Learn how to use the HMC remote management and
service functions using your network.
The
HMC supports
the following types of logical communications:
- HMC to
managed system
- Used to perform most of the hardware management functions, in
which HMC issues
control function requests through the service processor of the managed
system. The connection between the HMC and the service processor is
sometimes referred to as the service network. This connection
is required for managed system management.
- HMC to
logical partition
- Used to collect platform-related information (hardware error events,
hardware inventory) from the operating systems running in the logical
partitions, as well as to coordinate certain platform activities (dynamic
LPAR, concurrent repair) with those operating systems. If you want
to use service and error notification features, you must create this
connection.
- HMC to
remote users
- Provides remote users with access to HMC functions. Remote users
can access the HMC in
the following ways:
- By using the Web browser to access all the HMC GUI functions remotely
- By using Secure Socket Shell (SSH) to access the HMC command line functions
remotely
- HMC to
service and support
- Used to transmit data, such as hardware error reports, inventory
data, and microcode updates, to and from your service provider. You
can use this communications path to make automatic service calls.
Your HMC can support up to four separate physical Ethernet interfaces,
depending on the model. The stand-alone version of the HMC supports
only three HMC interfaces, using one integrated Ethernet adapter and
up to two plug-in adapters. Use each of these interfaces in the following
ways:
- One or more network interfaces can be used exclusively
for HMC-to-managed
system communications, which means that only the HMC and service processors
of the managed systems are on that network. Even though the network
interfaces into the service processors are encrypted for the Secure
Sockets Layer (SSL) Protocol and password-protected, having a separate
dedicated network can provide a higher level of security for these
interfaces.
- An open network interface would typically be used for the network
connection between the HMC and
the logical partitions on the managed systems, for the HMC-to-logical partition
communications. You can also use this open network interface to manage
the HMC remotely.
- Optionally, you can use a third interface to connect to logical
partitions and manage the HMC remotely. This interface can also be
used as a separate HMC connection
to different groups of logical partitions. For example, you might
want to have an administrative LAN that is separate from the LAN on
which all the usual business transactions are running. Remote administrators
could access HMCs
and other managed units using this method. Sometimes the logical partitions
are in different network security domains, perhaps behind a firewall,
and you might want to have different HMC network connections
into each of those two domains.
Web browser requirements for HMC
The Hardware
Management Console (HMC) is supported by Microsoft Internet Explorer
(IE) version 6.0 and 7.0, Firefox version 1.5.0.7 and 2.0.
If
your browser is configured to use an Internet proxy, a local IP addresses
should be included in the exception list. Consult your network administrator
for more information on the exception list. If you still need to use
the proxy to get to the HMC, enable Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections
under the Advanced tab in your Internet Options window.
Note: For
Firefox version 2.0, ensure that you enable the JavaScript options
to raise or lower windows and move or resize existing windows. This
feature allows you to switch easily between HMC tasks. Perform the
steps to enable the Javascript options:
- Select Tools and Click Options
- Select Content and Click Advanced
- Select Move or resize existing windows and Raise or lower windows
- Click OK
Session cookies need to be enabled in order
for ASMI to work when connected to HMC remotely. The asm proxy code
saves session information and uses it. Follow the steps to enable
the session cookies.
Enabling session cookies in Internet
Explorer.
- Select Tools and Click Internet Options
- Select Privacy and Click Advanced
- Ensure that the Always allow session cookies is checked. If not,
select the Override automatic cookie handling and select Always allow
session cookies.
- Select Prompt under First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies
- Click OK.
Enabling session cookies in Firefox.
- Select Tools and click Options
- Click Cookies
- Select Allow sites to set cookies.
- Select Exceptions and add HMC.
- Click OK.
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