Scenario: Multiple IBM i5/OS logical partitions using a direct Internet connection on an i5/OS logical partition

This scenario demonstrates how to configure multiple logical partitions to connect to service and support through a direct Internet connection on an i5/OS® logical partition.

Situation

If you are responsible for maintaining servers at your company, one of your roles might be to establish the connections within your network to the service and support organization so that your servers can access service and support resources. You are using an HMC to manage your server, and your server is divided into multiple logical partitions running multiple operating systems. Only one of your i5/OS logical partitions has connectivity to the Internet. For security reasons, you keep each of the other logical partitions on a separate, private network.

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 through the direct Internet connection on the i5/OS partition
  • To create a direct Internet connection from the i5/OS logical partition that has connectivity to the Internet
  • To enable the other logical partitions to connect to the logical partition that has connectivity to the Internet

Details

The following figure illustrates the flow of 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 direct Internet connection 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 a direct Internet connection on the i5/OS logical partition.

The figure illustrates the following points relevant to this scenario:
  • The HMC setup is complete.
  • The server has four logical partitions with the following operating systems installed:
  • The direct Internet connection is configured on the service partition and connects to service and support.
  • Service information and problems flow from each logical partition to service and support using either an HTTPs or VPN connection, as follows:
    • Linux logical partition > HMC > i5/OS service partition > Service and support
    • AIX logical partition > HMC > i5/OS service partition > Service and support
    • i5/OS logical partition > HMC (for service information) > i5/OS service partition > Service and support
    • i5/OS logical partition > i5/OS service partition (for problems) > Service and support
    • i5/OS service partition > Service and support

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. Create a shared direct Internet (HTTP(S) or VPN) connection from the i5/OS logical partitions. See Task 11. Configure Electronic Service Agent for i5/OS.
  10. Register the IBM ID for i5/OS. See Task 12. Register the IBM ID for i5/OS.
  11. 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.
  12. 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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