Setting up AIX or Linux to use a management console to connect to service and support

Learn how to create a service connection to send service and support information from AIX® or Linux logical partitions and servers by using a management console.

Perform or verify steps 1 - 13 to set up connectivity for AIX or Linux logical partitions or servers using a management console.
Parent topic: Setting up your server to connect to service and support

Step 1. Before you begin

This procedure contains the complete list of steps that are needed to set up connectivity to service and support. Some of these steps might already have been completed during the initial server setup. If so, you can use this procedure to verify that the steps were completed correctly.

In this information, an Internet connection is defined as access to the Internet from a logical partition, server, or a management console by direct or indirect access. Indirect means that you are behind a network address translation (NAT) firewall. Direct means that you have a globally routable address without an intervening firewall, which would block the ports that are needed for communication to service and support.

Step 2. Decide on your connectivity method

You can use different types of network connections to connect your HMC to managed systems. For more information about how to configure the HMC to connect to a network, see Configuring the HMC. For more information about using the HMC on a network, see HMC network connections.

Step 3. Ensure that your physical networking is set up correctly

The underlying framework of your service environment is networking. The following networking connections are required for you to be able to take advantage of electronic services, such as reporting hardware problems and other server information and downloading updates:

  • Between the service processor and the management console
  • Between the management console and the server (AIX or Linux)
  • Between your site and service and support
  1. Verify the physical connection between the service processor and the management console.

    The service processor is part of your platform hardware, and it monitors hardware attributes and conditions on your server. The service processor is controlled by server firmware, and it does not require an operating system to perform its tasks. The connection to the service processor is recommended for all servers, whether or not you have logical partitions. This connection is represented in the following figure.

    Figure 1. The Ethernet connection between your management console and the service processor on your server

    The Ethernet connection between your management console and the service processor on your server

  2. Verify the physical connection between the management console and the server (AIX or Linux).

    This connection allows your server to communicate with your management console.

    How you set up this connection depends on your configuration:
    • If your server is in its manufacturing default configuration, you will make this connection when you set up your server.
    • If your server has multiple logical partitions, you must ensure that your management console can communicate with each logical partition and that the logical partitions can communicate with each other. You will set up these connections as you create your logical partitions.
    You can use either of the following methods:
    Note: Both of the following networking methods require basic TCP/IP configuration on your logical partitions. For instructions about how to configure TCP/IP, see your operating system documentation.
    • Have an Ethernet adapter for one logical partition, most likely your service partition, and then use virtual Ethernet to enable the logical partitions to communicate with each other and with the management console. This option is the preferred option because it requires that you have only one physical adapter in the system. The following figure shows this configuration.
      Figure 2. The Virtual Ethernet connection between your logical partitions and the physical Ethernet connection between your service partition and the HMC

      The Virtual Ethernet connection between your logical partitions and the physical Ethernet connection between your service partition and the management console

    • Have a LAN adapter for each logical partition, and then have a physical connection between each logical partition and the management console. This option requires that you have a router and a physical LAN adapter for each logical partition. The following figure shows this configuration.
      Figure 3. The physical Ethernet connections between your logical partitions and your management console through a router

      The physical Ethernet connections between your logical partitions and your management console through a router

  3. Verify the physical connection from your site to service and support.
    This connection enables you to report hardware problems and other server information to service and support. It also enables you to install updates. This connection is represented in the following illustration:
    Figure 4. This diagram shows the connection between service and support and a company that has a server and a management console.

    This diagram shows the connection between service and support and a company that has a server and a management console.

Step 4. Obtain or verify an IBM ID

You will need an IBM® ID to view information that has been reported to IBM through Electronic Service Agent™.

  1. Go to the My IBM Profile website.
  2. Verify that you are registered.
    • If you are registered, Welcome back will be displayed on the website. Or, you can select Sign in and see if your email address is recognized.
    • If you are not registered, select Register and fill out the registration form. Create an IBM ID for each of the people you want to have access to the information that Electronic Service Agent reports to IBM. You must associate these accounts with a server, usually your central server. (You can add other servers later.) The people for whom you create IDs must have system administrator authority on all registered servers.
  3. Record your IBM ID (the email address that you registered). You will need the ID when you verify the management console service settings.
  4. Verify the management console service settings.

Step 5. Verify the HMC service settings

To verify that the HMC service settings are set up correctly, use the Guided Setup wizard.
Note: If you have not set up your server, do that now.
  1. Access the Guided Setup wizard by using the HMC interface. Choose one of the following navigation options depending on the interface type of the HMC:
    • If you are using an HMC Classic or HMC Enhanced interface, complete the following steps:
      1. In the navigation pane, click HMC Management.
      2. In the content pane, under Operations, click Launch Guided Setup Wizard.
      The Guided Setup wizard guides you through the tasks that are required to set up your HMC, including the tasks that are required to set up your service environment.
    • If you are using an HMC Enhanced+ interface, complete the following steps:
      1. In the navigation area, click the HMC Management icon HMC Management, and then click Console Settings.
      2. In the content pane, click Launch Guided Setup Wizard.
      The Guided Setup wizard guides you through the tasks that are required to set up your HMC, including the tasks that are required to set up your service environment.
  2. For HMC, click Next to skip the tasks that are not specific to setting up service, including:
    • Setting the date and time
    • Changing passwords for the hscroot and root user IDs
    • Creating user IDs and passwords for new users and setting their authorities
    • Specifying network settings
  3. At the end of the Guided Setup wizard, launch the Electronic Service Agent Setup wizard. Ensure that the following service tasks are completed correctly:
    1. Specify customer contact information for service-related activities:
      • Contact name
      • Company name
      • Administrator name
      • Email address
      • Telephone numbers
      • Information regarding the location of the HMC
      • Customer Number
    2. Configure connectivity for service-related activities:
      • Internet VPN
        Note: This function is not available for HMC version 8.830.0 and later.

        When configuring the HMC network settings for connecting by using direct or indirect Internet, the HMC must be configured with a default gateway to access the Internet.

        Choose one of the following navigation options depending on the interface type of the HMC:
        • If you are using an HMC Classic or HMC Enhanced interface, complete the following steps:
          1. In the navigation area, click HMC Management.
          2. In the content pane, under Operations section, click Change Network Settings.
        • If you are using an HMC Enhanced+ interface, complete the following steps:
          1. In the navigation area, click the HMC Management icon HMC Management, and then click Console Settings
          2. In the content pane, under Network Settings section, click Change Network Settings.
        Ensure that the Default Gateway Information field lists a gateway address and that a selection is made in the Gateway device field (for example, Any).
      • Internet: The SSL option must be configured manually:
        Choose one of the following navigation options depending on the interface type of the HMC:
        • If you are using an HMC Classic or HMC Enhanced interface, complete the following steps:
          1. In the navigation area, click Service Management.
          2. In the content pane, under Connectivity, click Manage Outbound Connectivity.
          3. In the Local Console Configuration area, click Configure.
          4. Click the Internet tab.
        • If you are using an HMC Enhanced+ interface, complete the following steps:
          1. In the navigation area, click the Serviceability icon Serviceability, and then click Service Management.
          2. In the content pane, under Connectivity section, click Manage Outbound Connectivity.
          3. In the Local Console Configuration area, click Configure.
          4. Click the Internet tab.
      • Dial-up connection from the local HMC
        Note: This function is not available for HMC version 8.830.0 and later.
      • Connecting through other systems or logical partitions
        Note: This function is not available for HMC version 8.830.0 and later.
    3. Configure the network settings.
      • For direct or indirect Internet:
        • HMC host name
        • Domain name
        • Description of HMC
      • For a dial-up modem connection:
        Note: This function is not available for HMC version 8.830.0 and later.
        • Dial prefix, if applicable
        • Modem configuration:
          • Dial type
          • Dial prefix, if applicable
        • Telephone number
    4. Authorize two users for Electronic Service Agent by entering the ID (the email address that you registered with the My Profile website at https://www.ibm.com/account/profile.
      Note: You will be able to authorize more users later.
    5. Add email addresses for those you want to be notified when problem events occur.
  4. Test the connection.
    Choose one of the following navigation options depending on the interface type of the HMC:
    • If you are using an HMC Classic or HMC Enhanced interface, complete the following steps:
      1. In the navigation area, click Service Management.
      2. In the content pane, under Connectivity section, click Manage Outbound Connectivity.
    • If you are using an HMC Enhanced+ interface, complete the following steps:
      1. In the navigation area, click the Serviceability icon Serviceability, and then click Service Management.
      2. In the content pane, under Connectivity section, click Manage Outbound Connectivity.
  5. Click the tab for the type of outbound connectivity that you chose for your HMC (Local Modem, Internet, Internet VPN, or Pass-Through Systems). For more information about these settings, see Choosing your connection method.
  6. Click Test.
  7. Choose from the following options:
  8. Ensure that your country or region is listed.
    Choose one of the following navigation options depending on the interface type of the HMC:
    • If you are using an HMC Classic or HMC Enhanced interface, complete the following steps:
      1. In the navigation area, click Service Management.
      2. In the content pane, under Connectivity section, click Manage Customer Information.
    • If you are using an HMC Enhanced+ interface, complete the following steps:
      1. In the navigation area, click the Serviceability icon Serviceability, and then click Service Management.
      2. In the content pane, under Connectivity section, click Manage Customer Information.
  9. Choose from the following options:
    • If you have a dial-up connection, perform the following steps:
      Note: This function is not available for HMC version 8.830.0 and later.
      • Check the telephone line going into the HMC and the wall socket.
      • Check to make sure that you have the telephone number configured correctly, including predial information, such as dialing 9 to dial outside the network.
    • If you have an Internet VPN connection, perform the following steps:
      Note: This function is not available for HMC version 8.830.0 and later.
      • Ensure that the appropriate firewall rules have been added, if necessary.
      • Check that you have a default gateway set up on the HMC.
        Choose one of the following navigation options depending on the interface type of the HMC:
        • If you are using an HMC Classic or HMC Enhanced interface, complete the following steps:
          1. In the navigation area, click HMC Management.
          2. In the content pane, under Operations section, click Change Network Settings.
        • If you are using an HMC Enhanced+ interface, complete the following steps:
          1. In the navigation area, click the HMC Management icon HMC Management, and then click Console Settings
          2. In the content pane, under Network Settings section, click Change Network Settings.
        Ensure that the Default Gateway Information field has a Gateway address listed and a selection is made in the Gateway device field (for example, Any).

Step 6. Set up and configure your logical partitions

For details, see Logical partitioning.

Step 7. Install the operating systems on your server or logical partitions

For details, see Installing operating systems for POWER8® processor- based systems.

Step 8. Configure your TCP/IP network

For instructions, see the operating system documentation.

Step 9. Activate TCP/IP on your server or logical partitions

TCP/IP starts automatically if the network adapter is recognized and can communicate with the network when the AIX or Linux operating system is started.

Step 10. Set up AIX or Linux to connect to service and support

If you have a management console, you do not need to obtain and configure Electronic Service Agent for AIX or Linux. AIX or Linux inventory and hardware-problem information (or report) are sent through the management console. However, you might want to set up Electronic Service Agent on the AIX or Linux operating system to contact the software service organization.

For information about Electronic Service Agent in the AIX environment, see IBM Electronic Service Agent.

For information about Electronic Service Agent in the Linux environment, see IBM Electronic Service Agent.

Step 11. Configure the service processor

You might use this type of service connection if your server is not available because the service processor does not require an operating system to perform its tasks.

To set up your service processor to connect to service and support, you need to attach a modem to the system port on your server. In addition, you need to use the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI) menus to perform several configuration steps.

  1. On the ASMI Welcome pane, specify your user ID and password, and click Log In.
    Note: To perform these tasks, you must have an authority level of either administrator or service provider.
  2. In the navigation pane, expand System Service Aids.
  3. To configure the service processor system port, follow these steps:
    1. Click Serial Port Setup.
    2. Modify the appropriate fields in the S1 (used with the call-home feature) and S2 (used with the call-in feature) sections.
    3. Click Save settings to save the setting changes.
  4. To configure the modem, follow these steps:
    1. Click Modem Configuration.
    2. Modify the appropriate fields in the S1 and S2 sections.
    3. Click Save settings.
  5. To configure the call-home and call-in policy, follow these steps:
    1. Click Call-in/Call-home.
    2. Enter the desired text into the specified fields.
    3. Click Save settings to save changes.
  6. To test the call-home policy, follow these steps:
    1. Click Call-Home Test.
    2. Click Initiate call-home test. A test of the call-home system is performed as specified by the current port and modem selections.

Step 12. Test the connection to service and support

If you use an HMC to connect to service and support, follow these steps to test the connection for the HMC:
Choose one of the following navigation options depending on the interface type of the HMC:
  • If you are using an HMC Classic or HMC Enhanced interface, complete the following steps:
    1. In the navigation area, click Service Management > Create Serviceable Event.
    2. Click Test problem reporting.
    3. Click Request Service. A message is displayed when the service request is sent.
  • If you are using an HMC Enhanced+ interface, complete the following steps:
    1. In the navigation area, click the Serviceability icon Serviceability, and then click Service Management.
    2. In the content pane, under Serviceability section, click Create Serviceable Event.
    3. Click Test problem reporting.
    4. Click Request Service. A message is displayed when the service request is sent.

Step 13. View the server information that was reported

You can use the Internet to view details of the system you have enabled, and see the data collected by Electronic Service Agent. To use the advanced features and receive the full benefits of Electronic Service Agent, you must enter an IBM Registration ID (IBM ID). The first IBM ID entered will have Administrator authority and is able to authorize additional users on the website. The second IBM ID is available as a backup for the Administrator.

  1. Go to the Electronic Service Agent Web site.
  2. Click Sign in (in the upper-right corner).
  3. Type the IBM ID and password.
  4. Choose the following options from the navigation bar:
    • To view your server information, click My systems.
    • To search technical support using your server information to improve the search results, click Premium Search.
      Note: In some cases, the Premium Search feature is available only while your server is under warranty or afterward through a service contract.
    • To view information related to your servers and interests, click My messages.
  5. Enter the requested information.


Last updated: Thu, October 15, 2020