This chapter discusses the user environment and Hardware Management Console (HMC) applications.
The HMC provides a predefined user ID called hscroot. The hscroot password is abc123. This hscroot user ID is a member of the System Administrator role. When the console is powered on for the first time, use this user ID to log in. After you are logged in, you can create additional users.
After you power on your HMC, the HMC login window displays first, and prompts you to enter your user ID and password.
Service representatives may request that you create a special user ID that has the Service Representative role, enabling them to log in to perform service functions. For more information about creating users and assigning roles, see User Management.
This task allows you to shut down, reboot and log out of the HMC interface.
To log out of the HMC interface, do the following:
The HMC system management environment allows you to manage your managed systems. The HMC interface is based on the AIX Web-based System Manager.
When you log in to the HMC, the HMC management window opens, and the management environment is already selected. This window is divided into the Navigation area and the Contents area.
The panel on the left (the Navigation area) displays a hierarchy of icons that represent collections of systems, individual systems, managed resources, and tasks. Each Navigation area folder identifies a collection of related applications. Each icon in these folders identifies an application. At the highest point, or root of the tree, is the Management Environment. The Management Environment contains one or more host system applications that are managed by the console. Each system application contains its own collection of applications that contain managed objects, tasks, and actions for a related set of system entities or resources.
The panel on the right (the Contents Area) displays results based on the item you select in the Navigation area. When you click on an application in the Navigation area, the Contents area displays the tasks you can perform using that application.
Each HMC contains the following set of application groups:
Each HMC contains the following set of application icons:
You can use one HMC to view and manage other HMCs by adding the additional HMCs to the Navigation area.
You can also connect two HMCs to the same managed system. In this configuration, either HMC can perform tasks on that managed system. For more information about using multiple HMCs, see Using Two HMCs Connected to One Managed System.
You can connect more than one managed system to an HMC. When a managed system is connected to an HMC, it displays in the Navigation area. You can also use your HMC to manage a frame of managed systems.
This section provides an overview of each application's functions. For detailed information, see the chapter that discusses each application.
System Manager Security provides for the secure operation of the HMC in client-server mode. System Manager Security is based on Public Key Encryption, the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol, and the Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM) authentication policy method. In the System Manager Security operation, the managed machines are servers and the managed users are clients.
Servers and clients communicate over the SSL protocol, which provides server authentication, data encryption, and data integrity. The client manages the server using an account on that system and authenticates to the System Manager server by sending the user ID and password. Users of the System Manager Security application must be logged in to the HMC locally to ensure security during configuration.
For more information about using this application, see System Manager Security.
The Server and Partition application folder contains the Server Management application.
The Server Management application manages all partition-related activities. Use the Server Management application to create, maintain, activate, and delete partitions. You can also use this application to power managed systems on and off.
For more information about using this application, see Server Management Tasks.
The Software Maintenance folder contains the Software Maintenance applications.
The Frame software maintenance application allows you to receive and install corrective service for a frame.
For more information about using this application, see Software Maintenance for the HMC and the Frame.
The HMC software maintenance application allows you to save and back up important HMC-related information and format removable media. You can also install corrective service on the HMC.
For more information about using this application, see Software Maintenance for the HMC and the Frame.
The HMC Management folder contains the Users application.
The Users application controls user access to the HMC. You can assign one role to each user you create. Different roles allow the user to perform different tasks in the HMC environment.
For more information about using this application, see User Management.
The HMC Maintenance application folder contains applications related to setting up and maintaining the HMC environment.
The System Configuration application allows you to do the following:
For more information about using this application, see System Configuration.
The service applications folder contains applications used to service both the HMC and managed system.
Service representatives have access authority to use this application to view and diagnose HMC problems. This application is available to service representatives only.
Inventory Scout Services is a tool that surveys the managed system for hardware and software information. This tool also provides a customized report indicating the latest microcode level. Inventory Scout Services helps users to keep track of software updates and patches on managed systems.
The Service Agent application accepts hardware errors from the Service Focal Point. Service Agent reports serviceable events, assuming they meet certain criteria for criticality, for service without requiring customer intervention.
Service Agent enables the following:
Service representatives and system administrators use Service Focal Point to view operating system error logs.
For more information about using this application, see Service Focal Point.
The HMC menu bar on the HMC management window displays all of the operations performed on the console and managed objects. The menus are organized as follows:
The Console Menu contains choices that control the console. It allows you to do the following tasks:
The name of the Object Menu changes to indicate the type of resource managed by the current application you have selected. For example, when you select the Partition Management application, the Object Menu title becomes Partitions. The Object Menu contains general choices and actions for an application that do not require you to select specific object actions. Typically, actions for creating new resource objects are located in the Object Menu. When a new application is selected, the contents of the Object Menu are updated.
The Selected Menu contains those actions for an application that require you to select which managed objects an action is to apply to, such as Open, Properties, Copy, Delete, or Start. When you select a new managed object, the contents of the Selected Menu are updated.
The View Menu contains choices for navigating, such as Back, Forward, and Up One Level. It also includes choices for customizing the console in the Show submenu. For example, you can select to show or hide the tool bar and status bar. The View Menu includes options that control how objects are presented. For example, if the application provides a choice of views, such as Large Icon, Small Icon, Details, and Tree, these choices are listed here. If the application only supports a single view, no view choices are listed. When an application is displaying an icon or Details view, the View Menu includes choices for sorting and filtering the container.
The Window Menu contains actions for managing sub-windows in the console workspace. New Window creates a new console sub-window in the workspace. Other choices control how all console sub-windows are presented.
The Help Menu lists user-assistance choices. You can view help contents and search for help on a particular topic.
The icon on the lower left of the screen launches a documentation browser. Use it to view HMC documentation on your HMC interface.
The HMC can be used with or without a pointing device, such as a mouse. If you choose not to use a pointing device, you can move among controls and menus using only the keyboard.
You can access menu functions using the following keyboard methods:
Use the following keystrokes to navigate the HMC:
Key Stroke | Actions |
---|---|
Arrow Keys | Moves focus between:
|
Ctrl + Arrow Key | Move location focus to another object in the contents area without selecting it. By using Ctrl+Arrow keys and the space bar, you can select multiple objects that are not contiguous. |
Escape | Closes an open menu without activating a choice |
F1 | Opens browser-based help to contents section |
F8 | Moves focus to the splitter bar between the Navigation Area and Contents Area of the console. Moves the splitter bar using Home, End, and the arrow keys. |
F10 | Moves focus to and from the Menu bar |
Shift + Arrow Key | Extends a contig Selects the object that has focusuous selection |
Spacebar, Enter | Selects the object that has focus |
Tab, Shift + Tab | Moves focus between areas of the console |
Use the following keystrokes to navigate HMC window fields:
Key Stroke | Actions |
---|---|
Alt+F6 | Moves focus into or out of a dialog box |
Arrow keys |
|
Ctrl + Tab, Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Moves focus between controls |
Enter | Activates the command button that has focus |
Escape | Cancels the dialog box |
F1 | Opens the context help window |
Space Bar |
|
Use the following keystrokes to navigate the HMC help system:
Key Stroke | Actions |
---|---|
F1 |
|
F9 | Shows keys help. |
Alt + F6 | In context help mode, moves focus between context help window and parent dialog. |