## 10.4 Remote Support Facility 

The HMC Remote Support Facility (RSF) provides important communication to a centralized IBM support network for hardware problem reporting and service. The following types of communication are provided: 

GLYPH<SM590000> Problem reporting and repair data 

GLYPH<SM590000> Microcode Change Level (MCL) delivery 

GLYPH<SM590000> Hardware inventory data, which is also known as vital product data (VPD) 

GLYPH<SM590000> On-demand enablement 

Consideration:  RSF through a modem is not supported on the z15 HMC. Broadband connectivity is needed for hardware problem reporting and service. 

## 10.4.1 Security characteristics 

The following security characteristics are in effect: 

GLYPH<SM590000> RSF requests always are started from the HMC to IBM. An inbound connection is never started from the IBM Service Support System. 

GLYPH<SM590000> All data that is transferred between the HMC and the IBM Service Support System is encrypted with high-grade SSL/Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption. 

GLYPH<SM590000> When starting the SSL/TLS-encrypted connection, the HMC validates the trusted host with the digital signature that is issued for the IBM Service Support System. 

GLYPH<SM590000> Data that is sent to the IBM Service Support System consists of hardware problems and configuration data. 

More information: For more information about the benefits of Broadband RSF and the SSL/TLS-secured protocol, and a sample configuration for the Broadband RSF connection, see Integrating the HMC Broadband Remote Support Facility into Your Enterprise , SC28-6986. 

## 10.4.2 RSF connections to IBM and Enhanced IBM Service Support System 

If the HMC and SE are at Driver 22 or later, the driver uses a new remote infrastructure at IBM when the HMC connects through RSF for certain tasks. Check your network infrastructure settings to ensure that this new infrastructure works. 

At the time of this writing, RSF still uses the “traditional” RETAIN co nnection. You must add access to the new Enhanced IBM Service Support System to your current RSF infrastructure (proxy, firewall, and so on). 

To have the best availability and redundancy and to be prepared for the future, the HMC must access IBM by using the internet through RSF in the following manner: Transmission to the enhanced IBM Support System requires a domain name server (DNS). The DNS must be configured on the HMC if a proxy for RSF is not used. If a proxy for RSF is used, the proxy must provide the DNS. 

The following host names and IP addresses are used and your network infrastructure must allow the HMC to access the following host names: 

GLYPH<SM590000> www-945.ibm.com on port 443 

GLYPH<SM590000> esupport.ibm.com on port 443 

