Dell Console Switch User Manual

Dell™ Console Switch

Console Switch

Installer/User’s Guide

Model: Console Switch

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Notes and Cautions Notes, Notices, and Caution s

NOTE: A NOTE indi cates important in formation that helps you make better use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardwa r e or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the

problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicate s a potential for property damage, pe r s onal injury, or death.

___________________

Reproduction in any manner wha t so ever without th e w ri tt en perm i ssion of D el l Inc . is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell and the DELL logo are trademarks of D ell Inc. Avocent is a trad emark of A vocent Corporat ion. OSCAR is

a registered tradema rk of Avocent Corporati on or it s affiliat es; Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. As an ENERGY STAR Partner, Dell Inc. has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.

Other trademarks and tr ade name s may b e us ed in thi s do cument to refer to eith er t he e ntit ies clai ming the mark s and n ames o r their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model Console Switch

October 2004

1 Product Overview

Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

SIP Intelligent Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Safety Precautions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2 Installation

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Multiplatform Support OSCAR Graphi cal User Interfac e

Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Plug and Play

FLASH Upgradable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Tiering Expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

General Rack Mounting of Systems

Supplied with the Console Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Additional Items Needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Rack Mounting Your Console Switch

Installing the Console Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Tiering Console Switches Adding Legacy Switches

Setting Up Your Console Switch System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3 Basic Operation

Controlling Your System at the Local User Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Viewing and Selec ting Ports and Ser vers

Viewing the Status of Your Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Contents 3

Selecting Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Soft Switching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Navigating the OSCAR Interface

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Configuring OSCAR Interfa c e Me nu s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Assigning Server Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Assigning Device Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Changing the Display Behavior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Controlling the Status Flag

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Setting Console Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Displaying Version Information

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Resetting a SIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Resetting Your Keyboard and Mouse

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Scanning Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Running System Diagnostics Broadcasting to Ser v ers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Changing Your Switch Mode (16-port Console Sw i tch Only) . . . . . . . . . 44

A Appendices

Appendix A: Flash Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Upgrading the Co nsole Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Items Needed for the Upgrade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Upgrading Fir m w ar e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Upgrading the SIP

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

4 Contents

Appendix B: Technical Spec ifications Appendix C: Notifications

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

USA Notification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Canadian Notification Japanese Approv als Taiwanese Approvals Agency Approvals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Figures

Figure 1-1. Console Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Figure 1-2. Example of a Console Switch Configuration . . . . . 9

Figure 2-1. Console Switch Ho r izontal Installation Figure 2-2. Basic Console Switch Configuration

. . . . . . . 14

. . . . . . . . 15

Figure 2-3. Console Switch Configuration with a

Tiered Switch

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Figure 2-4. Console Switch Configuration with a

Legacy KVM Switch

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Figure 3-1. Main Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Figure 3-2. Setup Dialog Box Figure 3-3. Names Dialog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Figure 3-4. Name Modify Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Figure 3-5. Devices Dialog Box Figure 3-6. Device Modify Dialog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Figure 3-7. Menu Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Figure 3-8. Flag Dialog Box Figure 3-9. Set Position Flag

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Figure 3-10. Security Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Figure 3-11. Version Dialog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Figure 3-12. SIP Selection Dialog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Figure 3-13. SIP Version Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Figure 3-14. SIP Version Dialog Box Figure 3-15. Commands Dialog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Figure 3-16. Scan Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Figure 3-17. Commands Dialog Box Figure 3-18. Diagnostics Dialog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Figure 3-19. Diagnostics Warning Message Box . . . . . . . . 42

Contents 5

Figure 3-20. Broadcast Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Tables

Figure 3-21. Broadcast Enable Dialog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . 44

Figure 3-22. Switch Di alog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Figure 4-1. SIP Status Dialog Box. Figure 4-2. SIP Upgrade Di alog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Figure 4-3. Version Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Figure 4-4. SIP Selection Dialog Box Figure 4-5. SIP Version Dialog Box

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Figure 4-6. SIP Load Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Table 1-1. SIP Resolution and Refresh Rates . . . . . . . . . 8

Table 2-1. Legacy Switch Support

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Table 3-1. OSCAR Interface St atus Symbols . . . . . . . . . 22

Table 3-2. OSCAR Interface Navigation Basics

. . . . . . . . 24

Table 3-3. Setup Features to Manage Routine

Tasks for Your Servers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

6 Contents

Table 3-4. OSCAR Status Flags

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Table 3-5. Diagnostic Test Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Table 4-1. Technical Specifications

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Product Overview

Features and Benefits

The 8-Port and 16-port Dell™ Console Switches integrate keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) switching techno log y with advanced cable ma nage men t, f l e x ib l e a cce ss fo r up to two simultaneou s users, and an intuitive user interface. The Console Switch features powerful on-screen management for easy system configuration and server selection.

NOTE: The 8-Port Console Switch enables a single local user to access any attached servers whereas

the 16-port switch allows two simultaneous users to access attached servers.

A unique benefit of the Console Switch is the Server Interface Pod (SIP) intelligent module. By utilizing CAT 5 cabling the SIP dramatically reduces cable clutter, while providing optimal resolution and video settings. The built-in memory of the SIP simplifies configuration by assigning and retaining unique server names and Electronic ID (EID) numbers for each attached server. The SIP is powered directly from the server and provides Keep Alive functionality even if the Console Switch is not powered.

Figure 1-1. Console Switch

SIP Intelligent Module

SIPs allow direct KVM connectivity to servers in your Console Switch. Each Console Switch has either 8 or 16 Analog Rack Interface (ARI) ports for connecting SIPs.

Utilizing a SIP, you can attach additional switches to expand your Console Switch system. This flexibility allows you to add capacity as your data center grows.

Product Overview 7

Multiplatform Support

The SIPs available with your Console Switch support PS/2 and USB server environments. PS/2, USB, Sun, and serial cabling options are also available using Avocent™ AVRIQ intelligent cables. Using the On-Screen Configuration and Activity Reporting (OSCAR

) graphical user interface in

conjunction with these modules allows you to switch easily across platforms.

OSCAR Graphical User Interfac e

The Console Switch uses the OSCAR interface, which features intuitive menus to configure your switch system and select computers. Computers can be identified by unique name, EID or port number, allowing you to assign unique server names.

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Security

The OSCAR interface allows you to protect your system with a screen saver password. After a userdefined time, the screen saver mode engages, and access is prohibited until the appropriate password is entered to reactivate the system.

Video

The Console Switch provides optimal resolution for analog VGA, SVGA, and XGA video. Achieve resolutions of up to 1600 x 1200 with a 10-foot cable and up to 800 x 600 with a 100-foot cable. Resolutions will vary depending upon the length of cable separating your switch and servers.

Table 1-1. SIP Resolution and Refresh Rates

Maximum Resolution Refresh Rate Video Type

720 x 400 70 Hz VGA 640 x 480 60 Hz VGA 640 x 480 72 Hz VESA 640 x 480 75 Hz VESA 800 x 600 56 Hz VESA 800 x 600 60 Hz VESA 800 x 600 72 Hz VESA 800 x 600 75 Hz VESA 1024 x 768 60 Hz VESA 1024 x 768 70 Hz VESA 1024 x 768 75 Hz VESA

Plug and Play

The Console Switch also supports Display Data Channel (DDC) Plug and Play, which automates configuration of the monitor and is compliant with the VESA DDC2B standard.

8 Product Overview

FLASH Upgradable

You can upgrade your firmware at any time through a simple update utility to ensure that your Console Switch system is always running the most current version available. Both the Console Switch and the SIPs are FLASH upgradable. See "Appendix A: Flash Upgrades" for more information.

Tiering Expansion

Each Console Switch supports up to 16 directly attached servers and can conveniently scale to support more. You can expand your system by tiering with Console Switches and legacy analog Console Switches. This extra “tier” of units allows you to attach up to 256 se rvers in one system. See "Tiering Console Switches" for more information.

Figure 1-2. Example of a Console Switch Configu r ation

Console Switch (tiered)

Legacy Switch (tiered)

SIP Module

Analog Connection

Rack of Servers

Critical Server

Analog Connection

Console Switch (main)

Safety Precautions

Use the following safety guidelines to help ensure your own personal safety and to help protect your system and working environment f rom potential damage.

Product Overview 9

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CAUTION: The power supplies in your system may produce high voltages and energy hazards, which

can cause bodily ha r m . Only tr ained service technicians are autho r iz ed t o rem o ve the covers and access any of the components inside the system.

This document pertains only to the Dell Console Switch.

General

Observe and follow service markings:

• Do not service any product except as explained in your system documentation.

• Opening or removing covers that are marked with the triangular symbol with a lightning bolt may expose you to electrical shock.

• Components inside these compartments should be serviced only by a trained service technician.

– This product contains no serviceable components. Do not attempt to open.

• If any of the following conditions occur, unplug the product from the electrical outlet and replace the part or contact your trained service provider:

– The power cable, extension cable, or plug is damaged. – An object has fallen into the product. – The product has been exposed to water. – The product has been dropped or damaged. – The product does not operate correctly when you follow the operating instructions.

• Keep your system away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents.

• Do not spill food or liquids on your system components, and never operate the product in a wet environment. If the system gets wet, see the appropriate section in your troubleshooting guide or contact your trained service provider.

• Use the product only with approved equipment.

• Allow the product to cool before removing covers or touching internal components.

• Operate the product only from the type of external power source indicated on the electrical ratings label. If you are not sure of the type of power source required, consult your service provider or local power company.

NOTICE: To help avoid damaging your s ystem, be sure the volt age selection switch (if provided) on the

power supply is set for the voltage that mo st closely matches the AC power available i n your location.

• Be sure that your monitor and attached devices are electrically rated to operate with the power available in your location.

• Use only power cables provided with this product.

10 Product Overview

• To help prevent electric shock, plug the system and peripheral power cables into properly grounded electrical outlets. These cables are equipped with three-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable.

• Observe extension cable and power strip ratings. Make sure that the total ampere rating of all products plugged into the power strip does not exceed 80 percent of the ampere ratings limit for the power strip.

• To help protect your system from sudden, transient increases and decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

• Position system cables and power cables carefully. Route cables so that they cannot be stepped on or tripped over.

• Be sure that nothing rests on any cables.

• Do not modify power cables or plugs. Co nsult a licensed electrician or your power company for site modifications. Always follow your local/national w iring rules.

Rack Mounting of Systems

• Refer to the rack installation documentation accompanying the rack for specific caution statements and procedures.

• System rack kits are intended to be installed in a rack by trained service technicians. If a nonDell rack is utilized, be sure that the rack meets the specifications of a Dell rack.

• Elevated Ambient Temperature: If installed in a closed rack assembly, the operation temperature of the rack environment may be greater than room ambient. Use care not to exceed the rated maximum ambient temperature of the unit.

• Reduced Air Flow: Installation of the equipment in a rack should be such that the amount of airflow required for safe operation of the equipment is not compromised.

• Mechanical Loading: Mounting of the equipment in the rack should be such that a hazard ous condition is not achieved due to uneven me chanical loa ding .

• Circuit Overloading: Consideration should be given to the connection of the equipment to the supply circuit and the effect that overloading of cir cuit s might have on overcurrent protection and supply wiring. Consider equipment nameplate ratings for maximum current.

• Reliable Earthing: Reliable eart hing of rack mounted equipment should be maintained. Pay particular att enti on to suppl y connec tions other t han dir ect connec tions to the bra nch circu it (for example, use of power strips).

Product Overview 11

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12 Product Overview

Installation

Getting Started

Before installing your Console Switch, refer to the following list to ensu re you have all items that shipped with the appliance as well as other item s necessary for proper installation.

Supplied with the Console Switch

The following are supplied with the Console Switch:

• Console Switch appliance

•Power cord

•CAT 5 cable

• Rack mounting kit

• 0U mounting bracket

•One serial cable

• Console Switch Installer/User’s Guide

• Console Switch Quick Ins tallation Guide

Additional Items Needed

The following are additional items you may need to install your Console Switch:

• One Server Interface Pod (SIP) module and UTP cabling per attached server or switch

• 1U mounting (optional)

Rack Mounting Your Console Switch

NOTE: Rack mounting kits are sold separately.

Your Console Switch may be r ack mounted u sing brack ets availa ble throug h Dell. Befor e instal ling t he appliance an d o t he r components in the rack cabinet (if not already installed), stabilize the rack in a permanent location. Install your equipment starting at the bottom of the rack cabinet, then work to the top. Avoid uneven loading or overloading of rack cabinets.

Installation 13

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Figure 2-1. Console Switch Hor izontal Installati on

CAUTION: Ra ck Loading - Overloadin g or uneven loading of racks may result in sh elf or rack failure,

causing damage to equipment and possible personal injury. Stabili z e racks in a permanent location before loading begins. Mount components beginn ing at the bottom of the rack, then work to the top. Do not exceed your rack load rating.

To install the 1U s w itch mounting bracket:

Remove the screws on each side.

Line up the holes in the “long side” of the kit’s side brackets with the screw holes in the switch.

With a Phillips screwdriver, fasten the mounting brackets to the switch using two screws on each side.

Attach four cage nuts or clip nuts to the rack mounting flange of the rack cabinet so that the nut is positioned on the inside of the rack.

Mount the switch assembly to the rack cabinet by matching the holes in the “short side” of each bracket to an appropriate set of matching holes on your rack cabinet. Next, insert the combination hex head screws through the slots in the bracket and the holes in the mounting rail, then into the cage nuts or clip nuts.

Installing the Console Switch

Plug the supplied power cord into the back of the appliance and then into an appropriate power source. Figure 2-2 illustrates one possible configuration for your Console Switch. See the following detailed set of p roced ures to successfully i ns tal l yo ur a ppl ia nce .

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of el ectric shock or dama ge to your equipment:

14 Installation

- Do not disable the pow er co r d grounding plug. The grounding plug is an impor tant safety feature.

- Plug the power cord into a grounded ( ear thed) outlet th at is easily accessi ble at all times.

- Power down the unit by unplugging the po wer cord from the elec trical outlet or th e unit.

Figure 2-2. Basic Console Swit ch Configuration

Local User B (16-port model only)

Configuration Port

(for updating firmware)

Console Switch

Servers 2-16

Local User A

SIP

Server 1

To connect a SIP to each server:

Locate the SIPs for your Console Switch.

Attach the appropriately cable ends to the keyboard, monitor and mouse ports on the first server you will be connecting to the appliance.

Attach one end of the CAT 5 cabling that will run between your SIP and Con sole Switch to the RJ-45 connector on the SIP.

Connect the other end of the CAT 5 cable to the desired ARI port on the back of your Console Switch.

Repeat steps 2 to 4 for all servers you wish to attach.

Installation 15

NOTE: When connecting a Sun AVRIQ module, you must us e a m u lti-sync monitor to accommodate Su n

computers that support both VGA and sync-on-green or composit e sync.

To connect local peripherals:

Select the keyboard, monitor and mouse to be connected to local user A.

Locate the port set labeled A on the back of the appliance. Connect these peripherals to their respective ports.

NOTE: For the mul tiuser, 16-port Console Switch, repeat these step s for the local user analog port set

labeled B.

Bundle and label the cables for easy identification.

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Tiering Console Switches

You can tier multiple Cons ole Switches to enable one or two users to connect to up to 256 servers. In a tiered system, each Analog Rack Interface (ARI) port on the main Console Switch will connect to the Analog Console Interface (ACI) port on each tiered Console Switch. Each tiered switch can then be connected to a server with a SIP. The example in Figure 2-3 shows one Console Switch tiered under the main switch, enabling the connection of up to 15 primary servers and 16 secondary servers. Using this configuration, you can tier 16 Console Switches under the main switch, enabling the connection of up to 256 servers. Only one level of tiering is supported in this type of configuration, which means that you cannot tier additional legacy switches or another Console Switch. In this configuration, the local port On-Screen Configuration and Activity Reportin g (OSCAR®) interface of the tiered Console Switch is disabled. All funct ions ar e per formed t hrou gh the main Console Switch OSCAR.

NOTE: As shown in Figure 2-3, only local user A’s ACI port may be used for the tiered connection.

To tier multiple Console Switches:

Connect the Console Switch (tiered) to each server as described in the previous "Installing the Console Switch" section.

Connect the local peripherals to local user A of the main switch as described in "Installing the Console Switch" .

Attach one end of the CAT 5 cabling that will run between your main and tiered Console Switch to the RJ-45 (ACI) connector of local user A on the tiered Console Switch.

Attach the other end of the CAT 5 cable to one of the 16 RJ-45 (ARI) ports on the main Console Switch.

NOTE: The system will automatically tier the two switches together as one. All servers connected to the

16 Installation

tiered Console S w itch will display o n the main Console Swi tch server list in the OSCAR interface.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all additional tiered (secondary) Console Switches you wish to attach.

Figure 2-3. Console Switch C onfiguration with a Tiered Switch

Local user A

Tiered (secondary) Console Switch

Local User B (16 port model only)

Console Switch

ARI Ports

Primary Servers

Secondary Servers

Installation 17

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Adding Legacy Switches

You can add legacy switches to the Console Switch system for easy integration into your existing configuration. In a tiered system, each ARI port will accommodate up to 24 servers. See the following table for legacy switches compatible with the Console Switch system.

T able 2-1. Legacy Switch Support

Legacy Product Model Numbers

Avocent switches AV200, AV400, AV2000, 180ES, 2160ES Dell switches Dell 180ES, 2160ES

18 Installation

+ 40 hidden pages