Working with devices

Most of the peripheral equipment attached to the IBM® i platform is considered a device. Every device in the system has a current status. From System i® Navigator, you can work with devices.

A device is a piece of equipment that is connected to your system. Most hardware, including internal processors, ports and adapters, drives, communications hardware, workstations, and printers, are considered devices. The operating system organizes these devices by their type, such as workstation or optical drive, and identifies specific devices by their resource name. For most internal devices, like processors, adapters, and ports, the operating system automatically assigns the resource name. For most external devices and some internal storage devices, the IBM i platform manages communication with the device through a device controller. Most devices managed through a controller have resource names defined by their device description. You can use the device type to learn its resource name, physical location, current status, and other information.

Every device in the system has a current status that describes whether it is turned on, and whether it is currently communicating with the system. Before a device can function, both this device and all devices connecting it to the system must be varied on (operational) and functioning. For example, if a communication line or network adapter is varied off, any device attached to the system through those devices cannot function.

Most devices have the following possible types of status.

Other types of status are possible for some specific device types, or to indicate a specific problem. For example, a workstation that is waiting for a user to sign on will have a status of Signon display, and a device that the operating system is unable to locate will have a status of Resource not detected.

Viewing and managing devices

On System i Navigator, you can display the current status, physical location, and configuration information for devices. To work with devices in System i Navigator, expand Configuration and Service and select Hardware. To display detailed information about the device, including its model, type and serial number, physical location in the system, and logical address, right-click the device and select Properties. Additionally, System i Navigator provides many functions for managing tape devices, disk units, and pools. See the online help in System i Navigator for more information.

To change the status or properties of a device, you must use the character-based interface and type go device from any command line.