You can create general boxes for purposes that are not covered by other HCM objects described in the previous sections of this chapter. Such general boxes can represent physical devices and their connections in your configuration that are not part of the logical definitions of an I/O configuration. For example, you can use general boxes for network devices or non-zSeries boxes and their connections. These objects or connections are stored in the HCM configuration file, but not in the associated IODF. The general boxes appear in the configuration diagram, so that you can have a complete view of the physical objects. Another purpose of general objects is to document the complete cabling of your devices in your configuration.
A general box is a container for resources. General boxes are organized like cabinets: one general box can contain several panels, and each panel can contain general box ports, ordered in rows and columns. You can organize your resources with general boxes according to your needs.