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Viewing event logs without restarting the server

If the server is not hung, methods are available for you to view one or more event logs without having to restart the server.

If you have installed Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) Portable, you can use it to view the system-event log (as the IPMI event log), the IMM event log (as the ASM event log), the operating-system event logs, or the merged DSA log. You can also use DSA Preboot to view these logs, although you must restart the server to use DSA Preboot.

To install DSA Portable, DSA Preboot or to download a DSA Preboot CD image, go to the IBM Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) website.

If IPMItool is installed in the server, you can use it to view the system-event log. Most recent versions of the Linux operating system come with a current version of IPMItool.

For an overview of IPMI, go to the IBM developerWorks: Blueprints for Linux on IBM systems website and click Using Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) on IBM Linux platforms.

You can view the IMM system event log through the Event Log link in the integrated management module (IMM) web interface. For more information, see Logging on to the Web interface.

The following table describes the methods that you can use to view the event logs, depending on the condition of the server. The first three conditions generally do not require that you restart the server.

Table 1. Methods for viewing event logs
ConditionAction
The server is not hung and is connected to a network.

Use any of the following methods:

  • Run DSA Portable to view the event logs or create an output file that you can send to a support representative.
  • In a web browser, type the IP address of the IMM and go to the Event Log page.
  • Use IPMItool to view the system-event log.
The server is not hung and is not connected to a network.Use IPMItool locally to view the system-event log.
The server is not hung and the integrated management module (IMM) is connected to a network.In a web browser, type the IP address for the IMM and go to the Event Log page. For more information, see Obtaining the IP address for the IMM and Logging on to the Web interface.
The server is hung.
  • If DSA Preboot is installed, restart the server and press F2 to start DSA Preboot and view the event logs.
  • If DSA Preboot is not installed, insert the DSA Preboot CD and restart the server to start DSA Preboot and view the event logs.
  • Alternatively, you can restart the server and press F1 to start the Setup utility and view the POST event log or system-event log. For more information, see Viewing event logs from the Setup utility.