Network server description

The network server description (NWSD) in Figure 13 and Figure 14 is the key i5/OS™ configuration object for all types of integrated servers. The NWSD object is used to tie together all of the other i5/OS objects that relate to an integrated server. For example, it contains a reference to the hardware that the server runs on, links to the virtual disk drives that the server uses, references to the network ports that the server uses and many other attributes of the server. The i5/OS Install Windows Server (INSWNTSVR) command is used to create the server's NWSD and several other i5/OS objects that are needed by the server.

For a description of the values that the NWSD contains, see the i5/OS Create Network Server Description (CRTNWSD) command.

For an integrated server, the IXS and IXA attached xSeries® server hardware is controlled by i5/OS.

• An integrated server is started by varying on the NWSD for that server. This initiates the Windows operating system boot process.
• An integrated server is shut down by varying off the NWSD for that server. This initiates the Windows operating system shut down process.
• For an IXS, i5/OS communicates directly with the IXS hardware to perform the start and shut down tasks.
• For an IXA attached xSeries server, i5/OS communicates over a high speed link (HSL) bus with the IXA that is installed in the xSeries server to initiate the start and shut down tasks. The IXA in turn communicates with the service processor (SP) of the xSeries system to perform the start and shut down tasks.
  Note:
  Since the IXA provides a hard-wired connection to the xSeries service processor, an i5/OS object is not needed to configure the xSeries service processor characteristics.