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Appendix B. 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 BladeCenter
system, and whom to call for service, 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:
• Check all cables to make sure that they are connected.
• Check the power switches to make sure that the system is turned on.
• 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 on the IBM
BladeCenter Documentation CD or at the IBM Support Web site.
• Go to the IBM Support Web site at http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/ to check for
technical information, hints, tips, and new device drivers.
You can solve many problems without outside assistance by following the
troubleshooting procedures that IBM provides in the online help or in the publications
that are provided with your system and software. The information that comes with your
system also describes the diagnostic tests that you can perform. Most xSeries and
IntelliStation
®
systems, operating systems, and programs come with information that
contains troubleshooting procedures and explanations of error messages and error
codes. If you suspect a software problem, see the information for the operating system
or program.
Using the documentation
Information about your IBM BladeCenter, xSeries, or IntelliStation system and
preinstalled software, if any, is available in the documentation that comes with your
system. That documentation includes printed books, online books, 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/pc/support/ and follow the instructions. Also,
you can order publications through the IBM Publications Ordering System at
http://www.elink.ibmlink.ibm.com/public/applications/publications/cgibin/pbi.cgi.
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
BladeCenter, xSeries, and IntelliStation products, services, and support. The address
for IBM BladeCenter and xSeries information is http://www.ibm.com/eserver/xseries/.
The address for IBM IntelliStation information is http://www.ibm.com/pc/intellistation/.
You can find service information for your IBM products, including supported options, at
http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/.
