ClearCube I Port Quick Reference Guide

I/Port User’s Guide

Rev. C

Technical Support

Please refer to our support website for technical updates, additional warranty
information and documentation, and software revisions:

Web: http://support.clearcube.com

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone] or call toll free [phone] (United States)

ClearCube Technology Corporate Headquarters

Mailing and Shipping Address:

The ClearCube Building
8834 Capital of Texas Hwy N.
Austin, Texas 78759
Email: [e-mail]
Main Phone: [phone] or call toll free [phone] (United States)
Main Fax: [phone]

Copyrights

©2005 – 2007 by ClearCube Technology Inc. All rights reserved. Under copyright
laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval
system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of
ClearCube Technology, Inc.

This information is subject to change without notice and ClearCube shall not be liable
for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages in connection
with the use of this material.

Trademarks

ClearCube™, Sentral™, Blade Switching BackPack™, PC Blade™, C/Port™, and
I/Port™ are trademarks of ClearCube Technology Inc. Product and company names
mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

Patents

The ClearCube Architecture and its components described in this user manual are
protected by numerous granted and pending U.S. and international patents.
Granted patents include: US05926172, US05966056, US05994952, US06012101,
US06020839, US06037884, US06038616, US06119146, US06148182,
US06167241, US06385666, US06421393, US06426970, US06633934,
US06708247, US06735658, and US06886055.

Patents pending include: US S/N 09/755378, US S/N 10/279475, US S/N 10/198719,
US S/N 10/198650, US S/N 10/409219, US S/N 09/728667, US S/N 09/728669, US
S/N 10/411804, US S/N 10/411908, US S/N 10/458853, US S/N 10/364584, US S/N
10/301536, US S/N 60/411066, US S/N 10/662933, US S/N 10/662889, US S/N
10/662932, US S/N 10/662968, US S/N 10/301563, US S/N 10/662936, US S/N
10/301518, US S/N 10/662955 and US S/N 10/662954.

Inquiries regarding patented technology should be directed to ClearCube Corporate
Headquarters.

Contents

Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii

Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

How to Use this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

FCC Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

California Proposition 65 Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

WEEE Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Warning Regarding Medical and Clinical Use of ClearCube Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Symbols. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Safety Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

ClearCube I/Port Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Operating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Eon e100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

I8820 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

I8020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

I8330 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Supporting Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

I/Port Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Caution Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Cable Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Unpacking the I/Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Installing the I/Port on the Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Configuring the Sentral Console for the I/Port Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Configuring the PC Blade for the I/Port Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Configuring the XPe I/Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Configuring NeoLinux I/Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Configuring the I8330 I/Port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Updating I/Port Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

General Recommendations for I/Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C Contents • i

Figures

Figure 1 ClearCube I/Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Figure 2 ClearCube I/Port Architecture Cabling Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Figure 3 I8020 / I8820 Port Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Figure 4 I8330 Port Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Figure 5 Eon e100 Port Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Figure 6 Remote Desktop (RDP) Configuration Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Figure 7 RDP Display Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Figure 8 RDP Local Resources Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Figure 9 RDP Experience Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Tables

Table 1 I8330 Setup Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Table 2 e100 I/Port Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Table 3 I8020 I/Port Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Table 4 I8820 I/Port Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Table 5 I8330 I/Port Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

ii • Figures ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Introduction

How to Use this Guide

Thank you for purchasing your quality ClearCube products. The ClearCube
Architecture was developed to bring you unprecedented levels of manageability,
security, reliability, and space savings. The ease of use of ClearCube’s products
makes installation straightforward.

This manual provides all the product and installation information needed to set up and
run ClearCube Technology’s I/Port Architecture for managed desktop environments.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the ClearCube Architecture and
product descriptions and read through the entire installation and setup procedures
before beginning installation.

If you encounter any problems, please contact our Technical Support using the
contact information provided on the inside front cover of this manual.

FCC Warning

This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in strict accordance with the instructions in this manual, may cause interference
to radio and television reception. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
ClearCube Technology could void the user's authority to operate the equipment under
the FCC Rules.

California Proposition 65 Statement

WARNING: ClearCube products contain chemicals, including lead,

known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other
reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.

ClearCube products should be disposed of in accordance with local laws governing
computer equipment disposal.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C Introduction • 1

WEEE Information

The products described in this document are subject to regulation under the European
Union Directive 2002/96/EC, that mandates separate waste collection, treatment, and
recycling of electronic products. This directive is commonly known as WEEE, for
Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment, and its intent is to promote the safe
and sensible disposal of products that have outlived their usefulness.

The “crossed-out” trash bin symbol, shown to the left, identifies products that should
be recycled, not simply discarded. ClearCube Technology supports the reuse,
recycling, recovery, and responsible disposal of all products, not just our systems.

ClearCube Technology is committed to meeting the requirements of the European
Union WEEE Directive and is currently developing country-specific implementation
plans that comply with the WEEE legislation. The goal of the directive is to reduce the
environmental impact due to the disposal of electrical and electronic equipment that
has reached the end of its useful service life. This directive goes into enforcement on
August 13, 2005.

ClearCube products are sold exclusively to commercial and industrial customers and
not to private households. Under the WEEE legislation terms, commercial and
industrial customers have the responsibility to ensure that all electrical and electronic
equipment is disposed of properly and in accordance with all applicable laws and local
regulations. For more information, visit the ClearCube Technology web site at

www.clearcube.com

[phone].

Materials used in this product, if not disposed of properly, could have adverse effects
on the environment and human health. Do not dispose of these products in unsorted
municipal waste containers. Deliver electronic waste only to an approved recycling,
and/or treatment facility. If one is not available, contact ClearCube for assistance.

, email at [e-mail], or call at [phone] or

Warning Regarding Medical and Clinical Use of

ClearCube Products

ClearCube products are not designed with components and testing for a level of
reliability suitable for use in or in connection with surgical implants or as critical
components in any life support systems whose failure to perform can reasonably be
expected to cause significant injury to a human. Applications of ClearCube products
involving medical or clinical treatment can create a potential for death or bodily injury
caused by product failure, or by errors on the part of the user. Because each end-user
system environment is customized and differs from ClearCube testing platforms and
because a user may use ClearCube products in combination with other products in a
manner not evaluated or contemplated by ClearCube, the user is ultimately
responsible for verifying and validating the suitability of ClearCube products whenever
ClearCube products are incorporated in a system, including, without limitation, the
appropriate design, process and safety level of such system or application.

2 • Introduction ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Symbols

Symbols are used on the equipment to convey specific information to the operator and
service person. It is important to understand the intended meaning of these symbols.
Below are the graphical symbols that are used on ClearCube Technology, Inc.
Products and their meaning.

Refer to Manual

Used on the equipment’s rating label to direct the operator or service person
to the manual for additional information.

Power

Identifies the soft-start switch located on rear of the blade, used to power the
blade on and off.

Fuse

Located on equipment rating label. Symbol is accompanied with the specifi­cations needed for replacement. Only qualified technicians should perform
this operation.

Protective Earth Terminal

Identifies the terminal that is used to connect all metal parts of the enclosure
through an external conductor to ground for the protection against electrical
shock in a fault condition.

Equipment Protection Class II

May be located on the power adapter’s rating label. Indicates that equipment
is double insulated from hazardous voltages. Not to be confused with “Class
2” that is a US National Electrical Code (NEC) circuit classification.

These same symbols are used within this document where appropriate to indicate
situations that merit checking this or another manual, or situations that could result in
damage to equipment or physical injury.

CAUTION: A Caution notice in this manual indicates that equipment
damage or minor injury may result if proper procedures are not followed.

WARNING – A Warning notice in this manual indicates that
catastrophic equipment damage, or serious injury including death
may result if proper procedures are not followed.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C Introduction • 3

Safety Guidelines

Before undertaking any troubleshooting or maintenance procedure, read carefully all
WARNING and CAUTION notices. This equipment contains voltage hazardous to
human life and is capable of inflicting personal injury.

• Installations – ClearCube equipment is required to be installed in accordance
with the local electrical codes and may be subject to inspection by the authority
having jurisdiction.

• Chassis Grounding – ClearCube’s chassis and Fiber Transceiver has been
designed with a three-conductor IEC 60320 appliance inlet that – with the proper
power cord – connects the building’s external protective earthing conductor to all
accessible metal parts of the enclosure. To minimize shock hazard, make sure
your electrical power outlet has an appropriate earth safety ground that is
connected each time you power on the equipment.

Swedish safety regulations require the following statement:

—Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag när den anslutas till ett nätuerk.—

Finnish safety regulations require the following statement:

— Laite on liitettävä suojamaadoituskoskettimilla varustettuun pistorasiaan.—

• Power Cord Selection – ClearCube or ClearCube’s Distributors provides power
cords that are specifically designed for use with that particular piece of equipment
and are approved for use by the local authority having jurisdiction in the country
where the equipment is put into service. Please refer to the installation sections of
this manual for specific power cord requirements. For replacement of power
cords, refer to Appendix C – Technical Support.

• Power Adapters – ClearCube or ClearCube’s Distributors provides power
adapters that are specifically designed for use with that particular piece of
equipment and are approved for use by the local authority having jurisdiction in
the country where the equipment is put into service. Please refer to the installation
sections of this manual for specific power cord requirements. For replacement of
power cords, refer to Appendix C – Technical Support.

• IT Power Systems – ClearCube equipment has been evaluated and found to be
compatible with IT power distribution systems with a phase-to-phase voltage not
to exceed 240 V.

• Live Circuits – Operating personnel and service personnel must not remove
protective covers when operating the ClearCube chassis. Adjustments and
service to internal components must be undertaken by qualified service
technicians. During any service of this product other than replacing a PC blade or
the fan tray, the main connector to the premise wiring must be disconnected.
Dangerous voltages may be present under certain conditions. Use extreme
caution.

• Explosive Atmosphere – Do not operate the chassis in conditions where
flammable gases are present. Under such conditions this equipment is unsafe
and may ignite the gases or gas fumes.

• Part Replacement – Only service equipment with parts that are exact
replacements, both electrically and mechanically. Contact ClearCube Technology
for replacement part information. Installation of parts that are not direct

4 • Introduction ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

replacements will void the warranty and may cause harm to personnel operating
the chassis. Furthermore, damage or fire may occur if replacement parts are
unsuitable.

• Modification – Do not modify any part of the I/Port, chassis, or PC blade from its

original condition. Modifications may result in hazards.

CAUTION: Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures
other than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation
exposure.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C Introduction • 5

ClearCube I/Port Overview

The ClearCube architecture delivers Intel-based PC functionality to the desktop from
a secure, centralized location. This results in dramatic increases in manageability and
security while providing mission-critical reliability, performance, and uptime
improvements with lowered costs. Replacing a traditional PC box with a ClearCube
C/Port or I/Port in an office or cubicle also saves space, eliminates fan noise and
simplifies cabling resulting in a clear cube. The key components of the ClearCube
Architecture are:

• PC Blade – a remotely-located, Intel-based computer in a dense form factor.

• Chassis – a centralized PC blade housing that provides the power for each PC

blades and accepts a wide variety of chassis modules.

• Chassis Module – a modular interface card that plugs into a chassis and
provides User Port, management, and network connections.

• User Port – a remote desktop unit (C/Port or I/Port) to which standard peripherals
are connected.

• System Management – ClearCube Management Suite software and monitoring
hardware that is built into the blades, chassis, and User Ports.

The ClearCube I/Port is a User Port that connects to PC blades over a standard
Ethernet network. The I/Port delivers video and peripheral signals to a local user from
a centralized PC blade, just like the C/Port. However, the key difference is that the
I/Port connection uses the Ethernet protocol, allowing it to work over standard
switched networks. Therefore, the I/Port does not require a point-to-point connection
to a blade (no homerun cabling needed).

The I/Port extends the ClearCube product line to let IT managers use their existing IP
network and cabling infrastructure regardless of the distance between users' desktops
and their centralized PC blades.

This brief guide is devoted to the following I/Ports:

• I8020 – NeoLinux operating system

• I8820 – Windows XPe operating system

• Eon e100 – Available with Windows XPe or NeoLinux operating system

• I8330 – OS-independent

Figure 1 shows the ClearCube family of I/Ports. Figure 2 on page 12 shows the
connections between I/Ports and PC blades installed in the data center.

6 • ClearCube I/Port Overview ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

I8020 / I8820

Operating Systems

ClearCube I/Ports are available with Windows XPe or Neoware NeoLinux operating
systems, depending on the I/Port model.

Windows XP Embedded (XPe)

Based on the same binary code as the Microsoft flagship operating system, Windows
XP Professional, Windows XPe offers the power of Windows XP in a compact,
componentized form.

NeoLinux

NeoLinux is a tailored version of Linux that is targeted at and optimized for a broad
range of information appliances like I/Ports. NeoLinux features a secure, read-only file
system that's virtually virus proof because applications run on the PC blade, not the
local I/Port desktop. Neoware employs a hardened default security profile and a
streamlined user security environment.

Eon e100

I8330

Figure 1 ClearCube I/Ports

Both operating systems have the advantage of being remotely manageable using
ClearCube Sentral and Neoware ezRemote Manager software.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C ClearCube I/Port Overview • 7

Eon e100

I8820

The Eon e100 connects to any ClearCube PC blade over standard Ethernet
infrastructure that may include routers, switches, hubs and media converters. This
means the distance between a PC blade and the desktop can be unlimited provided
that sufficient network bandwidth is available. The Eon e100 is available with either
the Windows XPe or the NeoLinux operating system.

The Eon e100 I/Port provides a mezzanine PCI slot to allow adding expansion cards
that enhance the device’s usability.

The I8820 features Windows XPe as the operating system. The small form factor of
the I8820 I/Port allows customers to easily mount the I8820 under desks, vertically on
walls, or behind a monitor using the optional mounting bracket.

Connecting to blades using RDP, the I8820 I/Port delivers video and peripheral
signals to the user using Ethernet, eliminating distance limitations between the blade
and user. The I8820 supports ClearCube Sentral, which sets up and dynamically
allocate the RDP connections between the I/Ports and blades. Additionally, Sentral
provides sparing and dynamic allocation capabilities for ClearCube I/Ports.

I8020

I8330

The I8020 runs an embedded Linux operating system called NeoLinux. The I8020
features the same form factor as the I8820, allowing the same flexibility in mounting at
the user’s work space.

Like the I8820, the I8020 eliminates any distance limitations between the blade and
user by using RDP. Existing Windows XP blades can work with the NeoLinux-based
I8020 without requiring any upgrades. The I8020 also supports Sentral.

The I8330 is the first product in a new class of I/Ports that connect over Ethernet but
do not use RDP as the extension protocol. Because this technology eliminates the
need for an operating system on the desktop device, I8330 I/Ports are totally
impervious to viruses.

8 • ClearCube I/Port Overview ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Supporting Software

The following applications work together to enable and enhance I/Port functionality:

• Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

• ClearCube Sentral

• Neoware ezRemote Manager

• I83xx Driver and Admin Utility

Remote Desktop Protocol

Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a presentation protocol that allows the
I/Port to communicate with a PC blade. RDP works across any TCP/IP connection,
such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or virtual private
network (VPN) connection. RDP is the delivery mechanism for video, mouse,
keyboard, and USB communications between the I/Port and the PC blade.

When using Remote Desktop Protocol from the I/Port, many of the local I/Port
resources are available within the session, for example:

• Peripheral Redirection – RDP includes the capability to redirect a limited set of

peripherals to the user's PC blade. This means that peripherals plugged into the
local I/Port will appear as if they were actually plugged into the user's PC blade.
However, RDP only supports redirection on a limited set of peripherals.
Specifically, the only supported peripherals on I/Ports are mass storage, printers,
serial ports and smart card readers.

• Audio – The audio streams, such as

speaker connection. RDP provides downstream audio only. RDP only supports
audio out (i.e., from the blade to the I/Port) so speakers connected to an I/Port can
play sound generated by the PC blade. However, audio in (i.e., from the I/Port to
the blade) isn't supported by RDP so audio devices such as microphones cannot
transmit back to the PC blade.

.wav and .mp3 files, play through the I/Port’s

ClearCube Sentral Software

ClearCube Sentral provides IT administrators with a comprehensive set of features and
functionality for managing their I/Port environments. Sentral can optimize hardware
utilization by dynamically allocating I/Ports to a defined pool of PC blades.

Sentral tracks blade loading statistics and automatically initiates a connection to the
least utilized blade when each user logs on. Power users can be mapped to an
individual blade ensuring maximum performance. Auto discovery of I/Ports and blades
makes it easy to inventory and manage assets. In addition, an update feature makes it
easy to update the Sentral Client on each I/Port when new software versions are
made available. Finally, Sentral delivers server-level availability to end users by
enabling Administrators to easily switch an I/Port user to a spare blade should they
experience a problem.

Neoware ezRemote Manager Software

Neoware ezRemote Manager is a remote management tool for keeping I/Ports
up-to-date and is used as a companion to Sentral. ezRemote Manager is based on a
straightforward, easy-to-use interface that allows administrators to remotely push
drivers, applications, and security updates via snap-ins, to a single I/Port or an entire

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C ClearCube I/Port Overview • 9

enterprise. Snap-ins are deployment packages that can automatically install
peripheral drivers or local applications such as VPN clients. ezRM can fully re-image a
device in order to deploy a customized image enterprise-wide or for disaster recovery
on individual devices. ezRM is also the tool for keeping XPe based units up-to-date
with Microsoft security updates.

I8330 Software

I8330 I/Ports do not require any software to be installed on them, but they require the
I83xx Driver installed on client blades and the I83xx Admin Utility installed on your
Sentral server system(s).

• I83xx Driver – Each blade to which an I8330 connects must have the I83xx Driver
installed on it. This option is selectable at install time in the Sentral blade client
installer.

• I83xx Admin Utility – If I8330 I/Ports are used in your Sentral installation, you
also need the I83xx Admin Utility installed on your Sentral server system(s). This
option is selectable at install time in the Sentral server installer.

NOTE: Do not install the I83xx Driver and the I83xx Admin Utility on the same

system.

10 • ClearCube I/Port Overview ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

I/Port Installation

Caution Statements

Improper connection, mounting, or use of this product could result in component
failure or undesired interference. Read the following caution statements before setting
up and operating your I/Port.

Setup

• Do not connect to AC power until all other connections are made, including the

power adapter. Connecting or disconnecting components or equipment on the
back panel when the I/Port is receiving AC power can cause power surges and
damage the device.

• Do not force a connector into its socket. If any undue resistance is encountered,

ensure that the connector is correctly oriented to the receptacle.

• Do not attach the I/Port to a telephone jack or other powered network connection.

This will permanently damage the I/Port. This damage is not covered under the
ClearCube Technology limited warranty.

Orientation and Venting

• Allow sufficient space around the I/Port for ventilation. Do not place the device in

any enclosure that restricts airflow around the device. Do not place any objects on
the device. Product environmental specifications are listed on page 29.

• Mount the Eon e100 I/Port only vertically. Improper orientation could inhibit the

dissipation of heat from the device and damage it.

• The I8020 and I8820 can be mounted horizontally or vertically. An optional

mounting bracket is available from ClearCube. Provide adequate clearance
around the I/Port for cooling.

• The I8330 can be mounted horizontally or vertically. Provide adequate clearance

around the I/Port for cooling.

Power Sources

• To ensure regulatory compliance, use only the power supply included in the

shipping carton with the I/Port, or a ClearCube-approved equivalent.

• Surge protectors for electrical devices are recommended in areas of frequent

lightning. However, when lightning is occurring, your equipment should be
properly shut down and unplugged from AC power until the storm has passed.

• Be careful to not interrupt power while the I/Port is receiving a software update.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 11

Cable Requirements

For I/Port installations, you need eight CAT5 cables per chassis to connect the blades
to your network switch. You will not need to connect any cables to the C/Port
connections. With I/Ports, the cables going to the desktop are connected directly to
your network switch. Figure 2 provides schematics of the cabling required to connect
your chassis to I/Ports and your Ethernet network.

with I/Ports

Data CenterUser Desktops

Chassis

Admin C/Port

and Terminal

Ethernet

Cables

Network

Switch

Figure 2 ClearCube I/Port Architecture Cabling Diagram

Unpacking the I/Port

When unpacking the I/Port, you will find one of each of the following items:

• I/Port unit

• I/Port power supply and power cord (optional for some regions)

• Optional mouse and keyboard (may be shipped separately)

Installing the I/Port on the Desktop

To install an I/Port, do the following:

1. Place the I/Port on a desktop or other solid structure.

12 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

2. Make connections as shown in Figure 3 through Figure 5, depending on your

I/Port.

CAUTION: Do not attach the I/Port to a telephone jack. This will
permanently damage the I/Port. This damage is not covered under the
ClearCube Technology limited warranty.

11

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1.

Power supply connector

2. VGA video port 6. USB 1.1 port (rear panel) 10. USB 1.1 ports (front panel)

3. PS/2 mouse port

4. PS/2 keyboard port 8. Audio line out

5. Serial port 9. Audio line in (local use only)

7.

10/100 BaseT Ethernet port

Figure 3 I8020 / I8820 Port Connections

11. On/Off switch

1

1.

USB 1.1 ports (four)

2. 10/100 BaseT Ethernet port 6. Microphone in 10. Kensington lock slot

3. PS/2 mouse port 7. Audio line out

4. PS/2 keyboard port 8.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

5. VGA video port 9.

Power supply connector

Figure 4 I8330 Port Connections

Power switch

10

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 13

1.

Power supply connector

2. PS/2 keyboard port

3. PS/2 mouse port

4. Audio line out

5. Audio line in

6. Serial ports

7. Parallel port

10

9

6

8. VGA video port

9.

10/100 BaseT Ethernet port

10.

USB 2.0 ports (back panel)

11. Network activity LED

12. Power LED

13. On/Off switch

14. USB 2.0 ports (front panel)

11

8

12

7

6

4

5

3

2

13

14

1

Figure 5 Eon e100 Port Connections

3. Connect the power cord.

4. Press the power push-button on the I/Port to turn power on.

5. Enable any necessary ports on your switches and routers. Sentral uses ports
6502 UDP, 4001 UDP, 9000 TCP and 9000 UDP. RDP uses port 3389 TCP and
port 139 UDP. Your individual network may use other ports besides these.

NOTE: If using DHCP, verify that name resolution is activated to detect

non-Windows-based systems and that the DNS server is registering the
I/Port.

14 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Configuring the Sentral Console for the I/Port Connection

In its default configuration, Sentral auto-detects I/Ports when they are connected to a
Sentral-managed network, but some additional configuration is required. To configure
the Sentral console for your I/Port connection, do the following:

1. If using I8330 I/Ports, install the I8330 Admin Utility on the Sentral Console

system.

2. At the Sentral console, run Discovery to discover the I/Port. If the UDP Push

Discovery parameter in the Sentral Console Configuration is set to True,
credentials for the Primary and Secondary Sentral Servers are pushed out to the
I/Port. If the UDP Push Discovery parameter is set to False, right-click on the
I/Port in the Sentral Hierarchical menu, and manually configure the Primary and
Secondary Servers.

3. Add the I/Port to an I/Port Group.

4. Allocate the I/Port or I/Port Group to a blade, a Blade Group, or a Virtual Machine

(VM).

Configuring the PC Blade for the I/Port Connection

The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is used to connect your I/Port to a PC blade
running Windows XP Professional. The I/Port and PC blade can be located anywhere
– across the hall, across town, or across an ocean from each other – provided that
you have network access from the I/Port to the PC blade, you have sufficient network
bandwidth (> 50 kbps for each I/Port), and you have the appropriate permissions set
up on the blade.

ClearCube Sentral software is used for initiating connections from I/Ports to blades.
Please see the Sentral Administrator’s Guide for installation and configuration details.
You can also initiate sessions directly from a I/Port by using the local RDP client
connection tool.

In order to connect to a PC blade from an I/Port, the PC blade must first allow
incoming RDP connections. To set up the blade for this, you need a C/Port to connect
directly to the blade.

1. From the Start Menu of the blade, select Settings Æ Control Panel Æ System.

2. Click the Remote tab to open the Remote Desktop (RDP) configuration.

3. Check the Allow users to remotely connect to this computer option.

4. Click OK to save the configuration and close the System control panel.

NOTE: Remote desktop access is not required for I8330 connections, but may be

desirable for administrative purposes.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 15

Configuring the XPe I/Port

The XPe-based I8820 and e100 auto-start to a Windows XPe desktop with a limited
set of applications, including the ClearCube Sentral client and the Microsoft Remote
Desktop Protocol client. The default XPe user ID and password is
The default administrator ID and password is
administrator access on an XPe-based I/Port, hold down the Shift key during startup
or after logging off from the default login. Access BIOS configuration options by
pressing F2 during start-up.

Whenever you want to make any persistent changes to the I/Port, such as changing
user settings or installing new software, you need to disable the I/Port’s Write Filter
before making the change, and re-enable it after you have committed the change. The
Write Filter is a software feature that prevents any inadvertent or undesired writes to
the Flash Drive where the I/Port’s operating system and other software is stored.

The Write Filter displays an icon in the system tray. When the icon has a red dot, the
Write Filter is enabled, stopping you from writing to the Flash. When the icon has a
green dot, the Write Filter is disabled and you can go ahead and write to the Flash.

When you push software updates using ezRemote Manager software, the Write Filter
is managed automatically. See Updating I/Port Software on page 25 for more
information.

To manage the Write Filter manually, you must be logged in as administrator.
Double-click on the Write Filter icon in the system tray and select Disable write filter
to disable the Write Filter and enable writes to Flash. After you make your changes,
double-click on the Write Filter icon in the system tray and select Commit changes to
disk and enable write filter. Your changes are saved to Flash, the I/Port
automatically restarts in 15 seconds, and the Write Filter is re-enabled when the
restart is complete.

user / clearcube.

administrator / clearcube. For full

The Sentral client is provided as the default client on both the XPe- and NeoLinux­based I/Ports. When using your XPe-based I/Port as a client managed by Sentral, do
the following from the Sentral Console to begin configuring your I/Port for Sentral:

1. At the Sentral console, run Discovery to discover the I/Port. If the UDP Push
Discovery parameter in the Sentral Console Configuration is set to True,
credentials for the Primary and Secondary Sentral Servers are pushed out to the
I/Port. If the UDP Push Discovery parameter is set to False, right-click on the
I/Port in the Sentral Hierarchical menu, and manually configure the Primary and
Secondary Servers.

2. Add the I/Port to an I/Port Group.

3. Allocate the I/Port or I/Port Group to a blade, a Blade Group, or a Virtual Machine
(VM).

To log in directly to a Blade from an XPe-based I/Port, double-click the

Manager

into the Blade using RDP, specifying the domain and Blade name as follows:

If you are using an XPe-based I/Port as an unmanaged thin client with Microsoft
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), double-click the
on the desktop. Login to your desired host system using that host’s fully qualified
name. For example:

icon on the I/Port desktop and enter login credentials for the I/Port. Then log

domain.com\blade_name

Remote Desktop Connection

IPort Client

icon

16 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

support.clearcube.com

You can also use the ezConnect client to set up manual RDP connectivity to PC
Blades. Click on Connections, select Add, and enter the connection information to
your Blade.

If using
the ezRemote Manager User Manual. Download this documentation at:

ezRemote Manager can be downloaded at:

an

XPe-based I/Port as a client managed by ezRemote Manager

http://www.clearcube.com/support/controller/manuals.php

http://www.neoware.com/downloads/management.aspx

, please see

Optimizing RDP and the I/Port

Under most circumstances, the I/Port itself does not run any applications other than
the XPe core operating system, the Sentral client, and RDP. All the applications and
real “compute-work” happens back at the blade.

When you use the Sentral client, the interface settings are managed by Sentral
automatically. However, if you use RDP as a standalone client, there are several
settings that you can adjust on the I/Port to optimize the user experience. Most of the
performance optimization revolves around configuring RDP in the most appropriate
fashion, given your infrastructure.

ClearCube recommends using the I/Port primarily on a corporate network (100Mbps
or faster) with Sentral. However, you may have users who will use I/Ports for remote
applications, such as office access from home, offshore development, etc.

RDP allows several configurable capabilities. Enabling each additional capability
requires more bandwidth, thus impacting performance. The ideal I/Port performance
optimization process will lead to the best possible experience within any limitations of
your operating environment.

Figure 6 shows the RDP Control Panel, where these adjustments can be made.

NOTE: Adjustments made to the RDP interface settings do not affect the Sentral

client settings.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 17

Figure 6 Remote Desktop (RDP) Configuration Window

The following items can be configured prior to initiating an RDP connection:

• Display: Desktop Size – Though RDP allows the desktop to be sized so that the
RDP connection runs in a window smaller than the local XPe desktop, anything
less than full-screen mode is not recommended for I/Port users.

• Display: Color Depth – The color depth options range from 256 to True Color.
Generally, using only 256 colors negatively impacts the user experience, because
most images are grainy and low quality. 16-bit color is normally used.

Figure 7 RDP Display Tab

• Local Resources: Sound – Sound is configurable in three ways. Sound can
either be left at the remote computer so it plays at the source (the blade). This
probably would not be done, since the blades are in the data center. The other two

18 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

options are to ignore sound, or to redirect sound to the I/Port. This last option
provides the highest quality experience but also requires additional bandwidth.

If the user has limited bandwidth and does not require sound, this option can be
turned off.

NOTE: RDP only supports audio out (i.e., from the blade to the I/Port) so speakers

connected to an I/Port can play sound generated by the PC blade. However,
audio in (i.e., from the I/Port to the blade) isn't supported by RDP so audio
devices such as microphones cannot transmit back to the PC blade.

Figure 8 RDP Local Resources Tab

• Local Resources: Devices – RDP allows local disk drives, printers, and serial

ports to be redirected. Again, these require additional bandwidth. Large quantities
of writes and reads from local disks can adversely impact the performance of the
RDP session.

If the user does not require printers or serial ports, it is best to disable re-direction
to prevent any potential bandwidth loss caused by the blade OS carrying out any
sort of detection or other processes for these devices.

•Experience

– Selecting a connection speed causes specific items listed in the
connection speed pull-down menu to become checked or unchecked. Generally,
the desktop background, especially if it is an image, is a significant source of
performance slowdowns. The reason is that every time a window is moved within
an RDP session, new parts of the background get exposed and need to be
re-transmitted. This is generally a slow and time-consuming process. It is preferred,
almost under any bandwidth conditions, to not use a picture background.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 19

Figure 9 RDP Experience Tab

Adding a Printer

Installing a USB-attached local printer on an XPe I/Port requires installation steps both
at the I/Port and on the PC blade. You need administrator privileges on both systems.

To perform the tasks at the I/Port, do the following:

1. Disable the Write Filter (see Configuring the XPe I/Port on page 16).

2. Install the printer driver from a USB-attached storage device.

3. Double-click on the Write Filter icon in the system tray and select Commit
changes to disk and disable write filter. The I/Port reboots automatically.

4. After the I/Port reboots, select Start Æ Printers and Faxes and right-click on the
printer that was just installed.

5. Enable sharing according to the printer driver’s procedures.

6. Select Start Æ Control Panel Æ Firewall.

7. Select the Exceptions tab.

8. Highlight the File and Printer Share service and select Edit.

9. In the Edit a Service window, click the checkboxes required to enable the printer.
At a minimum, UDP ports 137 and 138, and TCP port 139 must be open.

10. Click OK twice to commit the changes and close the Firewall control panel.

11. Double-click on the Write Filter icon in the system tray and select Commit
changes to disk and enable write filter to reboot the I/Port.

To perform the tasks on the blade, do the following:

1. Select Start Æ Printers and Faxes Æ Add a printer.

2. Select Network Printer and use the Add Printer Wizard.

3. When prompted, select Connect to this printer and either browse to the printer,
or enter \\iport_name\printer_name (where iport_name is the I/Port and
printer_name is the printer).

4. Follow the wizard’s prompts until the installation is completed.

A restart of the blade is not required.

20 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Configuring NeoLinux I/Ports

NeoLinux-based I/Ports autostart the ClearCube I/Port client on bootup. The default
Administrator ID / Password is
provided. The Write Filter Disable command, which allows writing to flash, is
The Write Filter Enable command, which prevents writing to flash, is

Enable any necessary ports on your switches and routers. Sentral uses ports 6502
UDP, 4001 UDP, 9000 TCP and 9000 UDP. RDP uses port 3389 TCP and port 139
UDP. Your individual network may use other ports besides these.

su / clearcube

. No default user ID or Password is

fsunlock

fslock

.

.

NOTE:

If using DHCP, verify that name resolution is activated to detect
non-Windows-based systems and that the DNS server is registering the I/Port.

Neo

Linux-based I/Port

during start-up. Your Neo

s allow access to BIOS configuration options by pressing F2

Linux-based I/Port

auto-starts the Sentral client, and you can
login to a Blade from the login screen that is displayed. If you need to log in to the
I/Port to change configurations, the default administrator ID and password is

clearcube . No default user ID is configured.

If you are using your Neo

Linux-based I/Port

as a client managed by Sentral, do the

root /

following from the Sentral Console after installing the I/Port at the desktop:

1. At the Sentral console, run Discovery to discover the I/Port. If the UDP Push

Discovery parameter in the Sentral Console Configuration is set to True,
credentials for the Primary and Secondary Sentral Servers are pushed out to the
I/Port. If the UDP Push Discovery parameter is set to False, right-click on the
I/Port in the Sentral Hierarchical menu, and manually configure the Primary and
Secondary Servers.

2. Add the I/Port to an I/Port Group.

3. Allocate the I/Port or I/Port Group to a blade, a Blade Group, or a Virtual Machine

(VM).

If you are not using the Sentral client, a native RDP client is also available from the
ezConnect interface. To use the ezConnect RDP client, select Neoware Æ
ezConnect from the menu bar. The ezConnect client allows viewing and modifying
settings on the I/Port such as display settings and network configurations.

The ezConnect client can also be used to set up local or remote connections using
X.11 or

tty. To add a local tty connection, do the following:

1. From the Connection window, select Connect Æ Add.

2. In the Add Connection window, choose Basic Terminal.

3. Enter a name for the session, specify

localhost as the Host, and use the default

Port 23.

4. Use the default settings, or customize them to your choice.

The

tty session opens in a bash shell, and provides a limited set of Unix tools,

including these:

•

ping

• passwd

• telnet

• tar

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 21

• vim (an enhanced version of vi)

A limited amount of help is available (enter

Configuring the I8330 I/Port

The I8330 I/Port provides a connection to a blade without requiring an operating
system in the I/Port itself. This architecture provides a variety of benefits, including
security and cost savings.

Sentral Configuration

The I8330 I/Port requires Sentral 5.2 or higher. Your Sentral Console must have the
I83xx Admin Utility installed on it, and each blade to which the I8330 connects must
have the I83xx Driver installed.

help) but man pages are not provided.

NOTE: The

By default, the I8330 is configured to automatically attempt a direct connection to a
blade with the
startup, or click the Options button at the Login screen and select Setup.

In the Options tab of Setup, click the button for Sentral and select Save. The I8330
I/Port will restart. If the Sentral network is available, a Sentral login dialog is displayed,
and the I8330 is ready for login.

NOTE: Once this setting has been changed, the I8330 no longer displays the option

The user must be joined to the Windows domain used by your Sentral installation, or
must be a local user on the blade or Virtual Machine (VM) to which the user will
connect. The user must also be joined to a Sentral User Group, and the target blade
or VM must be allocated to that User Group. For a successful login, the target blade or
VM must be discovered in Sentral.

If Sentral is not available, a direct connection login is displayed, with an error message
saying the server could not be found. Click through this error to make a direct connection.

For more information, please see the Sentral Administrator’s Guide.

I83xx Driver requires Windows XP. No other OSes are supported.

I83xx Driver installed.

to enter Setup. If you need to enter Setup, cycle the power on the I8330 and
press F10 when prompted.

To change this configuration, press F10 during

Direct Connection

By default, the I8330 I/Port is configured to automatically attempt a direct connection
to a blade
blade to which it will connect.

.

For direct connection, the I8330 requires the I83xx Driver installed on each

When the I8330 I/Port is first started, a dialog box allowing a direct login is displayed.
The login displays a list of the first eight blades it finds that have the I83xx Driver
installed. Select a blade, and click Connect. The user must be joined to the Windows
domain used by the blade, or must be a local user on the blade to which the user will
connect.

22 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Operating Notes

Use the power switch on the back of the I8330 to turn it on and off. The blue POWER
LED on the front panel indicates that the I8330 has power. The blue READY LED
indicates that the I8330 is ready to use. The blue LAN activity LED on the front panel
blinks in response to traffic between the I8330 and the network, but will otherwise
remains steadily lit.

Turn the Num Lock function off before connecting to a blade. If you notice that the
Num Lock LED on your keyboard inaccurately displays whether the Num Lock
function is set, terminate your blade connection and press the Num Lock key one or
more times until the Num Lock LED goes out. Then re-establish the blade
connection.

The configurable I8330 options that can be set in the device include TCP/IP address,
monitor resolution, and color depth.

NOTE: If using DHCP, verify that name resolution is activated to detect non-

Windows-based systems and that the DNS server is registering the I/Port. For
non-DHCP networks, a static IP address manually assigned to the I8330
should not conflict with an existing address in the network. Enable any
necessary ports on your switches and routers.

After powering on the I8330, press F10 to enter the local device setup utility. Verify the
following settings:

Table 1 I8330 Setup Tabs

Option Description

Network Tab

This radio-button menu specifies IP Addressing mode. Choices include:

• Get Dynamic IP Address

IP Address

MAC Address This static field specifies the MAC Address for this I8330 I/Port.

Options Tab

Connection Mode

• Get Static IP Address
The default selection is
chosen, the administrator can specify the IP address and IP Gateway for this I8330 I/Port.

This radio-button menu specifies the Connection mode. Choices include:

•

Direct Connection

•

Sentral

The default selection is Direct Connection. When Direct Connection is chosen with
Autodetection, the I8330 I/Port lists the first eight blades it locates that have the I83xx

Driver installed, and that are available for a connection. The user can log into one of
these blades if user credentials are available.

NOTE: The I8330 discovers blades non-deterministically. If your network has more
than eight blades with the
eight blades in the login selection dialog box.

When Sentral is chosen with Autodetection, the I8330 I/Port searches for a Sentral
Console for its login management. If one is found, a Sentral login dialog box is
displayed.

Get Dynamic IP Address

I83xx Driver installed, the I8330 will not always list the same

. When Static IP Address mode is

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 23

Table 1 I8330 Setup Tabs (Continued)

Option Description

The default selections include:

•

Autodetection

•

TS 2

Server Connection
List

Edit Connection Profile Dialog

Connection name This editable field specifies the name of the specified connection.

Autoconnect
Enabled

Server Network
Address

User name This editable field specifies the user name for this I8330. Entry is optional.

Desktop size

Mode Test The Mode Test button allows testing a video connection mode before saving it.

Password Tab

Setup Password

Update Tab

Update Select this button to update the I8330 firmware.

Misc Tab

TouchScreen
options

•

TS 3

The default active connection is Autodetection. This selection’s name cannot be
edited. The names of the other two choices can be edited. To activate or deactivate a
connection, highlight it in the list and click the Enable/Disable button. To edit a
connection, highlight it and click the Edit button.

This button allows turning on Autoconnect. The default is Off (unchecked). If Enabled
(checked), the I8330 automatically connects to the system whose IP address is entered
in the Server Network Address field.

This editable field specifies the IP address of a blade to which the I8330 automatically
connects. The I83xx Driver or the I83xx Admin Utility must be installed on this blade for
a connection to be made. If the I83xx Driver is installed, the connection is a direct
connection. If the I83xx Admin Utility is installed, a Sentral login is displayed.

This radio-button menu specifies the Connection mode. Choices include combinations
of the following:

• 640 x 480
– 256 Colors (8-bit) or HI-Color (16-bit) (default)
– 60 Hz or 75 Hz vertical sync

• 800 x 600
– 256 Colors (8-bit) or HI-Color (16-bit)
– 60 Hz or 75 Hz vertical sync

• 1024 x 768
– 256 Colors (8-bit) or HI-Color (16-bit)

• 1280 x 1024 HI-Color (16-bit), 63 Hz

The default selection is

These buttons allow setting a password on the I8330 device setup options. Choices
include:

•

Do not use Password

•

Protect device Setup Options with Password

The default selection is

These buttons allow enabling support for a touchscreen device. Choices include:

•

TouchScreen 3M SC3 Controller support

•

TouchScreen HT ECS4-1 Controller support

The choices refer to the chipset in the touchscreen device. The default selection is

TouchScreen 3M SC3 Controller support
NOTE: As of the initial release of the I8330 I/Port, ClearCube has not certified any

touchscreen devices for use with the I8330 I/Port. This functionality is unsupported.

640 x 480

Do not use Password

256 Color

at

60Hz

.

.

.

24 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Updating I/Port Software

The XPe Eon e100 and I8820, and the NeoLinux Eon e100 and I8020 I/Ports all use
ezRemote Manager for software updates. Software updates are sent, or pushed, to
the I/Ports in a package called a snap-in. Custom system images can also be pushed
out to I/Ports.

These brief procedures describe how to update or re-image XPe- and NeoLinux­based I/Ports. The ezRemote Manager User Manual provides complete details on
pushing software updates or re-imaging the I/Port. The ezRemote Manager User
Manual can be downloaded at

http://www.neoware.com/support/documentation/archive.html

To push a snap-in:

1. In ezRemote Manager, select Neoware Appliances in the left pane.

2. From the Actions menu, select Assets.

3. In the window that is displayed, click the Password button and enter the
password for the I/Ports to be updated.

4. Highlight the I/Ports to receive the snap-in.

5. Select the Snapin Manager icon (the icon with the red check mark).

6. Browse for the snap-in and click OK.

To re-image:

1. In ezRemote Manager, select Neoware Appliances in the left pane.

2. From the Actions menu, select Assets.

3. In the window that is displayed, click the Password button and enter the
password for the I/Ports to be updated.

4. Highlight the I/Ports to receive the image.

5. Select the Software Update Manager icon (the icon with the floppy disk).

6. Browse for the image file and click OK.

NOTE: ezRemote Manager is not supported on ClearCube model I8800 or I8010

I/Ports.

.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 25

General Recommendations for I/Ports

The following recommendations should be observed for best I/Port performance.

RDP-Based I/Ports

As previously noted, RDP is a limited-bandwidth connection when compared to
100baseT Ethernet. In addition, Ethernet bandwidth can be constrained by network
activity anywhere between each end of a connection.

I/O-intensive applications between the PC blade and the I/Port can significantly affect
performance. ClearCube offers these recommendations:

• Do not use I/Ports for writing to CDs or DVDs. Mass-storage devices such as
CD burners and DVD burners rely on a predictable and relatively constant data
transfer rate from the source to the burner. Although modern burners have large
write buffers, the likelihood of a buffer underrun is high, and increases both with
recording speed and with file size. If the user must write files from a blade to CD
or DVD, use the USB 2.0 connector on the front of the PC blade.

• Do not use I/Ports to transfer extremely large files. Although the I/Port
provides robust file transfer capabilities, the limited bandwidth inherent in RDP
can cause these file transfers take an exceedingly long time. If the user must write
extremely large files to a blade or to the network, use the USB 2.0 connector on
the front of the PC blade.

• Do not write large files directly to I/Ports. The RAM disk on the XPe I/Port is
limited to 16 MB, and is reserved as a temporary space for updating software on
the I/Port. Attempts to write a file larger than 16 MB to the RAM disk will fail.
Attempts to write a series of files with a sum file size greater than 16 MB will
eventually fail when the 16 MB limit is exceeded.

Individual files with a file size greater than 56 MB cannot be written through the
I/Port to an attached USB peripheral storage device. This is by design, and
represents a security feature that limits moving large files such as software.
Folders containing multiple files, with a total size greater than 56 MB can be
written through, as long as the 56 MB limit is not exceeded.

The Flash disk in the I/Port is write-protected by the Enhanced Write Filter. Writes to
the C:\ drive, including temporary files, are written to an area in RAM that is separate
from the RAM disk and is shared by the operating system. When the sum of the files
and the operating system’s RAM requirement exceeds the total amount of available
RAM, the I/Port will suffer a system error. This can be cleared by rebooting the I/Port.
However, data in RAM cannot be recovered.

• For normal usage, leave the Write Filter turned on. This prevents persistent
writes to the Flash disk and helps keep the device secure. Since applications are
actually run on the PC blade in an I/Port environment, there is no need for the
user to write data to the local I/Port.

• Upstream audio is not supported by RDP. Microphones can only be used as
local devices on the I/Port, and not as I/O devices to send content to the blade.
This is a limitation of RDP.

• Lengthy RDP sessions may result in slower throughput. If the connection
through RDP appears to have slowed down significantly, close the RDP session
and restart the I/Port.

26 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

• Test your USB peripherals before putting them into a production

environment. I/Ports are USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 compliant, depending on model

number. I/Port peripherals, including USB devices, rely on redirection by RDP to
work properly. RDP can only redirect the following devices: mass storage,
printers, serial ports and smart card readers. ClearCube Technology maintains a
list of peripherals (including USB devices) that are fully tested and certified for use
with ClearCube-supplied User Ports, including I/Ports. This list is kept up-to-date
and is available on the ClearCube Support website at

http://support.clearcube.com/

Peripherals for C/Ports and I/Ports. Because of the wide range of peripherals
available, ClearCube is unable to test all devices. If your peripheral is not on this
list, contact your Account Executive to ask about ClearCube certification services.

• Limit the number of USB peripherals connected to your I/Port. When

connecting more USB devices to an I/Port than there are available ports (three
ports on the I8020/I8820, and four ports on the Eon e100), you need a USB hub.
You should select a powered USB hub to reduce the likelihood of drawing too
much power from the I/Port's USB port(s). ClearCube has observed unpredictable
results when simultaneously attaching more than six USB devices to an I/Port.
USB devices with motors, such as CD-ROM or DVD drives, are the devices most
likely to exceed power ratings.

• Occasionally, USB devices fail to enumerate correctly when inserted or

removed. When inserting a device that supports RDP redirection into a peripheral

port on the I/Port, it should enumerate (display as a device on the PC blade
desktop). Allow a few seconds for this to occur. If the device does not enumerate,
try refreshing the desktop or the folder window. This usually resolves the problem.
If this does not work, check the system tray for the device and eject it (if
displayed), unplug the device, and then reattach it. Sometimes this problem is
caused by a USB device overloading the power rating for the I/Port's USB hub.
Using an externally powered USB hub will reduce this problem.

When removing a USB device, always eject it from the system tray and wait for
confirmation before physically unplugging it. If the device's icon persists on the
desktop after it has been physically removed, refresh the window or desktop. A
reboot of the I/Port may be required.

as Technical Bulletin TB0109, Certified

I8330 I/Ports

Because the I8330 I/Port requires a connection to be established via the I83xx Admin
Utility or I83xx Driver, certain limitations apply on the usage of I8330s as connection
devices.

• Do not use an I8330 I/Port for administration duties. Use a C/Port or an

RDP-connected device (such as an I8820 I/Port or a “white box” system) for blade
administration.

The I83xx Driver software is supported only on Windows XP. Support on other
operating systems is not available, so the I8330 cannot be used to administrate a
Virtual Machine (VM) Host.

• Do not install the I83xx Driver on a system that also has the I83xx Admin

Utility installed. These two applications are incompatible, and using them on the

same system will cause unexpected results.

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C I/Port Installation • 27

• Do not hot-plug PS/2 devices on an I8330 I/Port. On the I8330, PS/2 devices

(keyboard or mouse) are not hot-pluggable. You must turn off the I8330 before
attaching or detaching PS/2 devices.

• Disconnect USB devices using the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon in the
system tray. If USB devices are incorrectly disconnected, the USB chain is forced

to re-enumerate completely. This can cause a delay for the user, and will disrupt
any on-going USB communications (such as printer spooling or file transfer).

• USB devices are not available on the I8330 I/Port until a blade connection is
established. Some USB keyboards and mice will function properly when

connected using a USB-to-PS/2 adapter.

• The I8330 implements USB 1.1. Read and write performance are specified at
300KB/s read and 200KB/s write.

• The I8330 does not support remote power on/off or reset functionality.

•

The I8330 is not capable of running a VPN client locally (on the I8330 device).

A VPN connection is possible only if another device (e.g., a router) to which the
I8330 is connected includes a VPN client and can, therefore, make the VPN
connection.

28 • I/Port Installation ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Specifications

Table 2: e100 I/Port Specifications

Input/

Output

Video

Operating

System

Power

Adapter

Size

Weight

Environmental

Input/

Output

• 4 USB 2.0 ports (2 on front, 2 on rear)

• PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse

• VGA (DB-15 connector)

• Audio In/Out

• 1600 x 1200; 16-bit color; 85 Hz

• 1600 x 1200; 24-bit color; 60 Hz

• 2 Serial Ports (DB-9)

• Parallel Port (DB-25)

• 10/100BaseT Ethernet (RJ-45)

• 1600 x 1200; 32-bit color; 60 Hz

• 1280 x 1024; 32-bit color; 85 Hz

• Windows XPe –or– NeoLinux

• Input 100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz

• 11.4" (H) x 2.1" (W) x 8.8"(D) (29cm x 5.3cm x 24cm)

• Shipping Weight: 9 lbs. (3.7 kg)

• Operating

• Shipping/Transit

0–35º Celsius (C), 10%–90% humidity, non-condensing

-40–70º C, 10%–95% humidity, non-condensing (in sealed manufacturer's packaging)

• Extended storage

-10–50º C, 10%–95% humidity, non-condensing (in sealed manufacturer's packaging)

Table 3: I8020 I/Port Specifications

• 3 USB 1.1 ports (2 on front, 1 on rear)

• PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse

• VGA (DB-15 connector)

• Audio In/Out

• Serial Port (DB-9)

• 10/100BaseT Ethernet (RJ-45)

Video

Operating

System

Power

Adapter

Size

Weight

Environmental

• 1600 x 1200; 24-bit color; 85 Hz max

• NeoLinux

• Input 100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz

• 1.7” (H) x 7.6” (W) x 6.2” (D) (4.3cm x 19.4cm x 15.7cm)

• Shipping Weight: 3 lbs. (1.4 kg)

• Operating

• Shipping/Transit

5–35º Celsius (C), 10%–90% humidity, non-condensing

40–70º C, 10%–95% humidity, non-condensing (in sealed manufacturer's packaging)

• Extended storage

-10–50º C, 10%–95% humidity, non-condensing (in sealed manufacturer's packaging)

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C Specifications • 29

Table 4: I8820 I/Port Specifications

Input/

Output

Video

Operating

System

Power

Adapter

Size

Weight

Environmental

Input/

Output

Video

Operating

System

Power

Adapter

• 3 USB 1.1 ports (2 on front, 1 on rear)

• PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse

• VGA (DB-15 connector)

• Audio In/Out

• Serial Port (DB-9)

• 10/100BaseT Ethernet (RJ-45)

• 1600 x 1200; 16-bit color; 85 Hz max

• 1280 x 1024; 24-bit color; 85 Hz max

• Windows XPe

• Input 100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz

• 1.7” (H) x 7.6” (W) x 6.2” (D) (4.3cm x 19.4cm x 15.7cm)

• Shipping Weight: 3 lbs. (1.4 kg)

•Operating
5–35º Celsius (C), 10%–90% humidity, non-condensing

• Shipping/Transit

-40–70º C, 10%–95% humidity, non-condensing (in sealed manufacturer's packaging)

• Extended storage

-10–50º C, 10%–95% humidity, non-condensing (in sealed manufacturer's packaging)

Table 5: I8330 I/Port Specifications

• 4 USB 1.1 ports

• PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse

• VGA (DB-15 connector)

• 800 x 600; 8- and 16-bit color; 60 / 75 Hz

• 1024 x 768; 8- and 16-bit color; 60 / 75 Hz

• none

• Input 100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz

• Microphone In

• Audio Out

• 10/100BaseT Ethernet (RJ-45)

• 1280 x 1024; 8- and 16-bit color; 63 Hz

Size

Weight

Environmental

• 1.57” (H) x 9.5" (W) x 5.2" (D) (40cm x 242cm x 132cm)

• Shipping Weight: 2.14 lbs. (970 g)

• Operating

• Shipping/Transit

5–35º Celsius (C), 10%–90% humidity, non-condensing

-40–70º C, 10%–95% humidity, non-condensing (in sealed manufacturer's packaging)

• Extended storage

-10–50º C, 10%–95% humidity, non-condensing (in sealed manufacturer's packaging)

30 • Specifications ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

Technical Support

Contact Information

In the event any problems arise with your ClearCube hardware or software, we
recommend that you first check the support website for any relevant technical
bulletins and updates for your specific product(s) before calling your authorized
reseller or the ClearCube Technical Support Department. If your system is being
serviced by a local service partner for ClearCube (such as an authorized reseller),
please refer to the contact information provided by the service partner or refer to the
ClearCube website for partner contact information. For direct access to ClearCube
technical support use the contact information below.

[e-mail]

support.clearcube.com

support.clearcube.com/rma

[phone] ClearCube Technical Support in the US

[phone] ClearCube Technical Support from outside US

If you are instructed to return any hardware, you must obtain a Return Merchandise
Authorization (RMA) number from ClearCube and clearly mark the RMA number on
the outside of all shipments to ensure proper and prompt handling. Please do not
return any equipment without the appropriate ClearCube packaging materials. If you
no longer have ClearCube boxes, please contact us for replacement boxes.

ClearCube Support Website

Email address to ClearCube Technical Support

Link to service part replacement form on the Web

ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C Technical Support • 31

32 • Technical Support ClearCube I/Port User’s Guide, Rev. C

P/N G020043-C

Rev. 01/08/2007