IBM P505 monitor connection question

The "System Port" on the rear of the machine which you probably tried to use doesn't support standard serial connections to the system console.

The System Port is meant to provide access to the ASMI (Advanced System Management Interface) by means of a null modem cable (19200,N,8,1).

The ASMI via serial connection is only available in platform standby state, so  the correct sequence to access it is:

Pull the power cord of the p505 -> connect null modem cable and terminal -> plug in the power cord -> wait for "01" on the LCD display -> press a key on the terminal -> wait for the login display -> enter userid and password (default: general/general or admin/admin).

Consult the document linked below to learn how to manage your server using the ASMI. It's for the p570, because most of the docs for the p505 are no longer available, but is valid anyway:
http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/powersys/v3r1m5/topic/iphby/iphbymanageasmi.htm


To establish a serial connection to the system console you'll have to purchase from IBM an Asysnchronous Adapter of some sort, e.g. F/C 2943 (8 port) or F/C 5723 (2 port) which has to be plugged into the System Port.

I have the null modem cable and trying to connect and not showing anything.  Do I need any special serial cable?

Did you power off?

The serial connection works only in platform standby state, not when the machine is powered on.

You must see "01" or maybe "OK" on the LCD display.

See my first comment where I described the sequence how to proceed in detail.

Thank you very much. Yes, I am using minicom to connect to P505, I connected, and then power off and on.  I'm not seeing anything ...

How do I find it is in standby state?

Pull the serial cable.

Pull the power cord.

Wait a minute.

Connect the serial cable with minicom running (19200,N,8,1).

Plug in the power cord.

Wait for "01" on the LCD display.

Press a key on minicom.


Standby state is indicated by "OK" or "01" or "02" or maybe "03" on the LCD display.

If you see a 4-digit code or a blank display something went wrong.

Thank you,  how about the flow contorl, what do I need to selelct?

19200,N,8,1:

19200 bit/s

No parity

8 data bits

1 stop bit

You mean the display on the front ?

I mean the small LCD display on the front, yes.

I'm not seeing any lights or anything on the front.   I can only see 2 green lights in the back, one is blinking, and one is in stable condiiton.

I can see the follwing comments.

To establish a serial connection to the system console you'll have to purchase from IBM an Asysnchronous Adapter of some sort, e.g. F/C 2943 (8 port) or F/C 5723 (2 port) which has to be plugged into the System Port.

Do I need to buy any other adapter and plug into p505, and then connect serial cable?

The display is contained in something like a small box on the right front which must be pulled or rather flapped out.

The serial system port alone gives only access to the ASCII version of the ASMI.
To communicate with the OS you need an adapter, which is kind of a port multiplexer.

so I need to buy from IBM?

There is no lights on the front.
photo-1-.JPG

If you insist in having a serial console, you must buy such a card, from IBM or e.g. ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-pSeries-2-Port-EIA-232-PCI-Async-Adapter-80P4353-5723-/261079218385?pt=US_Internal_Network_Cards&hash=item3cc988b8d1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-7XXX-2943-8-PORT-PCI-CARD-W-CABLE-/370686193656?pt=US_Server_Disk_Controllers_RAID_Cards&hash=item564e9e6ff8

Why do you need lights? I've always been talking about a display, and there it is!
The code showing means "pre-standby", the right situation to press a key on your minicom PC!

If there is a difficulty connecting, can I download virtual HMC and connect?

There is no virtual HMC. A HMC is a hardware appliance.

You can purchase, download and install PowerVM which includes a virtual appliance called IVM.

But anyway, the PowerVM shipment contains a license key which must be entered using the ASMI before you can install anything, so getting access to it is mandatory in any case.

Here are the complete instructions:
http://pic.dhe.ibm.com/infocenter/powersys/v3r1m5/topic/iphcn_p5/iphcninstallvios.htm

Sorry I made a mistake in my comment  38841210. Faster thinking than typing, or so...

It must read correctly:

The code showing means "pre-standby", so it's not yet the right situation to press a key on your minicom PC!  Wait for code "01"!

The code "C1001F0D" can show up for as long as 15 minutes. This is not an error, it's normal!

Thanks a lot, one more question.  Friend of mine has p520 video card, it should work on  p505 as well right?

Yes, if it's a standard-profile, short card.

The only graphics card available from IBM for both machines 505 and 520 is (afaik) the GXT 135P,
F/C1980 (32 bit) and F/C 2849 (32/64 bit).
F/C 1980 is basically hot-pluggable, but the 505 doesn't have hot-plug slots.

The above cards can bear several different part/FRU numbers, like
03N5853, 80P6411, 52P8645, 80P6408 and 03N5855

So if you can find one of the above denominations (model, feature or part/FRU code)
on  your friend's card your in any case on the safe side.

Install the card in slot 2 (PHB 3), Un-P1-C13-C1, the only slot (of the two available ones) supporting standard-profile cards.

Thanks a lottttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

You have been helping alot ........... not sure how to thank you.

I bought the following card and should work

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/IBM-SYSTEM-P5-GRAPHICS-ADAPTER-p550-RISER-CARD-03N5855-03N6847-03N6846-/230757097127?pt=FR_Informatique_Reseaux_Autres&hash=item35ba31dea7

Thanks a  a lot. Your help is extremely good. I'm learning AIX now, hopefully will learn faster