Introduction to the HMC

This section briefly describes some of the concepts and functions of the Hardware Management Console (HMC) and introduces the user interface that is used for accessing those functions.

The HMC allows you to configure and manage servers. One HMC can manage multiple servers, and dual HMCs can provide redundant support by managing the same system. To ensure consistent function, each HMC is shipped preinstalled with the HMC Licensed Machine Code Version 7.

To provide flexibility and availability, you can implement HMCs in several configurations.

HMC as the DHCP server

An HMC that is connected by either a private network to the systems it manages might be a DHCP server for the service processors of the systems. An HMC might also manage a system over an open network, where the managed system's service processor IP address has been assigned by a customer-supplied DHCP server or manually assigned using the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI).

Physical proximity

Prior to HMC version 7, at least one local HMC was required to be physically located near the managed systems. This is not a requirement with the Version 7 and the HMC's web browser interface.

Redundant or Dual HMCs

A server might be managed by either one or two HMCs. When two HMCs manage one system, they are peers, and each can HMC be used to control the managed system. The best practice is to attach one HMC to the service networks or HMC ports of the managed systems. The networks are intended to be independent. Each HMC might be the DCHP server for a service network. Because the networks are independent, the DHCP servers must be set up to provide IP addresses on two unique and nonroutable IP ranges.