Hardware Management Console. The IBM Hardware Management Console for pSeries is an | installation and service support processor that runs only the HMC | software. For an IBM pSeries 690 server to run the PSSP | software, an HMC is required with a network connection to the PSSP control | workstation . The HMC provides the following functions for the p690 | server: || Creating and maintaining a multiple partition environment | Detecting, reporting, and storing changes in hardware conditions | Acting as a focal point for service representatives to determine an | appropriate service strategy