ROOTVG

Hi,
I have an IBM server running AIX 5.2 and with no graphical card. Oracle Report need an X windows server to work fine. So untill now I use a PC with exceed software as X windws  and all things goes right. Now I have an HMC and I plan to use the embedded X server to do that. All what I now is that HMC is a restricted linux !!!
So does any one have an idea how to do ?   

Basically, the "real" answer is that you cant. And personally, I wouldnt want to be be sitting in the server room using the HMC for anything.

If you mean using X (e.g. exceed on your pc) to use the HMC, there is no need.

For scripting you setup ssh so that you can excute scripts from an AIX host and/or other remote system with ssh capability. For the GUI work you download the webclient.

The URL for this is: http://hmc.domain.me/remote_client.html

or just use:

wsm -host hmc.domain.me

from an AIX prompt in an exceed window.

thanks for answer,
I think that you miss uderstand my goal. In fact, the X server is nedded by Oracle for reports. And not for administration purposes. Is it clear ?

Using your exceed window use:

wsm -host hmc_hostname

Or, download the wsm_client to your PC using:

http://hmc_hostname/remote_client.html

For the latter you will need to authenticate with the hmc system before the client download dialog will start.

I think that my need was not understood yet !
So how can I will be able to execute successfully form my AIX Server(Oracle DB server) these two commands:
# export DISPLAY=hmc_hostname:0.0
# xhost +

Thanks

You wont be able to use the HMC as an X11 server afaik.

Your two commands (export DISPLAY, and xhost) are two very different things.

export DISPLAY is a "client" operation in that it tells the client where to connect to an X server.

xhost is a server operation that makes it possible for clients to connect. Without this, the server denies the client request to connect.

So, for it to work you would need to:

On AIX system:
$ export DISPLAY=hmc_hostname:0.0

On HMC
$ xhost aix_hostname
or
$ xhost +

But, as I mentioned above, I do not think that xhost is an authorized command on an hmc.

This is the question ! Is it possible to do that and if yes How ?

I"ll try to get access to an HMC tomorrow. But as I have hinted, the answer is probably no - so there will not be a "Howto".

You can see the link http://unix.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/AIX-L/2004-03/0400.html . It may be the begining of the solution !!!

As I know HMC has an embedded firewall per netwrok interface. The firewall can't allow the X11 protocol  traffic to pass throught.

In contrast, ssh can be allowed. The X11 traffic can be tunneled in the SSH one using X11 forwarding.

Lets try together !

There are always ways around things. I have heard of a few, and the article you present is certainly one of the more 'official-like' looking ones.

However, it is not what work the HMC is intended to do. As an instructor of AIX classes I aknowledge to students that hacks exist, but I strongly discourage them - especially if you want IBM support to assist you with hardware errors, HMC problems, etc..

As I understand it - the HMC is not a modified Linux box that you are free to modify. As installed and/or delivered the HMC is part of the LIC (Licensed Internal Code) used to manage the hardware - just as Hypervisor is part of the Power5 firware is also LIC - and is used to manage the hardware.

Especially if you are meaning it for Oracle management - continue using your PC solution, or possibly create a double boot PC (with Linux as second boot) if you are not wanting to continue paying license fees for Exceed.

Actually, if the problem is license fees for Exceed or any PC based X-server software there are sure to be others here on the forum with suggestions for "free" solutions.

One I have used within secure networks is vnc. On the Bull software site there is a vnc.server package for AIX. And there are many vnc clients for PC's available.

Using VNC the solution would be:
1) download package from Bull
2) install package (freeware.vnc is package name I believe, or vnc.freeware) using installp
3) run vncserver. Note that vncserver doesnt like hostnames with domainname included. the command hostname shold return a shortname (as www, rather than www.rootvg.net).
4) download and install a vnc client on a PC
5) connect to AIX system using vnc_client.
6) it should look on PC as if you had a hardware graphics card installed (e.g. Dt can be used, or just straight X11).

Thanks,
I understand what you mean !
I think if you ask IBM for PE password you will be warned about warranty that will automatiquely broken ! Do you confirm ?

So I want just to prouve the faisability on the technical plan The decision to adopt it permanently will be made later.

Another option for X on a Windows PC is CygWin http://www.cygwin.com. It is a Linux compatible API for Windows (implemented as a DLL). It runs X and has most of the the major GNU tools ported to it. I've used it in the past and it's a great way to add X to a Windows box for free.

my goal is to work with hmc as the X server. Other solutions (like cygwin, exceed, vnc ) are already tested and are not the subjet of this question.
So lets focus on HMC and see what can give us !

Not sure if they will even give you a PE password for this. That password only works 24 hours btw.
 AFAIK: it is not an intended function of the HMC. There may be a way around the 'security' settings of the HMC - I assume there is actually - but I am neither inclined nor willing to recommend using the HMC as an X server.

Do you an idea how to access as root user ?
 

The procedure described in the article you referred to explained it quite well.

Basically, it requires you to make a service call to IBM,provide the serial number of the HMC concerned, and request a one-day password to be able to access a regular shell. From this regular shell you are able to perform the command 'su' to switch user to root.

My experience is that they only provide the special password when there are problems in the 'regular' use of the HMC that cannot be solved using the standard interface. One example is starting a particular diagnostic program to get additional log reporting to assist in resolving a problem, or error message, that a standard program is reporting.

In other words, IBM support is not suppossed to give you a password because you request it but because there is another call already open that needs extra information that might be available to you as root. Generally, they will have a list of commands for you to perform as root as well.

I heard spoken about a procedure to install Oracle from HMC console. Does any have an idea about the procedure ?