1. Summary

This case proposes a library interface for Sun management applications to communicate with system controllers.

2. Decision & Precedence Information

The project is approved as specified in reference [1]. The project may be delivered in a patch release of Solaris.

3. Interfaces

Interfaces Exported
Interface Name	Classification	Comment
pci_msg_t	Sun Private	message structure
pcp_init()	Sun Private	init channel
pcp_send_recv	Sun Private	send/recv message
pcp_close	Sun Private	close channel

4. Opinion

The ARC review focused on the completeness of the specification and the need for common interfaces for communicating with the system controllers.

4.1 Completeness

The proposal appeared incomplete since it is not possible to write an application without a specification of the message format to be sent and received. After further discussion, PSARC is satisfied with limiting this case to abstract libpcp interfaces, with the expectation that the message specification will be provided as part of a future FWARC case covering the Ontario platform.

4.2 Common System Controller Interfaces

PSARC has noted a plethora of interfaces for Solaris to talk to system controllers.
• PSARC 2002/198 PICL Plugin environmental ioctls
• PSARC 2002/199 Remote Management Control (RMC)
• PSARC 2002/206 Environmental sysevents
• PSARC 2002/437 PICL plugin environmental ioctls [updated]
• PSARC 2002/361 PICL Class for Service Processors
• PSARC 2000/019 LOMlite support software and documentation
• PSARC 2001/412 LOM bus nexus driver
• PSARC 1998/074 RSC: Remote System Control
• PSARC 2000/157 Device Links for RSC
• PSARC 1997/329 Starfire Network Console
• PSARC 1999/302 Extend Starfire Network Console for Starcat
• PSARC 2000/248 PICL Environmental Properties and Classes
• PSARC 2001/418 PICL environmental classes
• PSARC 2000/214 PICL classes addendum
• PSARC 2002/045 Makaha System Management Controller(SMC) Driver
• PSARC 2000/121 System Alarms and Service Monitoring
This case is another platform specific addition to the collection.

The lack of standardization in system controller interfaces results in a significant waste of resources and must be stopped. As each platform team designs and implements a different set of interfaces, various management applications must be rewritten to consume the new interfaces. Sun customers must also be retrained for the new system controller interfaces associated with new platforms. A strong advise is provided to the Solaris PAC in section 6.

5. Minority Opinion(s)

None.

6. Advisory Information

The Solaris PAC and SSG are strongly advised to start a project to standardize system controller interfaces and stop the waste of resources as described in section 4.2.

Appendices

Appendix A: Technical Changes Required

None

Appendix B: Technical Changes Advised

None

Appendix C: Reference Material

Unless otherwise stated, path names are relative to the case directory (PSARC/2005/372).
1. ontario_pcp_spec.txt