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8-Port Value-Line Console Server QS Guide
Quick Start Guide
This Quick Start Guide helps you through installation, configuration,
and local operation. For more details, refer to the user manual
on CD-ROM.
LES1508A
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8-Port Value-Line Console Server Quick Start Guide
Trademarks Used in this Manual
Black Box and the Double Diamond logo are r egistered trademarks of
BB Technologies, Inc.
Cisco is a registered trademark of Cisco Technology, Inc.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Nagios is a registered trademark of Nagi os E nterprises.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this m anual are acknowledged to be the
property of the trademark owners.
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8-Port Value-Line Console Server Quick Start Guide
Follow the steps listed below to get started:
Step 1: Check kit contents.
LES1508A 8-Port Value-Line Console Server with Cisco® serial pinouts
This printed quick start guide
(1) CD-ROM containing a user’s manual in PDF format
(2) UTP cables
(1) DB9F-RJ-45 adapter straight-pinned
(1) DB9F-RJ-45 adapter crossover-pinned
Universal input 12-VDC power pack
Step 2: Connect the hardware.
Plug the power pack into the AC power receptacle and connect the DC
power cable to the 12 VDC power socket on t he Value-Line Console
Server.
Connect the ETH1 port to your network.
Connect your serial devices to the SERIAL ports. Your Value-Line
Console Server has eight RJ-45 serial ports. The RJ-45 serial connectors
have Cisco serial pinouts:
PIN
SIGNAL
DEFINITION
1
CTS
Clear To Send
2
DSR
Data Set Ready
3
RXD
Receive Data
4
GND
Signal Ground
5
GND
Signal Ground
6
TXD
Transmit Data
7
DTR
Data Terminal Ready
8
RTS
Request To Send
Figure 1. Cisco serial pinouts.
Step 3: Set up the console server.
The default Value-Line Console Server I P address is 192.168.0.1 (subnet
mask 255.255.255.0). With a Web browser on any computer that is
connected through the network to the Value-Line Console Server:
• Enter https://192.168.0.1 into t he address bar.
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NOTE: The network-connected comput er must have an IP address in the
same network range (192.168.0.xxx) as the Value-Line Console Server. If
this is not convenient, you can use the ARP Ping command to set the IP
address (refer to the user manual for de tails). The Value-Line Console
Server also has its DHCP client enabled by default, so it will automatically
accept any network IP address assigned by any DHCP server on your
network—and will then respond at both 192.168.0.1 and its DHCP address.
Log in using the default system user name: root, and the default
password: default. A Welcome screen listing the basic configuratio n steps
is displayed.
Select “Change the default administration pas sword on the Users page”,
enter and confirm a new password for root, and click “Apply.”
Figure 2. Serial & Network: User & Groups screen.
To assign your Value-Line Console Se rver a static IP address or to
permanently enable DHCP, select “System: IP” then “Network Interface”
and check “DHCP” or “Static” for configuration method.
By default, only HTTPS and SSH acces s is enabled to the Value-Line
Console Server itself. Use Serv i ce A ccess menu on System: Services to
change this, and to change access privileges for connected serial and
network devices.
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Figure 3. System: Services screen.
Note: The LES1508-A Value-Line Console Server comes with a second
network port (ETH2). This network is inactive by default; however it can be
set up to provide network failover/out-of-band access, or to provide a local
Management LAN.
Note: Use the Forwarding & Networking menu on System: Firewall to permit
remote IP access to devices on Networ k or Management LAN.
Step 4: Configure serial and network devices.
Select “Serial & Network: Serial Port,” which will display the label, mode,
and protocol options currently set for the serial port. By default, all the
serial ports, except Port 1, are set to console server mode (see the user‘s
manual for other modes).
Figure 3. Serial & Network: Serial Port screen.
To configure a serial port, click “Edit.”
Configure the common settings (baud rate, parity, data bits, stop bits, and
flow control) to match those of the serial device being controlled.
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Select the console server protocols (Tel net, SSH, TCP, and RFC2217)
that will be used for the data connection to the serial port.
NOTE: Port 1 is configured by default in Local Consol e (modem) mode. Use
the crossover-pinned DB9F-RJ-45 adapter and UTP cable to connect to a
terminal emulator application on your PC’s serial COM port. If you plan to
use OoB dial-in access, connect this se rial port to an external modem as
covered in detail in the user manual on the CD-ROM.
Click “Apply.”
To enable access through the Value-Lin e Console Server to a locally
networked computer (referred to as a host), select “Serial & Network:
Network Hosts” and click “Add Host.”
Figure 4. Serial & Network: Network Hosts screen.
Enter the IP address/DNS name of the host.
Edit the permitted services used for accessing this host, for example,
HTTPS (TCP port 443), VNC (TCP port 5900), or add custom TCP or
UDP port numbers—only the services specified here are tunneled
through to the host. All other services are blocked.
Specify the level of information to be logged and monitored for each host
access.
Click “Apply.”
Step 5: Add new users.
NOTE: We recommend that you set up a new Admi nistrator user (in the
admin group with full access privileges) and log in as this new user for all
ongoing administration function s (r ather than continuing as root).
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For each new user, select “Serial & Network: Users & Groups” and click
“Add User.”
Enter a username and enter and confirm a password.
Figure 5. Serial & Network: Users & Groups screen.
Select one or multiple group members hips for the user. To grant limited
access to the management console, check the “users” group. To grant ful l
access to the management console, check the “admin” group. By default,
the user is granted no management con sole access.
Nominate the dial-in options for the user and the accessible hosts and
accessible ports the user is allowed to access.
Click “Apply.”
Note: The Value-Line Console Server comes with a default certificate for
initial configuration purposes only. Y ou will need to direct your browser to
(temporarily) proceed and accept this untrusted certificate. It is
recommended as soon as possible ther eafter you generate and install a new
trusted certificate. To produce the unique CSR and later upload the newly
issued certificate, select System: SSL Certificates.
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Step 7: Advanced configurations.
The Value-Line Console Server offers many more advanced functions,
including:
The Alerts & Logging: Auto Response facility monitors serial ports, hosts,
user logins, UPSs (uninterruptible po wer supplies), and RPCs (remote
power controllers such as PDUs and IPMI devices). A broad selection of
trigger events (such as data pattern s, temperature, or battery levels) can
be specified. When triggered, a warning e-mail, SMS, Nagios®, or SNMP
alert can be sent to a nominated destinat i on or a user defined local
response sequence can be initiated (suc h as power cycling a device).
Extensive management of UPSs and RPCs using Open Source NUT and
Powerman tools. The Manage: Powe r f acil ity enables both administrators
and regular users to monitor and cont rol attached PDU power strips, and
servers with embedded IPMI BMCs.
Historical logs of all communications with serial and network-attached
devices, system activity, UPS and PDU power status, environmental
status, etc. The level of logging is set as ports and devices are
configured. Alerts & Logging: P ort Log allows this history to be saved
locally or remotely. Logs can be viewed f rom the Status and Manage
menus.
Other advanced features, such as serial port cascading, remote
authentication, trusted network s, secure tunneling, Nagios distributed
monitoring, and the command line int erface are covered in detail in the
user manual on the CD-ROM.
NOTE: On the CD-ROM you will find the SDT Connector software tool.
Once you have configured the console server, this tool provides you with
secure, point-and-click access to t he console server and all the attached
devices. Refer to the provided SDT Conn ect or Quick Start for details on
setting up remote management of the console server and connected
devices.
NOTE: On the CD-ROM, you will also find PortShare software, which
enables applications on your Windows® or Linux® PC/server/virtual server
to control serial port devices attach ed t o a Value-Line Console Server.
To use PortShare, configure the Value-Line Console Server serial port in
console server mode and specify the appropriate protocol (either RFC2117
or RAW) to be used (see the user‘s ma nual for details).
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NOTES
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NOTES
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LES1508A QSG, rev. 1
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