Hardware Management Console
Encyclopedia
Hardware Management Console is a technology invented by IBM
for the purpose of providing a standard interface to configuring and operating partitioned
(also known as an LPAR
or virtualized system) and SMP
systems such as IBM System i
, IBM System p
or IBM Power Systems.
The HMC is a Linux kernel
using Busybox
to provide the base utilities and X Window using the Fluxbox
window manager to provide graphical logins. The HMC also utilizes Java applications to provide additional functionality.
Using an HMC, the system administrator
is able to manage the software configuration and operation of partitions in a server system, as well as to monitor and identify hardware problems. HMCs offer an inexpensive method to administer complex and expensive server
s, as a console need only consist of a 32-bit Intel-based desktop PC
with a DVD-RAM
drive.
HMC is used to:
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
for the purpose of providing a standard interface to configuring and operating partitioned
LPAR
A logical partition, commonly called an LPAR, is a subset of computer's hardware resources, virtualized as a separate computer. In effect, a physical machine can be partitioned into multiple logical partitions, each hosting a separate operating system....
(also known as an LPAR
LPAR
A logical partition, commonly called an LPAR, is a subset of computer's hardware resources, virtualized as a separate computer. In effect, a physical machine can be partitioned into multiple logical partitions, each hosting a separate operating system....
or virtualized system) and SMP
Symmetric multiprocessing
In computing, symmetric multiprocessing involves a multiprocessor computer hardware architecture where two or more identical processors are connected to a single shared main memory and are controlled by a single OS instance. Most common multiprocessor systems today use an SMP architecture...
systems such as IBM System i
IBM System i
The IBM System i is IBM's previous generation of midrange computer systems for IBM i users, and was subsequently replaced by the IBM Power Systems in April 2008....
, IBM System p
IBM System p
The System p, formerly known as RS/6000, was IBM's RISC/UNIX-based server and workstation product line.In April 2008, IBM announced a rebranding of the System p and its unification with the System i platform. The resulting product line is called IBM Power Systems.-History:It was originally a line...
or IBM Power Systems.
The HMC is a Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
using Busybox
BusyBox
BusyBox provides several stripped-down Unix tools in a single executable. It runs in a variety of POSIX environments such as Linux, Android, FreeBSD and others, such as proprietary kernels, although many of the tools it provides are designed to work with interfaces provided by the Linux kernel. It...
to provide the base utilities and X Window using the Fluxbox
Fluxbox
Fluxbox is a stacking window manager for the X Window System, which started as a fork of Blackbox 0.61.1, with the same aim to be lightweight. Its user interface has only a taskbar, a pop-up menu accessible by right-clicking on the desktop, and minimal support for graphical icons...
window manager to provide graphical logins. The HMC also utilizes Java applications to provide additional functionality.
Using an HMC, the system administrator
System administrator
A system administrator, IT systems administrator, systems administrator, or sysadmin is a person employed to maintain and operate a computer system and/or network...
is able to manage the software configuration and operation of partitions in a server system, as well as to monitor and identify hardware problems. HMCs offer an inexpensive method to administer complex and expensive server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
s, as a console need only consist of a 32-bit Intel-based desktop PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
with a DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM is a disc specification presented in 1996 by the DVD Forum, which specifies rewritable DVD-RAM media and the appropriate DVD writers. DVD-RAM media have been used in computers as well as camcorders and personal video recorders since 1998.-Design:DVD-RAM is one of three competing...
drive.
HMC is used to:
- Configure and manage logical partitions and partition profiles
- Perform DLPAR functions.
- Activate and manage Capacity on Demand resources.
HMC Versions
- HMC V7, for POWER5POWER5The POWER5 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by IBM. It is an improved version of the highly successful POWER4. The principal improvements are support for simultaneous multithreading and an on-die memory controller...
, POWER6POWER6The POWER6 is a microprocessor developed by IBM that implemented the Power ISA v.2.03. When it became available in systems in 2007, it succeeded the POWER5+ as IBM's flagship Power microprocessor...
and POWER7POWER7POWER7 is a Power Architecture microprocessor released in 2010 that succeeded the POWER6. POWER7 was developed by IBM at several sites including IBM's Rochester, MN; Austin, TX; Essex Junction, Vermont; T. J. Watson Research Center, NY; Bromont, QC and Böblingen, Germany laboratories...
models- HMC V7R7.2.0 (Initial support for Power 710, Power 720, Power 730, Power 740 and Power 795 models)
- HMC V7R7.1.0 (Initial support for POWER7POWER7POWER7 is a Power Architecture microprocessor released in 2010 that succeeded the POWER6. POWER7 was developed by IBM at several sites including IBM's Rochester, MN; Austin, TX; Essex Junction, Vermont; T. J. Watson Research Center, NY; Bromont, QC and Böblingen, Germany laboratories...
) - HMC V7R3.5.0 (released Oct. 30, 2009)
- HMC V7R3.4.0
- HMC V7R3.3.0
- HMC V7R3.2.0
- HMC V7R3.1.0 (Initial support for POWER6POWER6The POWER6 is a microprocessor developed by IBM that implemented the Power ISA v.2.03. When it became available in systems in 2007, it succeeded the POWER5+ as IBM's flagship Power microprocessor...
models)
- HMC V6
- HMC V6R1.3
- HMC V6R1.2
- 5.2.1
- 5.1.0
- 4.5.0
- 4.4.0
- 4.3.1
- 4.2.1
- 4.2.0, for POWER5POWER5The POWER5 is a microprocessor developed and fabricated by IBM. It is an improved version of the highly successful POWER4. The principal improvements are support for simultaneous multithreading and an on-die memory controller...
models - 4.1.x
- 3.x, for POWER4POWER4The POWER4 is a microprocessor developed by International Business Machines that implemented the 64-bit PowerPC and PowerPC AS instruction set architectures. Released in 2001, the POWER4 succeeded the POWER3 and RS64 microprocessors, and was used in RS/6000 and AS/400 computers, ending a separate...
models
External links
- IBM HMC support homepage
- HMC Support forum
- IBM's definition of HMC
- IBM Information Center / HMC
- HMC on Series P
See also
- IBM Integrated Virtualization Manager
- IBM Service processor
- IBM System iIBM System iThe IBM System i is IBM's previous generation of midrange computer systems for IBM i users, and was subsequently replaced by the IBM Power Systems in April 2008....
- IBM System pIBM System pThe System p, formerly known as RS/6000, was IBM's RISC/UNIX-based server and workstation product line.In April 2008, IBM announced a rebranding of the System p and its unification with the System i platform. The resulting product line is called IBM Power Systems.-History:It was originally a line...