Learn about methods of connecting to your service and support organization
to enable either outgoing or incoming remote support, or both.
In some cases, if you agree to permit it, your service and support representatives
can connect directly to your server to try to determine the source of a problem.
Your service and support organization can use any of the following methods
to connect to your server after you have enabled and authorized the connection.
- Virtual private networking (VPN)
- This connection type uses several important TCP/IP protocols to protect
data traffic.
- Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
- SSL has become an industry standard for enabling applications for secure
communication sessions over an unprotected network, such as the Internet.
SSL uses a cryptographic system that uses two keys to encrypt data, a public
key known to everyone and a private or secret key known only to the recipient
of the message.
- Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
- This Internet standard for transmitting data over serial lines is the
most widely used connection protocol among Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
PPP allows individual computers to access networks, which in turn provide
access to the Internet.
- Systems Network Architecture (SNA)
- In service and support organization networks, SNA is the layered logical
structure, formats, protocols, and operational sequences that are used for
transmitting information units through networks. SNA also controls the configuration
and operation of networks. APPC, APPN, and HPR are some examples of the protocols
included within SNA. These protocols can be used to connect your server with
other servers, to connect remote controllers, and to maintain a high level
of security on your system.
- Remote Support Facility (RSF)
- This type of connection provides service representatives with diagnostic
access to the Licensed Internal Code of the server. If a service representative
determines that the RSF method is the best way to diagnose and fix your problem,
you will be given detailed information about how to enable the connection.
Note: If
you are using the Integrated Virtualization Manager to
manage your server, check Service Focal Point for the Integrated Virtualization Manager to
see if you need to contact service and support.
For more information about the Remote Support Facility, use the following
information:
- To learn how the Remote Support Facility can help you in your service
environment, see Remote Support Facility.
- To learn how to enable your system to allow a service representative to
remotely perform tasks on your hardware, see Enabling remote
support.
For specific information about using remote support with
i5/OS®, see the following topic collections:
- Virtual private networking
- Start Remote Support (STRRMTSPT) command
- Remote Access Services: PPP connections