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Viewing event logs without restarting the server

Use this information to view the event logs without restarting the server.

If the server is not hung and the IMM is connected to a network, 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), or 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. The server comes with DSA Preboot stored in integrated USB memory. To install DSA Portable or check for and download a later version of DSA Preboot CD image, go to the Lenovo 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 Lenovo Linux platforms.

You can view the IMM 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 (using an operating system controlled network ports).
Use any of the following methods:
  • Run DSA Portable to view the diagnostic event log (requires IPMI driver) or create an output file that you can send to Lenovo service and support (using ftp or local copy).
  • Use IPMItool to view the system-event log (requires IPMI driver).
  • Use the Web browser interface to the IMM to view the system-event log locally (requires RNDIS USB LAN driver).
The server is not hung and is not connected to a network (using an operating system controlled network ports).
Use any of the following methods:
  • Run Portable DSA to view the diagnostic event log (requires IPMI driver) or create an output file that you can send to Lenovo service and support (using a local copy).
  • Use IPMItool to view the system-event log (requires IPMI driver).
  • Use the Web browser interface to the IMM to view the system-event log locally (requires RNDIS USB LAN driver). For more information, see Obtaining the IP address for the IMM and Logging on to the Web interface.
The integrated management module (IMM) is connected to a network and AC power is applied - the server state might be hung, not hung, or powered off.
Use any of the following methods:
  • Use IPMItool over the network to the IMM external IP address to view the system-event log.
  • Use the Web browser interface to the IMM to view the system-event log. In the 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 and no communication can be made with the IMM.

Restart the server and press F2 to start DSA Preboot and view the diagnostic event log (see Running the DSA Preboot diagnostic programs for more information).

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 through the Setup utility.