Preparing your console for software installation

 

Before you install a new i5/OS® software release, consider this information on consoles.

Although you can use twinaxial console on most systems, IBM recommends for V5R4 that you use either Operations Console or Hardware Management Console. For requirements on twinaxial console, Operations Console, and PCs, refer to the category, Connecting to iSeries . If you are moving from twinaxial console to Operations Console, use the iSeries Setup and Operations, SK3T-4098 CD-ROM to install Operations Console before you install the new release.

If you are using twinaxial console, the software installation process expects the system console device to be attached at port 0 and address 0 of the first workstation controller. In most cases, your hardware should be defined in this way. You should verify that the console is attached at port 0 address 0.

If you are planning on migrating your Operations Console, do so either before or after you upgrade. If you are planning on migrating your Hardware Management Console (HMC), do so only after you have completely installed your system. For more information about using the HMC as your i5/OS console, see Managing i5/OS consoles .

For all systems, verify that the console mode value is set correctly for your console. In addition, you can specify that an i5/OS LAN console or Hardware Management Console be taken over by another console in the event your console is disconnected. To verify the console mode value, follow these steps:

  1. Access Dedicated Service Tools (DST).

  2. Select Work with DST environment.

  3. Select System Devices.

  4. Select Console mode.

    The value of the current console mode is present in the input field. Verify that this is the correct setting. A value of zero means that the console mode has not been set and can interfere with the automatic installation process. The console mode value must be one of the following values.

    1 Twinaxial console
    2 Operations Console (directly attached)
    3 Operations Console (LAN attached)
    4 Hardware Management Console (HMC)

    During an installation or upgrade to V5R4, the console type specified by this value is used.

    The console mode display also includes the option to allow your 5250 console (does not include twinaxial console) to be taken over by another console. When this option is turned on, the system does not stop with a failure but continues to run uninterrupted. For more information, see the topic Console takeover and recovery .

If you use Operations Console, do the following before you install V5R4 on your system:

Failure to comply with the above actions can prevent the console from working correctly during the upgrade or installation.

 

Parent topic:

Performing initial installation tasks