No VGA card and I need to know server IP

UNIX AIX
1

Dear All,

I have Power7 server, and I want to know its IP address.
The server have no VGA card, only serial port.
Kindly tell me how to know its IP using serial cable?

Thanks a lot

2

You can simply connect any serial terminal (or computer running serial terminal software - eg HyperTerm on windows or minicom on linux). Typical connection params would be 9600 baud, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity (aka 8,1,n) but you may need to twiddle these a bit depending on how IBM run their serial comms.

Once you have a good connection, you should be presented with a login prompt.

Alternatively, connect the server up to your computer via a crossover network cable (ie no network switch) or through a hub. Ping 255.255.255.255 and look for responses. You may need to examine your arp cache table too, but that should show you the server's IP.

Thirdly, if the server is set to DHCP, trigger an address renewal on it (reboot should get the job done) and then find the recent few leases. Ping/port scan each one until you find your server.

3

Thanks a lot Mr. Smiling Dragon.
I will try your steps and tell you the result, or tell any problem.

4

You might well find that the port speed is 19200. IBM changed this at Power5 I think.

1 Like
5

Depending on your hardware setup this can have different meanings:

p7-systems are a box initially and this box has (one or two) "service processors" (firmware with its own local intelligence, used to manage the box). This service processor(s) is usually connected to a HMC if you have one and given an IP address from the HMC, which also acts as a sort-of DHCP server.

This box now is operated not as a system on itself, but you define one or several fractions of its resources (profiles) and operate these as independent systems (LPARs). Each of these systems can have (and usually has) its own IP(s).

One or more (pairs, if you use a HMC or not) LPARs - so-called VIOS - are used to provide virtualised communication resources and disks to the others, so that you are not limited by your physical hardware in creating these LPARs. These VIOS(es) take the physical network adapters and configure an outside-IP adress on them, then provide "internal" virtual adapters (with IP-adresses) to the other LPARs. You might also have one or more internal networks (internal to the box all the LPARs reside on) over which the LPARs can talk to one another.

I know, this looks confusing at first. Still, i hope this helps.

bakunin

6

Just out of curiosity do you have a hmc available?

---------- Post updated at 01:05 PM ---------- Previous update was at 01:04 PM ----------

Oh sorry didnt notice bakunin mentioned it above.