User:Aslantis/Getting a console to a power8 server

You're here because you have an IBM Power8 server and don't know how to get a flipping shell to it. Let me (try to) save you the trip to hell.

Note: the following systems were tested: s824, s822L

Option 1: Serial
Most (if not all) IBM Power8 server serial ports use an RJ-45 connector. IBM calls this port the "System Port". However, it probably won't work with most normal RJ-45 serial cables. It needs a "null modem" (also called "crossover") cable. For this, there are three options:


 * Use the official cable. The part number is . It can be found on ebay, but it's not extremely cheap.
 * Use any RJ-45 <-> DB9 cable and a DB9 <-> USB cable, where exactly one is a null modem cable, or there is a DB9 null modem adapter in the middle.
 * Adapt an existing RJ-45 <-> USB cable's pinouts. I tried this and was unsuccessful (I think, I actually might have just been impatient for the machine to boot in retrospect). There are two types of null modem cables: simple TX <-> RX wire swaps (easy to do) or a full "handshake" pinout.

You may need to open the webGUI and set  to.

Because I was too stubborn to spend more $$$ and too irritated by constantly crossing wires, I spent a few hours to find another way to do it over a networked BMC (the service processor), the next option.

Option 2: Telnet
lemme figure out exactly which steps were required for this.

Option 3: ipmitool
ipmitool is jank and would not connect to my system for anything. Waste your time down this path at your own risk.

Option 4: HMC or vHMC
I am too stubborn to do this, but can get the instructions for this from a friend.