IBM EXP15 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Also see for EXP15: Installation and User Handbook

Software/Hardware Mismatch ProblemsIf a failure appears to be the result of a defective FRU, butyou don't find a problem, there might be a software andhardware mismatch. These problems might beintermittent, and they are usually difficult to diagnose.If you are experiencing this type of problem, and theoperating system is of the “direct driver” variety, whichbypasses the BIOS interface, such as:AIXNetwareSCO UNIXSome “windowing” interfacesOther Unix-based softwarethe most-likely cause of the problem is a mismatchbetween the software and the hardware.The following information is provided to help you resolvethese problems:Software Can Be Sensitive to the HardwareDirect-driver software is sensitive to variations in hardwaredesign. The resulting incompatibilities are usuallyaddressed with a revision (sometimes referred to as apatch), to the direct-driver software. Make certain thesoftware is current and that all known revisions areinstalled. The IBM on-line bulletin board (sometimesreferred to as PCPROD), and other software tools sources,such as Novell Netware, should be referenced by thesoftware support personnel for any revisions provided bythe appropriate software vendor.The most-likely cause of these types of problems, whendirect-driver software is involved, is the failure to obtain thelatest revisions from the software vendor.Software InstallationIt is very important to follow the vendor's installationprocedures. The software should not be migrated fromanother system, unless the installation instructions indicatethat migration is supported (especially from a differentmodel in the product line).ImportantMigrating adapters from slower systems to fastersystems might cause problems. This is due todevice-specific, system-specific, or time-dependentsoftware code, that controls these devices.132 IBM Netfinity EXP15, EXP200, EXP500 HMM