Preparing your console for software installation
Before you install a new IBM® i software release, consider this information about consoles.
- POWER6®
- Hardware Management Console (HMC)
- Operations Console (LAN)
- Twinaxial console
- POWER7®
- Hardware Management Console (HMC)
- Operations Console (LAN)
Although you can use twinaxial console on older systems, IBM recommends that you use either Operations Console or Hardware Management Console. For requirements on twinaxial console, Operations Console, and PCs, refer to the topic, Connecting to IBM i . If you are moving from twinaxial console to Operations Console, use the IBM i Access Client Solutions CD. See the GettingStarted document in the Documentation directory of the CD. Section 9.9 Establishing a Console Connection to IBM i provides instruction on connecting a LAN console.
If you are using twinaxial console, the software installation process expects the system console device to be attached at port 0 and address 0 of the first workstation controller. In most cases, your hardware should be defined in this way. You should verify that the console is attached at port 0 address 0.
If you are planning on migrating your Operations Console, do so either before or after you upgrade. If you are planning on migrating your Hardware Management Console (HMC), do so only after you have completely installed your system. For more information about using the HMC as your IBM i console, see Managing IBM i consoles .
Verify that the console type value is set correctly for your console. In addition, you can specify that an IBM i local area network (LAN) console or Hardware Management Console be taken over by another console in the event your console is disconnected. To verify the console type value, follow these steps:
- Review the Operations Console topic.
- See the GettingStarted document in the Documentation directory of the CD. Section 9.9 Establishing a Console Connection to IBM i provides instructions on connecting a LAN console.
- When you receive the IBM i release upgrade, the shipped service tools user IDs (except 11111111) are expired. For all upgrades and installations, you need to establish a connection between the system and Operations Console PC by using 11111111 (eight 1's) for both the service tools user ID and the default password. This ensures a successful authentication of the subsequent connection of the client to the system. This is especially important for automatic installations.
Failure to comply with these actions can prevent the console from working correctly during the upgrade or installation.