Mine have been backordered a while and I am still
waiting on a replacement.

STRSST
1. Start a service tool
7. Hardware service manager
9. Work with resources containing cache battery packs
5=Display battery information

Resource name . . . . . . . . . . . : DC09
Serial number . . . . . . . . . . . : YL1088121002
Actual type-model . . . . . . . . . : 57B7-001
Unit ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : U789C.001.DQD0P72
Planar ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . : P1
Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : C9
Battery type . . . . . . . . . . . : Lithium Ion (LiIon)
Battery state . . . . . . . . . . . : No battery warning/error
Power-on time (days) . . . . . . . :
Adjusted power-on time (days) . . . :
Estimated time to warning (days) . :
Estimated time to error (days) . . :

Apparently some batteries are harder to get ahold of than others. At
least that's what he said when I called him and he said he was just
finishing a battery replacement somewhere else and I asked him where

was

mine. He still doesn't have an ETA from his parts depot.

Rob Berendt
--
Group Dekko
Dept 1600
Mail to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com

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4 Out of 3 people have trouble with fractions.
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