Console device drivers

6.10 LPAR mode z/VM guest KVM guest

The console device drivers support terminal devices for basic Linux® control, for example, for booting Linux, for troubleshooting, and for displaying Linux kernel messages.

Linux in LPAR mode

The only interface to a Linux instance in an LPAR before the boot process is completed is the Hardware Management Console (HMC), see Figure 1. After the boot process has completed, you typically use a network connection to access Linux through a user login, for example, in an SSH session. The possible connections depend on the configuration of your particular Linux instance.

Figure 1. Hardware Management Console
Screen capture of the Hardware Management Console.

Linux on z/VM

With Linux on z/VM®, you typically use a 3270 terminal or terminal emulator to log in to z/VM first. From the 3270 terminal, you IPL the Linux boot device. After the boot process has completed, you typically use a network connection to access Linux through a user login rather than a 3270 terminal.

Linux on KVM

You initiate the boot process for Linux as a KVM guest on IBM® Z when you start the KVM virtual server through a virsh command on the KVM host. The --console of the virsh start command option gives you access to a terminal that displays the kernel messages.

After the boot process has completed, a guest is usually accessed through a user login, for example, in an SSH session. The possible connections depend on the configuration of your particular Linux instance.