ACS Console Setup and Installation Using Random Link Local IP Address

Prepare the ACS Workstation
 

1.	Install IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) See this document for how to obtain ACS.  In the contents you download you will find a QuickStartGuide and a GettingStarted with further information on installation and configuration: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/obtaining-ibm-i-access-client-solutions
2.	Cable the PC direct to Server. Notes: 1. Plug a Cat-5e or Cat-6 (recommended) Ethernet cable from the PC directly into T1 port or console I/O adapter port on the back of the server. A crossover is not needed. The initial connection must be done with the PC direct cabled to the server. The PC and server can be reconfigured and re-cabled to the network after the initial connection is made. 2. The cable must be plugged into the TOP port ( port 1 )of a dual line Ethernet adapter if using an external Ethernet adapter (i.e. a Ethernet card in a PCI slot). a. Determine the location of the console adapter using the system diagrams below. b. Record the console adapter location here for reference to use in later steps. ____________________________________ The adapter location will either be the internal HEA (T1) or an external I/O location such as C2. This location may be referred to later in the setup. For a list of supported cards and locations, refer to Rochester Support Center Knowledge base document N1013726, Console Card Locations for POWER6, POWER7, POWER8 and POWER9 Servers
3.	Close ACS If ACS is running, close all ACS sessions. Do not restart ACS until directed to in "Open ACS Console".
4.	Configure the PC Networking. Access the Windows Control panel, Network Connections. a. Disable any additional adapters. Disable any additional adapters listed, leaving only the "Local area connection". b. If you plan to place the PC back on the network after the system is configured: Record current TCP/IP settings. 1) Access the adapter properties, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then click Properties. 2) Record the current settings including IP address, subnet mask and gateway, if applicable. 3) Tape this information on the console PC as a reminder to reset it before reconnecting to the network. c. Change the TCP/IP Settings. In Microsoft Windows, a link local address can be obtained using the following; 1) Set the PC's IP address to DHCP client. In Windows, this is referred to as "Obtain an IP address automatically". 2) Save the changes 3) Check that the workstation defaults to a random link local IP address. Run the command IPCONFIG to check the IP. It may take a few minutes before the DHCP request times out and a link local is assigned. Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::8ce2:777f:c50e:9890%14 Auto-configuration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.152.144 Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : Note: If the ACS workstation does not default to random link local ip when a dhcp request fails, then the user needs to assign one manually.

Server Power On

1.

Powering on the server Note: If the AC cords are connected but the control panel is blank, you may need to remove the power supply shipping brackets. These are the orange brackets located near the power supplies to keep the connectors from damage during shipment. Remove the AC cords, remove the brackets, reseat the power supplies and reconnect the AC cords. The panel should then show it has power. a. Set the the IPL Mode to Manual and verify the IPL Type. If the IPL mode or type needs changed perform the following: 1. Locate the Server's control panel. Look for the little blue tab on the front of the box; push it to the side, and pull out slowly. 2. Press the Up arrow until you see 02, and press Enter. 3. Press Enter again, and you will see the < point to the IPL type (A, B or D). New systems with LIC preinstalled should use A. 4. If the IPL type needs changed, press the up arrow to select the wanted type. 5. Press Enter again, and you will see the < move to the N. 6. Press the up arrow and the N will change to an M. 7. Press Enter. 8. Press Enter again. This will bring you back to just 02. 9. Press the down arrow until you see 01 and press Enter. Verify the IPL type and mode shows the wanted value. b. Once you have the server set to a manual IPL, push the White power button to power on the server. c. Continue to the next section to set the console configuration on the system using the control panel.

Using Control Panel to Set Console adapter Location

Note: Read this section completely before performing the steps. When performing the control panel functions there is a time limit involved. If you take to long between the steps you may have to start over again or cycle through the different codes more than once.

The system control panel is used to set the console options including the console type and location of the adapter for the system console. Each sequence of 65-21-11 (enter on each step) will cycle through the different functions shown in the chart below under references. To "set" one of the functions, you use a control panel function 21 and press Enter, and then use control panel function 11 and Enter to verify the setting was set successfully. When a function is successfully set, the code ends with letter "C" Successive 65+21+11 sequences must be done within 60 seconds or a timeout occurs. SRC A6XX500D = timeout setting console bit, start over.

Example: You have scrolled through the options using 65<enter>-21<enter>-11<enter> and the control panel now displays A603500A. This is the option for LAN console. To set this option, you should use control panel function 21 and press Enter. Then use the down button to go to function 11 and press Enter. You would see A603500C as a confirmation that the LAN console option was selected.

During the IPL, the system will show C6004031 (searching for console) for 20-30 minutes. Then A6005008 is displayed, meaning no available console. You can either wait for the A6005008 or you may also set the console configuration while the C6004031 is displayed.

1.	Set manual mode. If the system is Normal mode (function 01 shows 01 B N), you should perform Steps a-e below. Otherwise, if the system is in Manual mode (01 B M), continue to Step 2. Place the system in manual mode. a) Use the up or down arrow buttons on the control panel to go to function 02. b) Press the Enter button - the cursor should move to the Mode selection (A,B,D). c) Press the Enter button - the cursor should move to the keylock position (N). d) Press the Up button to change the selection to M. e) Press Enter until the display reads 02. Note: You can check if the upper functions are already available by pressing the down arrow button once. If it did not go to 70 or 69, you need to do Steps 2 and 3. Otherwise, proceed to Step 4.
2.	Enable control panel functions. Use the Up button to get to function 25, then press the Enter button. You should see a 00 return code. Use the Up button to get to function 26, then press the Enter button. You should see a 00 return code. Note: If you see a FF return code, go back to function 25 and press Enter, then return to function 26 and press Enter.
3.	Read the current setting. Issue one 65+21+11 sequence to read the current setting. A600 500A = No console defined A601 500A = Twinax console A602 500A = Direct cable console A603 500A = LAN console A604 500A = HMC console If the SRC = A603500A, skip to Step 5. For all others, continue to the next step.
4.	Set console type to LAN. Issue 65+21+11 sequences until it returns A603500B (lan console). Use 21+11 to save the setting. A603500C indicates success.
5.	Set the console adapter location. Refer to the "console adapter location" you noted earlier in the preparation section. If it is the internal adapter, use Step 5a. If the adapter location is in a PCI I/O slot location, use Step 5b. 5a. Select console adapter location - Internal HEA port T1. a) Use 65+21+11 sequences until it returns A6E1500B (Enable embedded adapter). Use 21+11 to save the setting. A6E1500C indicates success.   Console Setting Function E1 Enable embedded port (OPSCONSOLE ENBINTLAN) 5b. Select the console adapter location - external PCI card. a) Use the 65-21+11 options sequences until it returns A6E2500B (Enable add-on adapter). Use 21+11 to save the setting. A6E2500C indicates success. b) Use the 65-21+11 options sequences until it returns A6D1500B (disable the internal embedded port). Use 21+11 to save the setting. A6D1500C indicates success. c) Use the 65-21+11 options sequences until it returns A6Bn500B (enable the LAN adapter in location Cn) where n= the location code of the "Console adapter location". Use 21+11 to save the setting. A6Bn500C indicates success. Note: Adapter location is in hex, so after nine the next number will be A which is 10. Hex counts: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F (Base 16) Example: BA would be position C10.   Console Setting Function E2 Enable add-on adapter (OPSCONSOLE ENBEXTLAN) D1 Disable embedded port (OPSCONSOLE DISINTLAN) Bn Enable LAN adapter in slot Cn (OPSCONSOLE ENBLSLOT n) Note: This requires that the embedded (internal) LAN flag be off and the external flag be on or you will not see this series.
6.	Restart Wait approximately 3 minutes for the edit mode to timeout. Issue 65+21+11 and verify it returns A603500A (if it does not, issue a 66 and wait approximately 3 minutes). Use 21+11 to restart. A603500C indicates success.
7.	(optional) Determine the random link local IP address a) Use the 65-21+11 options sequences until it returns A6A1500B b) Use 21+11 to save the setting. A6A1500C indicates success. c) Use 12 <enter> to view the IP address. The IP address should be in "word 13" or the rightmost 8 characters in the top line. It will start with A9FE (169.254). Example: 08B00060 A9FE3E0A << A9FE3E0A in hex is 169.254.62.10 00000000 00000000 The IP address should reply to pings from the workstation.

Open ACS Console

1.	Start ACS If ACS is running, close all ACS sessions, then restart ACS. This is required to circumvent a bug in version 1.1.2 May 16, 2013 build where locate console may fail with a bind error if the PC address changes after ACS is started.
2.	Select Management > System Configurations
3.	Click Locate Console... button.
4.	Clear any IP address located in the "Near" field, then click Search Within a few minutes the target server should appear in the list with a random link local (169.254.x.x) address: Note: ACS on Windows XP may take several minutes to locate the console.
5.	Select the IBM i server then click Console button. Note: ACS on Windows XP may fail with error: "MSGCO1048 - A firewall blockage or timeout occurred trying to connect to the IBM i". To resolve the error wait until the netstat command shows all sockets for other 169.254 addresses are closed then retry the console. This may take a long period of time.
6.	If prompted to trust the certificate click yes
7.	Log in to service tools using the default ID of 8 1's, password 8 1's .
8.	Wait for the initial screen to paint. This may take a few minutes on a D-mode IPL.
9.	This completes the console connection. You must set a permanent IP address as described in "Completion Steps" or a new IP will be generated on the next IPL or restart of the console.

Completion Steps

To complete the install first configure a static IP on the service tool = LAN adapter, create a new ACS configuration for the system, then configure/IPL the server.

1. Change the LAN adapter address
You must assign a static IP address to the service tool LAN adapter (STLA or console LAN adapter) for future use as console. Optionally you may re-cable the network connection to your network. IBM support recommends the following:
- Obtain a new static IP address for console that is different then the IP address you plan to use for IBM i OS TCP interfaces.
- Do not place an IBM i Ethernet line description on the console resource. Leave the console Ethernet port dedicated to console only.
- If another Ethernet card is available, configure TCP on another card to provide better availability in the case of a hardware failure.
- Configure TCP and verify 5250 telnet is working before changing the Service Tools LAN Adapter IP address so that an alternative method to access the system is available.
 

a	Access SST or DST SST: 8. Work with service tools user IDs and Devices DST: 5. Work with DST environment 2. System devices
b	SST: 4. Configure service tools LAN adapter DST: 7. Configure service tools LAN adapter
c	Enter the new TCP configuration data:
d	Press F7 (Store) to save your changes.
e	Press F17 (F17=Deactivate followed by activate) to apply the changes. Note: When you press F17, the console connection will drop. The server will restart the console LAN adapter using the new configuration. It should be active within a few minutes (in other words, respond to ping or a console connection).

2. Create a system configuration
a. On the ACS main panel select Management > System Configurations

b. Click New


c. On the General tab enter a name for the system.
Tip: For System name use the host name or IP address of the TCP interface you plan to configure as the default interface for telnet and other IBM i OS functions.


d. Click the Console tab. Under Service host name, enter the new IP address (or host name). Click OK



 

Console Setting Reference Information

Below is a table of all the various Console Settings that can be selected using the 65-21 process on the control panel:
 

Console Setting	Function
00	No console defined
01	Twinax console
02	Direct-attached Operations Console
03	LAN Operations Console
04	Hardware Management Console (HMC)
A1	Shows current IP address in HEX mode when looking at additional words - convert HEX to DEC to see IP address
C3	Clearing the resource and configuration for the Operations Console LAN adapter
C4	Set adapter IP address to 192.168.2.150 - Note: C3 option must be used before C4 becoming available
A3	Deactivating and activating the Operations Console LAN adapter
DD	Dumping Operations Console-related flight recorders to VLOGs
E1	Enable embedded port (OPSCONSOLE ENBINTLAN)
E2	Enable add-on adapter (OPSCONSOLE ENBEXTLAN)
D1	Disable embedded port (OPSCONSOLE DISINTLAN)
D2	Disable add-on adapter (OPSCONSOLE DISEXTLAN)
Bn	Enable LAN adapter in slot Cn (OPSCONSOLE ENBLSLOT n) Note: This requires that the embedded (internal) LAN flag be off and the external flag be on or you will not see this series.
Fn	Enable asynchronous adapter in slot Cn (OPSCONSOLE ENBSLOT n)