The major functional difference between the LAN connected remote control panel (RCP) and the virtual control panel (VCP) is that the VCP connects using the console's serial cable. Both are functionally the same.
If you need to power on the system at a later time, you can use the IPL scheduling function in Operational Assistant by pressing the Attention key. You can also use the GO POWER command, and select option 2 (Change power on and off schedule). You can also use the Hardware Management Console (HMC), if installed, or the Advanced System Management interface (ASMI) to control power on a partition.
The following POWER5™ processor-based server models work with the virtual control panel (VCP) and the LAN-connected remote control panel (RCP):