19
5: G
ETTING HELP AND
T
ECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
If you need help, service, or technical assistance or just want more information about IBM
(R)
products, you will
find a wide variety of sources available from IBM to assist you. This section contains information about where
to go for additional information about IBM and IBM products, what to do if you experience a problem with
your system, and whom to call for service, if it is necessary.
B
EFORE 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 and any optional devices are 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
Problem Determination and Service Guide
on the IBM
Documentation
CD that
comes with your system.
•
Go to the IBM support Web site at http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/ to check for technical information, hints, tips, and
new device drivers or to submit a request for information.
You can solve many problems without outside assistance by following the troubleshooting procedures that IBM
provides in the online help or in the documentation that is provided with your IBM product. The documentation
that comes with IBM systems also describes the diagnostic tests that you can perform. Most systems, operating
systems, and programs come with documentation that contains troubleshooting procedures and explanations of
error messages and error codes. If you suspect a software problem, see the documentation for the operating
system or program.
U
SING THE DOCUMENTATION
Information about your IBM system and preinstalled software, if any, or optional device is available in the
documentation that comes with the product. That documentation can include printed documents, online docu-
ments, readme files, and help files. See the troubleshooting information in your system documentation for in-
structions 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/systems/support/ and follow the instructions. Also, some
documents are available through the IBM Publications Center at http://www.ibm.com/shop/publications/order/.
G
ETTING HELP AND INFORMATION FROM THE
W
ORLD
W
IDE
W
EB
On the World Wide Web, the IBM Web site has up-to-date information about IBM systems, optional devices,
services, and support. The address for IBM System x
(TM)
and xSeries
(R)
information is
http://www.ibm.com/systems/x/. The address for IBM BladeCenter
(R)
information is
http://www.ibm.com/systems/bladecenter/. The address for IBM IntelliStation
(R)
information is
http://www.ibm.com/intellistation/.
You can find service information for IBM systems and optional devices at
http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/.
