IBM RS6000 Service Guide - Page 118

Location Codes This system unit uses Physical Location Codes in conjunction with AIX Location Codes to provide mapping of the failing field replaceable units. The location codes are produced by the system unit's firmware and AIX. Physical Location Codes Physical location codes provide a mapping of logical functions in a platform (or expansion sites for logical functions, such as connectors or ports) to their specific locations within the physical structure of the platform. Location Code Format The format for the location code is an alphanumeric string of variable length, consisting of a series of location identifiers, separated by the standard dash (-) or slash (/) character. The series is hierarchical; that is, each location identifier in the string is a physical child of the one preceding it. The - (dash) separator character represents a normal structural relationship where the child is a separate physical package and it plugs into (or is connected to) the parent. For example, P1-C1 is a CPU card (C1) plugged into a planar (P1), or P1-M1 is a memory card (M1) plugged into a planar (P1). The / (slash) separator character separates the base location code of a function from any extended location information. A group of logical devices can have the same base location code because they are all on the same physical package, but may require extended location information to describe the connectors they support. For example, P2/S1 describes the location of the serial port 1 controller and its connector (S1), which is located on planar P2 (its base location code), but the / indicates that further devices can be connected to it at the external S1 serial connector. The keyboard controller and its connector likewise have location code P2/K1, which means they have the same base location code (P2) as serial port 1, but a different external connector. In contrast, the location code P2-K1 actually points to the device connected to connector K1; that is, the keyboard. The location code P2/Z1 indicates an integrated SCSI controller which drives connector Z1, while location codes of P2-Z1-... point to the actual SCSI bus and devices. Each location identifier consists of one alpha prefix character that identifies a location type, and a decimal integer number (typically one or two digits) that identifies a specific instance of this location type. Certain location types may also support secondary sub-locations, which are indicated by appending a period (".") character and a sub-location instance number. 3-46 Service Guide