What's new in the information center

The IBM^(R) Systems Hardware Information Center frequently includes new information. Also, between releases, some information might be updated on only the Internet.

New information

In addition to the following items, the information center now includes general technical updates to existing information about your IBM server hardware. Also, some information has been consolidated or redesigned to make it easier to find and use.

To view a list of models that includes the machine type-model (MTM) name, the full name, the short name, and the brand or family for each model, see List of model numbers and names.

You might see usage of IBM System i^(TM) and IBM System p^(TM) in this information center. These terms are described as follows:

• IBM System i is the designation of the combined product lines of IBM System i5^(TM), ^(R) i5, eServer^(TM) iSeries^(TM), and AS/400^(R).
• IBM System p is the designation of the combined product lines of IBM System p5, eServer p5, eServer pSeries^(R), eServer OpenPower^(TM), and RS/6000^(R).

Managing the Thin Console
The Thin Console for System i5^(TM) provides a 5250 system console for the IBM i5/OS^(R) environment on select IBM System i5^(TM) and ^(R) i5 models that are not managed by a Hardware Management Console (HMC).

Use the Thin Console on the following models: 9405-520, 9406-520, and 9406-550. These models must be running i5/OS V5R3 or later and a firmware level or SF240 or later.

Quick start guides
The information center includes printable versions of the Quick start guide that is included with your server. The Quick start guide offers an abbreviated set of instructions designed to help you quickly unpack and set up your server. Quick start guides are included with the following servers:

• IBM System i5 520 server
• IBM System p5 185 server
• IBM System p5 505 server
• IBM System p5 510 server
• IBM System p5 520 server
• IBM System p5 550 server
• IBM eServer^(TM) i5 520
• IBM eServer OpenPower^(TM) 710
• IBM eServer p5 510
• IBM eServer p5 520
• IBM IntelliStation^(R) POWER 185 server
• IBM IntelliStation POWER 285 server

To find the Quick start guide for your server, see Using predefined initial server setup checklists and select the checklist that best fits your needs.

The information center is updated often. To see a list of the most recent IBM Systems Hardware Information Center updates, see Information center updates .

Subscribing to Internet updates

To receive notifications when updates occur to the IBM Systems Hardware Information Center, you can subscribe to update notifications.

• To subscribe to update notifications, go to Subscribe to Information Center Updates.
• If you are currently subscribed and want to unsubscribe, go to Unsubscribe from Information Center Updates.

Downloading updates for the CD-installed version of the information center

The IBM Systems Hardware Information Center is powered by Eclipse technology. If you used a CD to install a version of this information center not powered by Eclipse technology, you will not be able to update that content from this version. For more information, see Update older versions of the information center.

Update the information center powered by Eclipse
If you have used the IBM Systems Hardware Information Center CD (SK3T-8159-0x, where x is greater than or equal to 6) to install the information center, you can keep the installed version up to date with all the latest content by downloading updates from the Internet.

To update your CD-installed version, select Start > Programs > IBM Systems Hardware Information Center > Configuration Tools > Update Information Collections.

Install updates for the HMC version of the information center
If you are using the information center on your Hardware Management Console (HMC), you will automatically receive updates to the information center when you receive or download fixes for your Hardware Management Console.

Update older versions of the information center

You can determine if you installed a previous version in the following ways:

• Use your browser to compare your CD-installed information center to the information center available on the Internet. The version powered by Eclipse technology looks significantly different from the previous version.
• Check the version of the CD that you used to install the information center. If the version of the CD is SK3T-8159-0x, where x is 5 or less, you will not be able to update the content.
• If you do not know the version of the CD that you used, determine if you installed the information center before October 5, 2005. If you installed it before that time, you will not be able to update the content.

To update your CD-installed version of the information center, you need to order a new IBM Systems Hardware Information Center CD (SK3T-8159-07). If you have access to the Internet and want to order a CD online, see Ordering publications from IBM.

After you install the newest version of the IBM Systems Hardware Information Center, you can keep the installed version up to date with all the latest content by downloading updates from the Internet. To update your CD-installed version, follow the instructions in Update the information center powered by Eclipse.

Patch for completing your downloading updates

Symptoms

After running the information center update wizard:

• The update wizard fails and specifies null for the log file location.
• The desktop icon does not work.
• The start menu shortcuts do not work.
• Update wizard executable is missing.

Solution

Perform one of the following tasks based on the operating system that you are using:

Windows

1. Download the patch.
2. Run the executable and the wizard will display a message specifying the locations that were fixed.
3. Run the update wizard again. The wizard should state that there are no updates to download. This indicates that you have the latest updates.

Linux

1. Reinstall the information center to the existing location. The installation wizard will recognize the existing location and ask if you want to install to the existing location.
2. Download the patch.
3. Change the permissions of the patch to executable.
4. Run the executable and the wizard will display a message specifying the locations that were fixed.
5. Run the update wizard again. The wizard should state that there are no updates to download. This indicates that you have the latest updates.

AIX

1. Reinstall the information center to the existing location. The installation wizard will recognize the existing location and ask if you want to install to the existing location.
2. Find the location where the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is installed. Typically, the JRE on AIX is installed at this location: /usr/java14/jre/
3. Update the install_location/5733-IC1/eserver/hardware/properties/install.properties file.
   1. The default install location is /opt/IBM/Information.
   2. Add the line, java_location=/usr/java14/jre/ to the install.properties file where the location is the one found in step 2.
4. Run the update wizard again. The wizard should state that there are no updates to download. This indicates that you have the latest updates.

Navigate the information center by selecting your model

The information center contains a new navigation path. This path offers greater flexibility when looking for the information you need. Not only does it provide you with another option to explore the information based on your preference, but this navigation is also aimed at shortening the amount of time it takes you to find the information you are looking for. The information is structured by model, which eliminates any irrelevant information that doesn't apply to your particular model. To view this navigation, go to Select your hardware in the navigation bar, or select Select your hardware.