Remote control panel

Use the IBM® i5/OS® remote control panel to use control panel functions through a PC.

The graphical user interface of the remote control panel looks similar to the physical control panel. The remote control panel (RCP) has the following characteristics:

The RCP installs through the Operations Console.
You can use the interface for the RCP to restart and power off the server. It cannot power up the server. You can use the RCP to perform most of the same functions as the physical control panel.
A directly connected RCP is not supported. RCP connectivity is supported through a local console on a network (LAN-connected RCP) or using the virtual control panel (VCP).

For information about deciding whether the RCP or the VCP will best meet your needs, see Differences between the virtual control panel and remote control panel.

Considerations for the remote control panel

The following information can help you determine the best IBM i5/OS RCP configuration for your environment:

The local console on a network (LAN) no longer selects the RCP by default. If you want to use the RCP, use Properties to select the function.
You must use a Hardware Management Console (HMC) to manage logical partitions. This means that you cannot use the RCP to activate a logical partition, and you cannot directly connect an RCP cable to the server. To work with logical partitions remotely, you can use the Web-based System Manager Remote Client or the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI).
Any configuration where the device ID is not authorized after the first connection will be unavailable or missing.
- An unavailable configuration was selected but not authorized.
- A missing configuration was not selected and was not authorized.
After the configuration is authorized, it is displayed in Properties the next time you connect.
You must be granted access to a logical partition's RCP and functions to use the RCP. If a local console on a network (LAN) is being used, then the service tools device ID must also be granted access to that logical partition's RCP to use this feature. Users and service tools device IDs default values no longer automatically grant access to the RCP for the system or logical partition. You will need to manually grant a user, service tools device ID, or both, access to a system or partition. For details on changing the attribute option, see Creating service tools device IDs on the server. The user that authenticates a connection must also have authority to the respective logical partition's keylock to change the mode.