Twinaxial Console Hardware Environment - IBM System i Manual

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Twinaxial console hardware environment

Learn how the twinaxial console operates in relation to the server, i5/OS, the Hardware Management
Console (HMC), and the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI).
The twinaxial console is used to manage only i5/OS and its resources. The HMC or the ASMI is used to
configure, manage, and repair server hardware.
Note: If you plan to connect a twinaxial console to a POWER6 server, you must have an HMC.
Twinaxial console without an HMC
When there is no HMC, use the twinaxial console to manage i5/OS and its resources. Use the ASMI to
configure, manage, and maintain server hardware.
Figure 1 shows a twinaxial console, server, and the ASMI in this environment. In this example, the
twinaxial console is directly connected to i5/OS over a twinaxial cable. The ASMI is accessed through a
PC (with a browser) that is directly connected to the service processor over an Ethernet connection.
Figure 1. The twinaxial console in a hardware configuration without an HMC
For information about the ASMI, see Accessing the ASMI and Managing your server using the Advanced
System Management Interface.
Twinaxial console with an HMC
When there is an HMC, you can use the HMC to manage server firmware, logical partitions, and
Capacity on Demand. You can also use the 5250 emulation function on the HMC to communicate with
the operating systems. In this configuration, you can choose to use a twinaxial console instead of the
HMC 5250 emulator to manage an i5/OS logical partition.
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System i: Managing the twinaxial console