RE: LAN console config

Hi Steve

Some pointers you might find useful. I haven't done anything with blade
centres yet but have some familiarity with LAN Console.

Service host name and host name are not the same thing. The service host
name is the name for the connection to the Ethernet port assigned for LAN
console. You'll probably find the name for the system in your hosts table as
it adds the ip address and service host name in there. So if you want to
change or remove it, edit the hosts table on your PC. Basically the system
has an additional really low level tcp network for the console and this is
the host name for that network.

If you haven't managed to get a LAN console config working yet then you
might be still able to create one. The service IP address is the address the
card will have assigned to it after a successful configuration. Normally you
configure something like (for example) 192.168.1.1 for the service IP, a
nominal name - say vjs12. Configure your PC with an address in the same
network - say 192.168.1.2 in the example above.

I'd suggest connecting to the port directly or using a dedicated switch at
first. If you're having trouble connecting then take all your other network
components out of the equation. No need to make it harder than it has to be.

If you have managed to get a connection but want to change it you're going
to have to clear it and start again. Something of a trick without a console
- you need to check out the 65+21 functions. Searching on 65+21 in the
information centre will find them for you. The latest Redbook "Managing
Operations Console" actually seems to have all the required information (a
welcome improvement !) so I'd suggest locating that if you can.

The new 525's have a little flip out console which makes the 65+21 functions
a lot friendlier than they used to be.

You really need to let the system fail to find a console to make any
progress as that's the only way to get any meaningful error data as to what
is wrong. If you can wait for a A600 5008 to come up then the data from the
front panel (gee, do you have one of those in this scenario :) ) should
indicate what is wrong. I've had to enable the embedded Ethernet ports a few
times, but I have no idea whether that is any use on your situation.

Hope this helps - I've spent a bit time recently cursing LAN console, but
getting the up to date redbook helped a lot. It's also improved markedly in
the last few releases. Winning the lottery was easier at V5R2...

Regards
Evan Harris



-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Richter
Sent: Monday, 11 August 2008 11:40 p.m.
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: LAN console config

what values should I set on the LAN console config? ( VIOS is
showing no signs of life on the BCS after an aborted install of i5/OS
so I cant test different values )

here is what the Configure System i Operations Console prompt says:

"... what is the TCP/IP information and serial number of the system to
which you are making a service connection? ..."

"Service host name ... "
"Service TCP/IP address ..."

that would be the ip address of VIOS on the JS12, no?

on the mktcpip command on the vios I set the host name to be vjs12 and
ip address to 192.168.1.22

Since I set the ip addr of "vjs12" yesterday, LAN console will not let
me change that IP address. Even when I delete the connection and add
it again, when I enter host name vjs12, the ip address 192.168.1.22 is
assigned and cant be changed.

The documentation says I can "let the PC assign the name and IP
information" by "searching for the system on the network". My router
setup is very basic. FIOS service and router supplied by Verizon.
What service on the network does LAN console need to find the JS12?

thanks,