Cabling the server and accessing Operations Console

You can use Operations Console to manage a server that is running the IBM® i operating system whether you have logical partitions or not. However, you must first use a different console to create the logical partitions.

Operations Console is a component of IBM i Access for Windows. You can install the complete product or select any of the console components - Operations Console support and the 5250 emulator support.

To cable the server and access the Operations Console, complete the following steps:
  1. Ensure that your server is powered off.
  2. Obtain a static IP address that is assigned to the LAN console adapter on the server for use by the console, including information about the IP, subnet mask, and default gateway.
  3. Select a unique host name and register the host name and the IP address in your site's Domain Name System (DNS).
    Note: This IP address is used by the Operations Console and different from the IP address that is used to connect a normal Telnet session. The IP address must not be in use by another server. Ping the IP address to verify that no other device is using the IP address.
To set up the Operations Console, complete the following steps:
  1. Install IBM i Access for Windows and the latest service pack.
    Note: For information about the list of Microsoft Windows operating systems that are supported for Operations Console LAN, see IBM i Access.
    1. Log on to the system as a local administrator.
    2. Ensure that you install the latest IBM i Access service pack. The website to download the latest service pack for IBM i Access can be found at IBM i Access.
  2. Cable the PC to server. Plug a Cat 5e or Cat 6 (recommended) Ethernet cable from the PC directly into a valid Ethernet adapter port. To determine the server adapter port that you must use, refer to the following table:
    Table 1. Server Operations Console LAN ports
    Server Operations Console - LAN port Notes
    8286-41A C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11 and C12
    • Use local macro or console service function (65+21) + Bn for card selection.
    • Slots C2-C5 do not exist on this system.
    • The slot number can be larger than 10. When the slot number is above 9, an alpha character is used. For example, B1 B2 ... B8, B9, then changes to BA, BB, and BC.
    Table 2. Server Operations Console LAN ports
    Server Operations Console - LAN port Notes
    8286-42A C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, and C12
    • Use local macro or console service function (65+21) + Bn for card selection.
    • Slots C2-C5 do not exist on this system.
    • The slot number can be larger than 10. When the slot number is above 9, an alpha character is used. For example, B1 B2 ... B8, B9, then changes to BA, BB, and BC.
    Note: Make the initial connection with the PC directly cabled to the server. The PC and server can be recabled to the network after the initial connection is made. A cross-over cable is not needed. For information, see Adapter requirements .
  3. Configure the PC networking. To configure the PC networking, complete the following steps:
    1. Disable any additional connections listed, except the local area connection.
    2. Record current TCP/IP settings:
      1. Access the adapter properties. Select Internet Protocol, then click Properties.
      2. Record the current settings, including IP address, subnet mask, and gateway, if applicable.
    3. Change the TCP/IP settings.
      Note: Some versions of IBM i require that the gateway address respond to pings before the console LAN adapter activates.
  4. To configure the PC with the default gateway IP address complete the following steps:
    1. Set the IP address to the opcon LAN adapter gateway.
    2. Set the subnet mask to the opcon LAN adapter subnet.
    3. Set the default gateway to the opcon LAN adapter primary router, or gateway address. This address is the same address as the IP address.
  5. To disable the PC firewall, complete the following steps.
    Note: All PC firewalls must be disabled for the initial connection.
    1. In the Windows control panel, click Firewall settings and disable the firewall.
    2. In the Windows control panel, click Security center. Check for a firewall and, if present, disable it.
    3. Scan all tasks that are running on the PC for any other software firewalls and disable the firewall.
  6. To configure the Operations Console on your system, complete the following steps:
    1. Start Operations Console. To start the Operations Console, select Start > All Programs > IBM iSeries > Access > Operations Console.
    2. Start the Configuration Wizard. If the Operations Console is started for the first time, the connection wizard starts automatically. If it does not start automatically, click Connection > New Connection to manually start the wizard. Read the notifications, and click Next.
    3. Select the local console on a network. Click Next.
    4. Specify a service host name and IP address by completing the following types:
      1. Enter a name for your session. The name must be one of the following names:
        • A valid host name that was registered in the site Domain Name Service (DNS) for the console IP address.
        • A unique name that is not currently registered in the DNS for any other IP address.
      2. If you are using IBM i V6R1, or later, press the Tab key. The Service TCP/IP Address field is enabled.
      3. Specify the service TCP/IP address. Enter the LAN console adapter IP address.
      4. Click Next.
    5. Specify the LAN console interface information.
      1. In the Service TCP/IP Address field, type the IP address that you recorded.
      2. In the Service Subnet Mask field, type the subnet mask that you recorded.
      3. In the Service gateway address field, type the default gateway that you recorded.
      4. The system serial number must match the tag on the server. It must be 7 characters long, without a dash.
      5. Set the Target partition to 1.
      6. Click Next.
    6. Specify the device ID. If you are prompted to specify a service tools device ID, enter QCONSOLE. Click Next.
    7. Click Next > Finish. Your session is now ready to connect. Double-click the session name to start the connection.
  7. Power on the server by completing the following steps:
    1. Set the manual initial program load (IPL) by completing the following steps:
      1. Locate the server's control panel. Look for the blue tab on the front of the server. Push it to the side, and pull the control panel out slowly.
      2. Press the Up arrow key until you see 02, and press Enter.
      3. Press Enter again. A < (less than symbol) appears next to N.
      4. Press the Up Arrow key. The N changes to an M.
      5. Press Enter.
      6. Press Enter twice. A 02 is displayed on the control panel.
    2. After you have the server set to a manual IPL, push the white power button to power on the server.
    Note: You must watch the control panel while the system is trying to power on. During the IPL, the system displays C6004031 indicating that it is searching for console. The system might take 20 - 30 minutes to complete this action. If A6005008 is displayed, this means that no console is available. This might indicate that the system is not preinstalled with IBM i and you must set the console type to LAN.
  8. Perform this step if the system is not preinstalled with IBM i. For setting the console type to LAN, complete the following steps:
    1. Set the control panel to manual mode. If the system is in Normal mode (function 01 shows 01 B N), select function 02 on the control panel and press Enter.
    2. Enable control panel functions by completing the following steps:
      1. Select function 25 on the control panel and press Enter. The return code must be 00.
      2. Select function 26 on the control panel and press Enter.
        Note: If you see a FF return code, go back to function 25 and press Enter, then return to function 26 and press Enter.
    3. Check your current setting(s). Use console service functions (65+21+11) to check the current setting.
      • A600 500A = No console defined
      • A601 500A = Twinax console
      • A602 500A = Direct cable console
      • A603 500A = LAN console
      • A604 500A = HMC console
      If the system reference code (SRC) = A603500A, go to step 8e. For all others SRCs, continue with the next step.
    4. Set console type to LAN.
      1. Use the 65+21+11 sequences until it returns A603500B. This indicates that the console type will be changed to LAN.
      2. Use the 21+11 sequences, if it returns A6C3500C. This indicates that settings have been saved successfully. If not, repeat function 11 until it returns A6C3500C.
    5. Clear the adapter configuration from the profile by completing the following steps:
      1. Use the 65+21+11 sequences until it returns A6C3500B. This indicates that the adapter configuration will be cleared.
      2. Use the 21+11 sequences, if it returns A6C3500C. This indicates that settings have been saved successfully. If not, repeat function 11 until it returns A6C3500C.
    6. Enable and set the console adapter location. Select the console adapter location - external PCI card.
      1. Use the 65-21+11 sequences until it returns A6E2500B. Use the 21+11 sequence, if it returns A6E2500C. This indicates that the add-on adapter has been enabled and the settings have been saved successfully. If not, repeat function 11 until it returns A6E2500C.
      2. Use the 65-21+11 sequences until it returns A6D1500B. Use the 21+11 sequence, if it returns A6D1500C. This indicates that the internal embedded port has been disabled and the settings have been saved successfully. If not, repeat function 11 until it returns A6D1500C.
      3. Use the 65-21+11 sequences until it returns A6Bn500B. This indicates that the LAN Adapter will be enabled in location Cn, where n= the location code of the Console adapter location. Use the 21+11 sequence, if it returns A6Bn500C the settings have been saved successfully.
      Table 3. Console settings and functions
      Console Setting Function
      E2 Enable add-on adapter (OPSCONSOLE ENBEXTLAN)
      D1 Disable embedded port (OPSCONSOLE DISINTLAN)
      Bn

      Enable LAN adapter in slot Cn (OPSCONSOLE ENBLSLOT n)

      Note: This setting requires that the embedded (internal) LAN flag is turned off and the external flag is turned on. Otherwise, you will not see this series.
      Notes:
      1. Use the earlier recorded slot number to determine which Bn function must be selected. For example, if you are using the I/O adapter in slot C2, you can select console setting B2 to configure the location of the adapter.
      2. The Bn function might be displayed starting with the first number of the search order numerically. For example, if the search order is C4,C3,C1, the Bn numbers might display 4 instead of a lower number. This function is not applicable to all models.
      3. If A60x500D is displayed, function has timed out because the function has been entered slowly. You have a minute to complete a 65-21-11 sequence. After you start, select the required settings with no pauses.
  9. Restart the console. Use the 65+21+11 sequences until the console displays A6A3500B. This indicates that the console has been restarted. The system searches for a console resource based on the current configuration (E1/E2, D1/D2, Bn) and the resource is activated. Use the 21+11 sequences. If the console displays A6A3500C, a console search and activate operation has been requested. If the console displays A6A3500C, repeat function 11 until the console displays A603500C.
  10. Connect the console by completing the following steps:
    1. Monitor the console status. After the status changes to Pending Authorization, the Service Tools Sign-On window opens.
      Note: The Service Tools Sign-On window might open behind the Operations Console window. Resize or move the Operations Console window to locate the Service Tools Sign-On window.
    2. Sign on to the Service Tools application. To sign on to the Service Tools application, enter 11111111 for the user ID and password.
    3. Load the initial program and configure the system.
    4. If your session does not connect, wait for the power-on process to stop on an attention or IPL failure system reference code (SRC), such as A6005008 or B2xxxx. If the power-on stops at A6005008, call your IBM service provider for assistance.
    Note: You must configure and start an IBM i TCP interface on a second port (T2, T3, T4) before moving the console. This action ensures that there is an alternative method to access the server.
    Reset the PC to its original TCP/IP settings.
    Note: The PC IP configuration must be reset before cabling the PC back to the network because the PC is configured with the gateway IP address.

    The PC and server console port (T1) can now be recabled to the network.

Continue with Completing the server setup.

Parent topic: Determining which console to use


Last updated: Wed, June 07, 2017