Considerations for a backup console

Many system plans include a level of redundancy to allow for hardware failures, but some do not consider the console in those plans.

Consider the following items when planning for a backup console.

Consider using the takeover and recovery function as part of your IBM® i backup console strategy. However, the hardware used for the Operations Console or twinaxial console must be installed prior to the recovery.
Alternate console refers to a twinaxial console resource tagged as the alternate console when the console is also a twinaxial console. An alternate console gives you an added layer of protection because if the system detects a failure of the primary console during an attended mode initial program load (IPL), it automatically tries the alternate console. Tagging the same resource as both the console and the alternate console can result in an inability to select a console at all. Consider specifying the alternate console by tagging an input/output adapter (IOA) on a different bus in case you develop a bus-related problem.
If your system is managed by a Hardware Management Console (HMC), you can tag a Host Ethernet Adapter logical port or an IOA as the console device.
On large multi-partitioned systems or high-availability systems, use Operations Console (LAN) as the system console for each system or logical partition. In the event of a console failure, you can switch to the HMC 5250 console without having to verify you have additional hardware in place. Most changes of a console to HMC are performed without the need for an IPL.