IBM System i Manual page 13

The following information pertains to console takeover and recovery:
In V5R4 and later releases, there is a special set of functions known as console take over and recovery,
that allows a LAN-connected Operations Console to take control from another console device. Use the
following information to help determine what console devices are best for your work environment and
how to deploy these devices to take advantage of the new functions.
v Takeover is the process used for a LAN-connected console device to take control from the current
console device. The user signed on to the PC that wishes to take control requires special authority and
is initiating the takeover from a new menu. This takeover function is not used for directly attached
consoles.
v Recovery is the process of regaining control of the job running on the console after a problem with the
console was encountered. The recovery process may be to the same console device or a different
console device and may be facilitated by additional work to enable a device using a different
connectivity. The exception is twinaxial console which does not use the same type of 5250 emulation
and thus cannot recover the console without data loss.
When the takeover option is enabled and the device is properly connected, each console capable device
running 5250 emulation, regardless of connectivity, will be presented a screen of data regardless of
whether or not it is the active console. In V5R3 and later releases, more than one device will have data on
the screen after the console has been established. There will be no more blank console screens showing
Disconnected when initially connecting a device. The new function now allows the job at the console to
be transferred to another device without causing loss of data.
This function is accomplished by suspending the data stream to a console that loses a connection or is
being taken over, save further data and then send that data to the next device to become the console,
even if the device is the same former console. Recoverability is essentially taking over the console from
the same or different qualified device regardless of what the former console was doing.
The following information pertains to independent and primary partitions:
v Console supporting hardware may be required to be located in specific slot locations, based on model.
v Multiple IOPs capable of supporting a console workstation can interfere with the selection of the
desired LAN adapter. Consider the following:
– Having a second IOP on the bus before your intended console adapter card, when the first IOP
contains a twinaxial adapter card, may fail to provide a LAN-connected console. For example, a
model 890 uses eligible card locations C04, and C06 through C10 and if an IOP were placed in C08
and a twinaxial adapter preceded this IOP on the bus then the LAN adapter card located at C09 or
C10 will fail to provide a LAN-connected console. The LAN adapter card must be in a location
preceding the second IOP, such as C06 or C07.
– Typically, the card location used for Operations Console directly attached configurations, commonly
referred to as the Electronic Customer Support (ECS) slot, is located close to the beginning of the
bus. When the card location is a low number, for example C02, then C03 is further from the
beginning of the bus than C02. When the card location is a high number, for example C07, then C06
is further from the beginning of the bus than C07. There may be exceptions to this numbering
scheme based on specific models and expansion units. Contact your service representative if you
have questions about the placement of the ECS.
The following information pertains to a multi-partitioned environment:
v If you plan to use Operations Console as your primary console or as a backup console, you must tag
the IOP to support the primary console and Electronic Customer Support (slot), even if you do not
plan to use Electronic Customer Support. For example, if you are planning to use Operations Console
on a direct connection, you must tag an IOP with the console tag and the ECS tag. These steps are also
necessary if you are planning to use Operations Console with a LAN connection.
v When more than one console adapter is available for a single IOP, the adapter with the lowest bus
address will be chosen for use by Operations Console. For example, you tag an IOP that has two LAN
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Operations Console