IBM i Series Handbook

Also see for i Series: Cabling guide User guide Manual TCP/IP Configuration and Reference Handbook

Contents

intended purposes. It is recommended that you install only one console-capable adapter that matchesyour configurations for a single IOP. This situation also will affect asynchronous adapters used by alocal console directly attached to the system.v The term alternate console is referring to a twinaxial console type located in another IOP tagged as thealternate console. Operations Console and HMC type consoles do not use resources tagged as thealternate console.Note: Tagging the same IOP as both the primary console and the alternate console may result in theinability to select a console. If you have a twinaxial adapter in the same IOP as your primaryconsole’s adapter, consider the twinaxial adapter to be a backup console, not an alternateconsole. You only have to change the console type to take advantage of the twinaxial adapter forthe console.Related reference“Takeover or recovery of an Operations Console connection” on page 40You can use these functions to take control of another console device.“Planning considerations for your backup console”Most system plans include a level of redundancy to allow for the event of hardware failures; however,many people do not consider the console in their plans. To recover quickly from an unexpected loss ofyour console, you need to plan for a backup console.Planning considerations for your backup console:Most system plans include a level of redundancy to allow for the event of hardware failures; however,many people do not consider the console in their plans. To recover quickly from an unexpected loss ofyour console, you need to plan for a backup console.Considerations for a backup consolev The adapter location is fixed, or at least limited, for independent systems or primary partitions. Basedon your system’s hardware requirements, you might have limited choices of console types. Try toaccommodate at least one additional console type, if possible.v Consider using the take over and recovery option as part of your backup console strategy. However,the hardware used for the new console type must exist and be available at the time of recovery.v If you are working in a partitioned environment, consider:– In a logical partition environment, the term alternate console refers to the twinaxial console typelocated in another input/output processor (IOP) that is tagged as the alternate console. If a failure ofthe primary console (twinaxial only) is detected, the system automatically tries the alternateconsole’s IOP. This function gives you another level of protection. Tagging a single IOP as both theprimary console and the alternate console can result in errors when selecting a console. Furtherisolation can be planned by placing the alternate console IOP on a different bus so that failures ofthe primary console’s bus cannot prevent a console from being available.– Models 8xx are tagged for a console type only at the IOP level. Tagging an IOP that has two similarconsole adapters reporting to it (for example, two 2849s or two 2771s) for the same IOP cansometimes make it difficult to determine, in advance, which adapter will be used for the console.When tagging the IOP, make sure that it only has one console-capable adapter per connectivity (forexample, only one 2849 and one 2771). Each adapter can support a different console type but onlyone adapter type should be present. The lowest addressed adapter on the bus is attempted first. Butif that adapter is slow in reporting to the system, another adapter might get selected instead, whentwo adapters of the same connectivity are present. Another example of this might be that the IOPhas both a 2838 and a 2849 Ethernet adapter reporting to it. They are different adapters but have thesame connectivity for the console.– Consider a shared resource environment in which you can allocate and deallocate a consolesupporting IOP to a partition on a part-time basis. Many work environments rarely need a consoledevice on a full-time basis and you can reduce your initial cost of dedicated hardware byimplementing this concept.Operations Console 5||||||||||