Switching from one console type to another when a console is currently available
If you know in advance that you will need a different console type, you can use the current console to make the changes necessary for use with a different console.
If the hardware resources for the targeted console type have already been specified and configured for use as a console, making the change may be as simple as specifying the new console type and activating the associated hardware resource. However, if hardware used for the targeted console type will require allocation or configuration, you will need to use the appropriate information in Change from one console type to another.
An example would be the planned loss of the network used by your LAN-connected console. You will be doing some infrastructure changes requiring more than a day. You also have the console cable already installed between the server's asynchronous communications adapter and the PC. You can use either DST or SST to change the console type to a 2 for Operations Console (direct). The asynchronous communications adapter will not be active at this time since the console type is set for LAN so you would have to manually start the asynchronous card with a function 66 on the control panel or remote control panel. Once the communications line is active you can disconnect the LAN-connected console and create a configuration for the directly attached local console, if a configuration doesn't already exist, and start a connection. To switch back to the LAN-connected console you would only have to use the directly attached console to enter either DST or SST and change the console type to a 3, disconnect the existing console and restart the LAN-connected console. Since the hardware resource configuration didn't change, there isn't a need for further changes. You could deactivate the asynchronous communications adapter manually or just wait until the next IPL. The IPL will not start the asynchronous communications adapter because the console type is now set for LAN.
To activate the new console without an IPL, you could perform the console service function of 65+21+21. Once the console type has been updated, performing the console service function will disconnect the current console and restart the console type you just specified.
Parent topic:
Management of multiple consoles
Related tasks
Activating the asynchronous communications line on the system
Deactivating the asynchronous communications line on the system
Related reference
Changing from one console type to another