Getting help and technical assistance
If you need help, service, or technical assistance or just want more information about IBM products, you
will find a wide variety of sources available from IBM to assist you. This appendix contains information
about where to go for additional information about IBM and IBM products, what to do if you experience
a problem with your Eserver
if it is necessary.
Before you call
Before you call, make sure that you have taken these steps to try to solve the problem yourself:
v Check all cables to make sure that they are connected.
v Check the power switches to make sure that the system and any optional devices are turned on.
v Use the troubleshooting information in your system documentation, and use the diagnostic tools that
come with your system. Information about diagnostic tools is in the Hardware Maintenance Manual and
Troubleshooting Guide or Problem Determination and Service Guide on the IBM Documentation CD that
comes with your system.
Note: For some server options, the Hardware Maintenance Manual and Troubleshooting Guide is available
only from the IBM support Web site.
v Go to the IBM support Web site at http://www.ibm.com/support/ to check for technical information,
hints, tips, and new device drivers or to submit a request for information.
You can solve many problems without outside assistance by following the troubleshooting procedures
that IBM provides in the online help or in the documentation that is provided with your IBM product.
The documentation that comes with Eserver and IntelliStation systems also describes the diagnostic tests
that you can perform. Most Eserver and IntelliStation systems, operating systems, and programs come
with documentation that contains troubleshooting procedures and explanations of error messages and
error codes. If you suspect a software problem, see the documentation for the operating system or
program.
Using the documentation
Information about your IBM Eserver or IntelliStation system and preinstalled software, if any, or optional
device is available in the documentation that comes with the product. That documentation can include
printed documents, online documents, readme files, and help files. See the troubleshooting information in
your system documentation for instructions for using the diagnostic programs. The troubleshooting
information or the diagnostic programs might tell you that you need additional or updated device
drivers or other software. IBM maintains pages on the World Wide Web where you can get the latest
technical information and download device drivers and updates. To access these pages, go to
http://www.ibm.com/support/ and follow the instructions. Also, some documents are available through
the IBM Publications Center at http://www.ibm.com/shop/publications/order/.
Getting help and information from the World Wide Web
On the World Wide Web, the IBM Web site has up-to-date information about IBM Eserver and
IntelliStation systems, optional devices, services, and support. The address for IBM xSeries
®
BladeCenter
information is http://www.ibm.com/eserver/xseries/. The address for IBM IntelliStation
information is http://www.ibm.com/intellistation/.
You can find service information for IBM systems and optional devices at
http://www.ibm.com/support/.
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or IntelliStation
system or optional device, and whom to call for service,
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and