Cabling the server and accessing Operations Console

You can use Operations Console to manage a server that is running the IBM® i operating system even if you do not have logical partitions.

Before you begin

You can access the Operations Console via a LAN connection to IBM i by using IBM i Access Client Solutions .

To cable the server and to 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 so that the console can use it. Note the Internet Protocol (IP) address, subnet mask, and default gateway. Optionally, 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 stack on the IBM i interface and is 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 on a PC connected to a network to verify that no other device is using the IP address. You should not receive replies.
To set up the Operations Console, complete the following steps:
  1. Install on a network-connected personal computer.
    Note: To run IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) on a workstation, you must install Java. ACS is a Java-based program and Java is required to run ACS. For information about ACS Java requirements, see IBM i Access - ACS Getting Started
    Note: It is recommended that you log onto the PC as the local administrator. This ensures that you have all the privileges that you need to modify the PC and to start a console session. Also, ensure that you are running the latest version of ACS. For more information, see IBM i Access - Client Solutions 5733XJ1
  2. Cable the PC to a server. Plug a Cat 5e or Cat 6 (recommended) Ethernet cable to the PC and into a valid Ethernet adapter port. To determine the server adapter port that you must use, refer to the following table:
    Note: The T1 resource is required for console connectivity on any adapter. The T1 resource is either the top or far-right port depending on how you are viewing the system.
    Table 1. Server Operations Console LAN slots
    Server Operations Console - LAN slot
    9105-41B C7, C8, C9, C10, C11
    9105-22A, 9105-22B, 9105-42A, 9786-22H, or 9786-42H C0, C1, C2, C3, C4, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11
    Note: Make the initial connection with the PC that is directly cabled to the server. The PC and server can be re-cabled to the network after the initial connection is made and a static IP address has been assigned to the Operations Console port. A cross-over cable is not needed. For more information, see Adapter requirements
  3. Configure the PC network. To configure the PC network, complete the following steps:
    1. Open Windows Control Panel and access the adapter settings. If you are using Windows 10, select Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings.
    2. Disable any additional adapters other than the Local Area Connection.
    3. Right click the adapter and select Properties.
    4. Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and select Properties.
      Note: If you are returning the device to the network after you set up the Operations Console, record the IP information that is displayed.
    5. Select Obtain an IP address automatically. This ensures that the PC receives an IP address in the 169.254.x.x range.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
      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: During the IPL, the system displays C6004031 on the control panel, which indicates that the system is searching for an Operations Console. The system might take 20 - 30 minutes to complete this action. If A6005008 is displayed on the control panel, this means that no Operations Console is available. This might indicate that the system is not preinstalled with IBM i and you must set the console type to LAN.
  6. Perform this step if the system is not preinstalled with IBM i. For setting the console type to LAN, complete the following steps:
    1. Enable the 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.
    2. Check your current setting(s). Use console service functions (65+21+11) to check the current setting.
      • A600 500A = No console defined
      • A603 500A = LAN console
      • A604 500A = HMC console
      If the system reference code (SRC) = A603500A, skip to step 7. For all others SRCs, continue with the next step.
    3. Set console type to LAN.

      For release 7.4 and earlier, complete the following steps.

      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. This performs the change console type function.
      3. Use the 11, until it returns A6C3500C. This indicates that settings have been saved successfully. If not, repeat function 11 until it returns A6C3500C

    4. For release 7.5 and later, complete the following steps.

      1. Use the 65+11 sequences until it returns A603500B. This indicates that the console type will be changed to LAN.
      2. Use the 21. This performs the change console type function.
      3. Use the 11, until it returns A6C3500C. This indicates that settings have been saved successfully. If not, repeat function 11 until it returns A6C3500C
    Note: 65+21+11 functions are no longer needed unless directed by IBM support. The functions to set an adapter location are now performed automatically by the Licensed Internal Code.
  7. Connect the Operations Console by completing the following steps:
    1. Open IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS).
    2. Under Management, click System Configurations.
    3. Select Locate Console.
    4. Click Search. After a few seconds, a connection displays. Click the connection and then click Console.
    5. In the Pending Authorization window, type the User ID and Password.
    6. Accept the security certificate. Ensure that you accept it, otherwise your connection will not continue. A console window opens. If the window is blank at first but the cursor is in the upper left corner, it means that the screen is waiting for the Drive or DVD to provide the information to be displayed.
  8. To set a static IP address for the Operations Console, complete the following steps:
    1. Sign on with QSECOFR. The default password is QSECOFR, and it is case-sensitive.
    2. At the DST Main Menu b, select Option 3- Use Dedicated Service Tools.
    3. Select Option 5- Work with DST environment.
    4. Select Option 2- System Devices.
    5. Select Option 7- Configure service tools LAN adapter.
    6. Type the IP settings that you want to use. Optional: For the host name for Service Tools, you can type a host name if it is also registered in your network DNS. It is recommended that you type the word Default and enter the IP address that you want to use.
    7. Press F7 to store the information.
    8. Press F17 to Deactivate the session and then press it again to Activate. This causes your session to go blank. Close the session.
  9. To create a connection to the static IP, complete the following steps:
    1. Either move the PC and Operations Console port both to the network or re-configure the PC IP settings to be in the same subnet that you just configured for the service tools LAN adapter.
    2. Return to the ACS interface and select the window labeled System Configurations.
    3. Click New.
    4. If you will use this connection to connect to other functions, type the system name that you plan to use in the General tab.
    5. Click the Console tab.
    6. Under the LAN Console/Virtual Control panel, type the IP address of the service tools LAN adapter in the Service Host Name field.
    7. Click OK.
    8. In the main ACS menu, click System and select the system that you created.
    9. Under Console, click 5250 Console. Continue with your IPL.
Note: The IP configuration of the PC 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 re-cabled to the network.

Continue with Completing the server setup.