The twinaxial console uses a command-line interface to access and manage the IBM® i operating system without the need for a PC to act as a console.
You can use a twinaxial console to manage IBM i in a partitioned or nonpartitioned environment, which includes a single partition system. In a partitioned environment, you must use the Hardware Management Console (HMC) or the Advanced System Management Interface to configure, manage, and maintain your hardware.
The twinaxial input/output adapter (IOA) requires an input/output processor (IOP) to function. You must have an expansion unit for the IOA and IOP. You also must have an HMC to access and tag the resources in the expansion unit to assign a console. This action is required even if the system has only a single partition.
For information about how to change your twinaxial console to another console, see Changing consoles, interfaces, and terminals.