Scenario: Multiple IBM i5/OS logical partitions using the HMC modem and the modem on an i5/OS logical partition

This scenario demonstrates how to configure multiple i5/OS® logical partitions to connect to service and support through the modem on the i5/OS logical partition and to enable the HMC to connect to service and support through its own modem. In the event the HMC modem is busy or unavailable, the HMC can use the modem on the i5/OS logical partition to connect to service and support. Or, in the event the i5/OS modem is busy or unavailable, it can use the modem on the HMC to connect to service and support.

Situation

If you are responsible for maintaining servers at your company, one of your roles might be to establish the connections within your network and to the service and support organization so that your servers can access service and support resources. For this scenario, you are using an HMC to manage your server, and your server is divided into multiple logical partitions running multiple operating systems. You want to enable the server to use the modem on the HMC or the modem on the server to connect to service and support. In the event the HMC modem is busy or unavailable, the HMC can alternatively use the modem on the i5/OS logical partition to connect to service and support.

Objectives

In this scenario, you want to ensure that your company's server can receive support from the service organization when requested by your company's network administrator. The objectives of this scenario are as follows:
  • To set up the HMC to connect to service and support
  • To configure the i5/OS logical partition (non-service partition) to use the modem on the i5/OS service partition to report i5/OS problems to service and support, and as a backup, to use the HMC modem
  • To configure the i5/OS logical partition that has the modem for dial-up connection to service and support, and as a backup, to use the HMC modem
  • To enable the logical partitions running Linux®, AIX®, and i5/OS (non-service partition) to use the modem on the HMC to report service information, problems related to server hardware or firmware (Licensed Internal Code), and problems related to Linux and AIX to service and support

Details

The following figure illustrates the flow of service information and problems through the service connection to service and support.

Figure 1. This diagram shows the flow of information and problems from four logical partitions and the HMC to service and support. The information and problems pass through the modem on the HMC or through the modem on the i5/OS logical partition.


This diagram shows the flow of information and problems from four logical partitions and the HMC to service and support. The information and problems pass through the modem on the HMC or through the modem on the i5/OS logical partition.

The figure illustrates the following points relevant to this scenario:

Prerequisites and assumptions

Successful implementation of this scenario requires that all necessary hardware planning and setup tasks are complete. Additional prerequisites and assumptions are noted in the appropriate places within the configuration tasks.

Configuration steps

You must complete the following tasks:

  1. Ensure that all prerequisites are met for your connection method. Refer to Task 3. Prerequisites.
  2. Ensure that your physical networking is set up correctly. See Task 4. Ensure that your physical networking is set up correctly.
  3. Obtain or verify your IBM® ID. See Task 5. Obtain or verify an IBM ID.
  4. Set up the HMC to connect to service and support. You can use either of the following methods to set up the HMC.
    • Guided Setup wizard (recommended method): The Guided Setup wizard is a tool on the HMC designed to guide you through the steps of setting up the HMC, including connectivity from the HMC to service and support. Although you typically use the Guided Setup wizard when you first set up your server, you can also use it to verify that your connections from the HMC to service and support are set up correctly. For details, see Task 6. Verify the HMC service settings.
    • Manual setup: If you prefer to use the manual method to create your service connections from the HMC to service and support, see Manually set up the HMC to connect to service and support.
  5. Set up and configure the logical partitions. For details, refer to the Partitioning the server topic.
  6. Install i5/OS on your system or logical partitions. For details, refer to the Installing operating systems topic.
  7. Configure your TCP/IP network. For instructions, refer to the operating system documentation.
  8. Activate TCP/IP on your logical partitions. TCP/IP starts automatically, as long as the network adapter is recognized and can communicate with the network when the i5/OS operating system is started.
    Note: If TCP/IP does not activate, type STRTCP at an i5/OS command line to start TCP/IP. This command initializes and activates TCP/IP processing, starts the TCP/IP interfaces, and starts the server jobs. Only TCP/IP interfaces and servers with AUTOSTART *YES are started with the STRTCP command.
  9. Configure PPP connection from the i5/OS service partition to report i5/OS problems to service and support. See Task 11. Configure Electronic Service Agent for i5/OS.
  10. Configure PPP connections from the i5/OS logical partitions to use the modem on the service partition to report i5/OS problems to service and support. See Task 11. Configure Electronic Service Agent for i5/OS.
  11. Make sure that the HMC modem is set up to allow use by the logical partitions.
  12. Register the IBM ID for i5/OS. See Task 12. Register the IBM ID for i5/OS.
  13. Verify that the connection to service and support is set up correctly and that information is being transmitted correctly. See Task 13. Test the connection to service and support.
  14. View information that was shared with IBM. See Task 14. View the server information that was reported to IBM.
Parent topic: Scenarios: IBM i5/OS
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