The Hardware Management Console (HMC) provides a GUI for configuring and operating single or multiple managed systems. The HMC consists of a 32-bit IntelŪ-based desktop personal computer with a DVD-RAM drive, and runs the Linux operating system. The application environment, with a set of hardware management applications for configuration and partitioning, is written in Java.

The applications are based on the object-oriented schema using the Common Information Model (CIM), an industry standard sponsored by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF). A CIM Object Manager acts as repository and database lookup for all managed objects.

The GUI can display dynamic events and static information from pSeriesŪ machines running AIX, as well as from partitions on any partitioning-capable pSeries server. Note the following points:

Users who log in to the HMC from the local console access the application using the Web-based System Manager GUI.

The HMC communicates with the service processor on the managed system using serial communication.

The Resource Monitoring and Control (RMC) subsystem on the HMC connects the RMC subsystem on remote nodes, such as partitions, over the TCP/IP network.

A remote user can access the HMC using either the ssh or rexec facility over the TCP/IP network.

Users who log in to the HMC from the local console can access the remote Web-based System Manager server on remote nodes, such as AIX partitions, over the TCP/IP network.

Users using the remote Web-based System Manager client can access the HMC over the TCP/IP network.

For general information about these topics, refer to Effective System Management Using the IBM Hardware Management Console for pSeries, SG24-7038.