Re: Comments on Thin Consoles

The always having to keep powered on seems beyond dumb, but
for my purposes this is just going to sit in a rack.
I saw the unit at Minn Common this spring and it seemed ok.
For these customers, the only use of console is one time machine setup,
a release upgrade maybe a year or so later, and for a CE to use (if ever).
jim

To: "Midrange Systems Technical Discussion" <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 6:26 PM
Subject: RE: Comments on Thin Consoles

Although we don't use this currently (and may never!), I was actually
the one who wrote the LUG requirement (based on conversations at the LUG
meeting) for this appliance.

The main idea is that at some point in the future, it is possible that
IBM will no longer support twinax.  At that time, you really need an
option on a par with a twinax console for small, non-LPAR'ed systems.
That's the thrust of this device.  IBM started with the vanilla Neoware
thin consol and modified it for this use, so Neoware made the box, but
IBM made it into a console.

I've seen it demoed, but haven't used it yet.  The idea is a box that
isn't subject to the pitfalls of the Windows based Ops Console, and that
competes with the price of twinax (and when you toss in the IOP and
twinax card, I guess it comes close).

Hopefully, if the day twinax dies does come to pass, this box will be
ready for prime time.  It sounds like even as it it's workable, and
certainly easier than an HMC (not saying much!).


Jeff Carey
Acxiom Corp.

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-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lukas Beeler
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 2:06 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: RE: Comments on Thin Consoles

I just deployed two customer systems with the new thin console.

The thin console works okay, but there are several issues.

Let me answer your point 2.) first:

It's easy to do. You can use either the control panel, and function
21/65 to change the console, or connect the system to the network, and
then use SST to change the console. All this is also documented.

Now, to the thin console:

1.) The Documentation sucks, i.E. is barely existent. You can use some
documentation directly from neoware to figure out rather important
things like changing the keyboard layout from US english to whatever
locale you're using.
2.) The thin console is silver. Not black. It features a rather
prominent neoware logo.
3.) It's supplied with a black IBM USB Keyboard without the System i
Keyboard Layout. There's no documentation on how special access keys are
mapped. This keyboard is plugging into the front of the Unit.
4.) It's supplied with the cheapest mouse i've ever seen, which is
plugged into a PS/2 slot on the back of the unit. It's not an IBM mouse,
it is supplied by neoware.
5.) There's no documentation on how to change the ip address of the thin
console. It connects automatically to the default ASMI-IP Adresses.
6.) No Documentation on where to get new software for the thin console,
or how to install it
7.) No remote access with the thin console. You can't access it
remotely.
8.) You can't turn off the thin console while your system is running
(Generates SRC, calls IBM, lights attention light). I've had a PMR open
because of this, and got "works as designed" back.
9.) LIC IPL Status is not displayed on the thin console. As far as i
know, the Twinax console is still the only one which can do that.
10.) When ordering an Express i520 with twinax console: you get an IOP
and a twinax card for free (about 4000-5000CHF value), when ordering
with a thin console, you get the thin console for free (about 1000CHF
value)

So, when ordering a new system you should always order twinax console,
and then order the thin console as a MES. Even if you don't need the
Twinax card, you get one IOP for free.

Long story short:

The thin console still needs a lot of work, but it can replace a twinax
console in an SMB environment. It doesn't offer any advantages, though.


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Jim Franz
Sent: Wed 10/25/2006 3:56 PM
To: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Comments on Thin Consoles

Two questions:
1. Looking for comments from actual users of Thin Consoles
now available. Good & Bad.
Old pc is not an option.
Small shop (no tech onsite) deciding if wanting to keep the
100% always available twinax console. (owner actually said
"I want something more modern looking....")

2. What does it take to change a i5 520 from twinax console
to Thin Console?

jim franz
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