Maarten Slegtenhorst wrote:
I was asked by a customer if there is a standard IBM mainframe power
switch lock.
I checked and there is no such lock. I wonder how do you protect your
mainframe
power switches other then access control to the computer room.
I agree with Kees. A lock would be contradictory to the purpose of the
switch.
Does the customer also want a lock on the main 'computer floor emergency
power off' switch?
Access to the computer floor should be restricted and people who enter
should be registered and be knowledgeable enough to know not to touch
the switch unless it's an emergency.
And if there is an emergency, e.g. someone is being electrocuted, you
don't want a procedure to request a key from someone outside the
computerfloor.
I'm sure one of the main reasons we have a computer room EPO switch is
that either the State or Federal Electrical Codes or the Building Codes
require such, also requiring that they be positioned where the Operators
can activate it as they are running out of the room. As picky as those
codes are, surely any locking mechanism that would make the switch
potentially unusable in an emergency situation would be a violation of
that same Code. We have our EPO switches covered with a protective,
unlocked box and restrict access to the computer room. Any critical
devices with individual power switches at levels where they could be hit
by accident also get some kind of appropriate protective cover.
At one time most IBM frames had their own EPO switch. These frequently
did have a locking mechanism, not to prevent accidental power-off but to
require a CE in order to reset the EPO switch for power on, on the
assumption that some damage might have been done by bypassing normal
power-down sequencing. But, it was also not uncommon in those days for
the CE's to disable the locking mechanism as an unnecessary nuisance
once it was discovered that an occasional accidental use of the EPO
rarely did cause any obvious damage and the only repair action typically
needed was to reset the switch.
Someone clueless enough to raise a protective switch cover out of
ignorant curiosity and press an EPO switch just for the heck of it could
cause major disruption in a computer room in many other ways as well. It
only makes sense to guard switches against accidental acts of stupidity.
Deliberately stupid people can always find a way to disrupt if given
enough opportunity. There is no substitute for restricted access to the
computer room and appropriate training.
--
Joel C. Ewing, Fort Smith, AR [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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