Learn how the twinaxial console uses a command-line interface to access and manage the IBM® i5/OS® operating system without the need for a PC to act as a console.
You can use a twinaxial console to manage i5/OS in a partitioned or nonpartitioned environment, which includes a single partition system. In a partitioned environment, you must use the Hardware Management Console (HMC) or the Advanced System Management Interface to configure, manage, and maintain your hardware.
The twinaxial input/output adapter (IOA) requires an input/output processor (IOP) to function. To install a twinaxial console on a single i5/OS partition (without an HMC), these adapters will use two of the adapter slots. This is true even when the server does not need to use an IOP for operation.
If you plan to connect a twinaxial console to a 270 or 8xx server, see Setting Up Your Twinaxial System in the IBM eServer™ iSeries® Information Center.
If you plan to connect a twinaxial console to a POWER6™ server, you must have an expansion unit for the input/output processor and input/output adapter. You also must have an HMC to access and tag the resources in the expansion unit to assign a console. This action is required even if the system has only a single partition. For POWER6 documentation, see the Support for IBM Systems Web site at http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/.
For information about how to change your twinaxial console to another console, see Changing consoles, interfaces, and terminals.