Troubleshooting Copper Pass-Thru Module (CPM) issues

Resolving The Problem

Note: The Copper Pass-Thru Module (CPM) is for IBM BladeCenter.

1. To begin troubleshooting, check the following top issues. If your issue is listed, select the link, otherwise proceed to step 2.
   
   
   • CPM occasionally does not power up on insertion
   • Mounting disks remotely using SUSE LINUX (SLES 8) fails with error message "device is not a valid block device"
   
   Pass-through modules enable daughter cards to access external switches without the need to place switches into the BladeCenter switch bays. The pass-through module takes electrical signals from daughter cards and passes them directly to a downstream switch module using copper wiring only. You can use the Optical Pass-Thru Module if you desire those signals to be converted to optical signals for external BladeCenter connections, or you can use CPM if you desire copper external connections.
   
   

   Description	Marketing part number	Replacement part number
   IBM Copper Pass-Through Module (CPM)	73P6100	73P6098 - CPM 73P6099 - cable

   
   The Copper Pass-Through Module (CPM) provides copper connectivity to each blade server in a BladeCenter, without providing any internal switching capability. The CPM provides an unconfigured network connection which allows the blade servers in a BladeCenter Chassis to connect to an existing network infrastructure. The CPM is Gb Ethernet only and requires no configuration. The channel that is created is "neutral" to the protocol, enabling the deployment of external switch devices with direct access to blade servers.
   
   
   • Inserts into any switch module bay
   • Provides connectivity to each blade bay
     (Supports gigabit Ethernet connections only)
   • Includes three copper transceivers and three cables
     (Each cable connects to five blade bays, Port 3, channel E has no connection)
     
     
2. Check the CPM ports and LED indicators:
   
   
   
   
   • The three external copper ports on the front of the CPM are for making connections to network infrastructure. Each port provides connections for up to five bi-directional gigabit copper channels via a fan-out cable. The connectors on the CPM are Mini RJ-21 type.
     
     
   • Fourteen internal bi-directional ports are connected through the BladeCenter Chassis midplane to each of the blade servers.
     
     
   • The external link LEDs only light if there is an internal signal and external signal detected for a particular blade server. More detail on the LED signal status can be found in the Management Module interface. The CPM is supported by the LED section of the MM interface.
     
     
     
3. Check CPM cabling to ensure it is firm and proper. The cable for the CPM will have a multi-port copper connector on one end and fan out to 5 RJ45 Ethernet connectors at the other. The correct method of connecting the CPM fan-out cable is with the cables pointing upwards. The multi-port copper connector on the CPM cable MUST BE pointing up when plugged into the CPM.
   
   Note: the cable must be attached with the 45 degree elbow pointing upward. Otherwise, some connections don't work and those that do work appear to be routed very strangely.
   
   Up to 3 copper pass-through cables can be connected to the CPM. One cable will be included with the CPM. The copper pass-through cables are terminated with industry standard RJ-45 connectors. Channel E on CPM port 3 is not used so there will an unused RJ45 connector on the CPM cable. If the CPM is not working make sure the cable is plugged into the correct port for the slot in which the blade server is in.
   
   
   
   

   Blade Server Bay	Copper Pass-thru Module External Port	Copper Pass-thru cable connector
   1	Port 1 (Transceiver 1)	A
   2	Port 1 (Transceiver 2)	B
   3	Port 1 (Transceiver 3)	C
   4	Port 1 (Transceiver 4)	D
   5	Port 1 (Transceiver 5)	E
   6	Port 2 (Transceiver 6)	A
   7	Port 2 (Transceiver 7)	B
   8	Port 2 (Transceiver 8)	C
   9	Port 2 (Transceiver 9)	D
   10	Port 2 (Transceiver 10)	E
   11	Port 3 (Transceiver 11)	A
   12	Port 3 (Transceiver 12)	B
   13	Port 3 (Transceiver 13)	C
   14	Port 3 (Transceiver 14)	D

   
   Note: Port 3 on the CPM will not use the RJ45 Channel E on the fan-out cable.
   
   
4. Download and install the latest BladeCenter Management Module (MM) firmware updates and system support files:
   
   Note: Thermal shutdown issues were corrected with the latest CPM microcode. Please refer to the README file for additional information.
   
   
   • Download the latest CPM microcode
   • Download the latest BladeCenter support files
   
   
   
5. Check the available publications:
   
   
   • CPM installation guide
   • CPM cable installation instructions
   
   
6. If these steps have not solved your problem:
   Refer to your system's Hardware Maintenance Manual, or refer to "Need more help?"

Need more help?

• Support forums

• Submit a technical question

• Before you call IBM Service