Types of HMC network connections
Learn how to use the HMC remote management and service functions by using your network.
- 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 that are running on logical partitions, and 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 BMC
- Note: The baseboard management controller (BMC) connection is applicable only to HMC model 7063-CR1.Used to perform service and maintenance tasks. The BMC connection is used to load and maintain the HMC firmware on the system. This connection is required for access to the BMC on the HMC.
- 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, by 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 can access the HMC and other managed units by 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) version 8.7.0 is supported by Google Chrome version 57, Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) version 11.0, Mozilla Firefox versions 45 and 52 Extended Support Release (ESR), and Safari version 10.1.
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.
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.
- 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.
- Click Settings and then click Advanced.
- From the Privacy and security section, click Content settings.
- Click Cookies. Enable Allow sites to save and read cookie data.
- Exit from the settings menu.
- Select Tools and click Options.
- Click Cookies.
- Select Allow sites to set cookies.
- Select Exceptions and add HMC.
- Click OK.
- Click Safari and then click Preferences.
- Click Privacy.
- Click Cookies. Enable Allow sites to save and read cookie data.
- Set the option Block cookies to Never.
- Exit from the preferences menu.