Connect the virtual console

The virtual console provides the console function for the Linux server.

The virtual console is used primarily during the initial install of Linux. The virtual console can also be used to view server errors or to restore communication to the LAN. This console connection is used prior to configuring TCP/IP.

Any Telnet client can be used as the Linux console. Multiple Telnet clients can share access to the same virtual console. To connect to a console, you will have to Telnet to port 2301 of the primary or server. TCP/IP must be configured and running on at least one i5/OS® partition. The example below uses the IBM® Personal Communications client.

Use either of the following methods to do this:

Connect to the virtual console with IBM Personal Communications

To connect to a virtual console with IBM Personal Communications, follow these steps:
  1. At the Start button, select IBM Personal Communications and Start or Configure Session.
  2. From the Customize Communication display, select ASCII as your type of host and select Link Parameters.
  3. From the Telnet ASCII display, enter the host name or the IP address of the primary or server, enter port number 2301 of the primary or hosting partition and press OK.
  4. From the i5/OS Guest Partition Console display, select the partition to which you want to connect as console.
  5. Enter the i5/OS service tools ID and password to connect to the Linux partition.

Connect to the virtual console using the MSDOS command prompt

To connect to the virtual console using the MSDOS command prompt, follow these steps:
  1. From a MS DOS Command Prompt, Telnet to your server and port 2301 (telnet xxxxxx 2301).
  2. Select the partition to which you want to connect as console.
  3. Enter the i5/OS service tools ID and password to connect to the Linux partition.

Remote Panel privilege for the Linux partition is required to use the Linux virtual console. The QSECOFR service tools user ID is prevented from using the Linux console.

For more information on how to configure user profiles, refer to Logical partition authority.