Lukas Beeler’s IT Blog

After IBM shipped us a new 515, the control panel displayed “HMC = 0″. The machine wasn’t ordered with a HMC, the customer wanted to use it with his already existing Twinax console.

Resetting the machine to a non-HMC state without a HMC is not clearly documented, but still easily doable, as long as you can access the ASMI.

Access the ASMI is a simple process, all you need is a laptop and a piece of CAT5 cable. From there, you can reset the ASMI which will remove the HMC affinity from the control panel display.

Problems might arise if someone screwed up and you no longer know the IP addresses on the two FSP ports on the back (labeled HMC 1, 2). In this case, you need to remove the FSP assembly and switch the DIP switch or jumper located on it to the other position (you can leave it there after doing so). This is a bit more invasive, but easily doable.