User Service Guide, Fourth Edition - Server Expansion Unit

Chapter 5

Removal and Replacement

Shutting Down nPartitions and Powering Off Hardware Components

When you remove and replace hardware you may need to shut down one or more nPartitions on the SEU. In

some cases you also will need to power off hardware components as part of the remove and replace procedure.

This section gives details on how to ensure that an nPartition is properly shut down, and it also describes how

to power off (and power on) hardware components.

Shutting Down an nPartition

This procedure is for checking the boot status of an nPartition and, if needed, shutting down HP-UX on the

nPartition.

Step 1. Be advised that the system (one or more nPartitions) must be shut down for repairs.

Ensure that there is a current backup.

Step 2. Log in to the service processor (MP) of the host server.

Step 3. Use the Virtual Front Panel (VFP) to view the current state of the nPartition that you will shut

down.

From the MP Main menu, type VFP to access the Virtual Front Panel menu, and select the

nPartition whose boot state you want to view.

Enter

Control-b (^B) to exit the VFP display.

• If an nPartition has booted HP-UX, or if it is in the process of launching HP-UX, you must shut

down HP-UX on the nPartition.

When HP-UX is running on an nPar, its VFP displays “HP-UX heartbeat” with a blinking

asterisk (*) to indicate its interactivity.

In this case, proceed with the next step.

• If the nPartition is at its Boot Console Handler (BCH) interface, then HP-UX has already been

shut down.

• If the nPartition is booting, then you should wait for it to reach the BCH interface and, if

necessary, interrupt auto-boot when you see the “Attempting to boot” and “To discontinue, press

any key within 10 seconds” messages.

If the nPartition is at the BCH menu interface, then HP-UX is shut down. Otherwise, proceed with

the next step to shut down HP-UX.

Step 4. From the MP Main menu, type CO and select the console for the nPartition you plan to shut down.

You should have access to the HP-UX login prompt (or command line) when using the nPartition

console. If you have no interactivity at the console, HP-UX may be halted or hung.

Step 5. At the nPartition console, log in to HP-UX and shut down the operating system.

Issue the shutdown command to shut down and halt HP-UX on the nPartition.

For example, the shutdown -h 240 command will shut down and halt HP-UX on the nPartition

after waiting for a grace period of four minutes (240 seconds).