IBM 17351LX, 17352LX User Manual
Console Switch
Installation and User’s Guide
Notices and Statements Used in This Document
• Note: These notices provide important tips, guidance, or advice.
• Important: These notices provide important information or advice that might help you avoid
inconvenient or problem situations.
• Attention: These notices indicate possible damage to programs, devices or data.
An attention notice is placed just before the instruction or situation in which damage could
occur.
• Caution: These statements indicate situations that can be potentially hazardous to you. A cau-
tion situation is placed just before the description of a potentially hazardous
procedure step or situation.
• Danger: These statements indicate situations that can be potentially lethal or extremely haz-
ardous to you. A danger statement is placed just before the description of a
potentially lethal or extremely hazardous procedure step or situation.
Important:
All caution and danger statements in this documentation beginn with a number. This number is
used to cross reference an English caution or danger statement with translated versions of the
caution or danger statement in the IBM Safety Information book.
For example, if a caution statement begins with a number 1, translations for that caution statement
appear in the IBM Safety Information book under statement 1.
Be sure to read all caution and danger statements in this documentation before perfo rm ing the
instructions. Read any additional safety information that comes with your server or optional device
before you install the device.
ix
le of Contents
List of Figures .................................................................................................................xi
List of Tables................................................................................................................. xiii
Chapter 1: Product Overview.......................................................................................... 1
Features and Benefits ........................................................................................................................1
Switch Cable ......................................................................................................................................1
Safety Precautions .............................................................................................................................4
Rack Mounting of Systems............................................................ .................................. ...................7
Chapter 2: Installation ..................................................................................................... 9
Getting Started.................................................................................................. .................................9
Supplied with the console switch....................................................... .........................................9
Rack Mounting the Console Switch...................................................................................................9
Vertical installation in the side of a rack .......................................... ... ................................. .....9
Horizontal installation in the 1 U rack mounting space ..........................................................10
Installing the Console Switch ..........................................................................................................11
Tiering Multiple Console Switches..................................................................................................13
Adding Earlier-model Switches .......................................................................................................14
Configuring the Console Switch System..........................................................................................16
Chapter 3: Basic Operations......................................................................................... 17
Controlling the System at the Local Ports.......................................................................................17
Viewing and Selecting Ports and Servers........................................................................................17
Selecting servers................................................. ......................................................................19
Navigating the OSCAR Interface.....................................................................................................20
Configuring OSCAR Interface Menus .............................................................................................21
Assigning server names ............................................................................................................22
Assigning device types..............................................................................................................23
Changing the display behavior.................................................................................................25
Controlling the status flag........................................................................................................26
Setting console switch security.................................................... .................................. ...........28
Displaying Version Information ......................................................................................................30
Resetting the Keyboard and Mouse ......................................... .................................. ......................32
TABLE OF CONTENTS
x Table of Contents
Scanning the System............................................................................ ................................ .............32
Broadcasting to Servers........................................................ ...........................................................34
Changing the Switch Mode..............................................................................................................36
Setting the Keyboard Country Code............................... .................................. ... ............................37
Appendices..................................................................................................................... 39
Appendix A: Firmware Upgrades....................................................................................................39
Appendix B: Technical Specifications .............................................................................................41
Appendix C: Notices ........................................................................................................................42
Appendix D: Electronic Emission Notices.......................................................................................44
Index................................................................................................................................ 47
xi
List of Figures
Figure 1.1: PS/2 Switch Cable and USB Switch Cable....................................................................2
Figure 1.2: Example of a Console Switch Configuration.................................................................4
Figure 2.1: Console Switch vertical installation............................................................................10
Figure 2.2: Console Switch Horizontal Installation.......................................................................11
Figure 2.3: Basic Console Switch Configuration...........................................................................12
Figure 2.4: Console Switch Configuration with a Tiered Switch...................................................13
Figure 2.5: Console Switch Configuration with an Earlier-model Switch.....................................15
Figure 3.1: Example of Configured Main Window ........................................................................18
Figure 3.2: Setup Window..............................................................................................................22
Figure 3.3: Names Window............................................................................................................22
Figure 3.4: Name Modify Window .................................................................................................23
Figure 3.5: Devices Window ..........................................................................................................24
Figure 3.6: Device Modify Window................................................................................................24
Figure 3.7: Menu Window..............................................................................................................25
Figure 3.8: Flag Window................................................................................................................27
Figure 3.9: Set Position Window....................................................................................................27
Figure 3.10: Security Window........................................................................................................28
Figure 3.11: Version Window.........................................................................................................30
Figure 3.12: Cable Selection Window............................................................................................31
Figure 3.13: Cable Version Window..............................................................................................31
Figure 3.14: Scan Window .............................................................................................................33
Figure 3.15: Commands Window...................................................................................................34
Figure 3.16: Broadcast Window.....................................................................................................35
Figure 3.17: Broadcast Enable Window ........................................................................................36
Figure 3.18: Switch Window ..........................................................................................................37
Figure 3.19: Keyboard Window .....................................................................................................37
Figure 3.20: Keyboard Warning Window ......................................................................................38
LIST OF FIGURES
xii List of Figures
xiii
List of Tables
Table 1.1: Console Switch Cable Resolution and Refresh Rate........................................................2
Table 2.1: Earlier-model Switches ..................................................................................................14
Table 3.1: OSCAR Interface Status Symbols................................................. ..................................18
Table 3.2: OSCAR Interface Navigation Basics..............................................................................20
Table 3.3: Setup Features to Manage Routine Tasks for the Servers..............................................21
Table 3.4: OSCAR Interface Status Flags .......................................................................................26
LIST OF TABLES
xiv List of Tables
1
CHAPTER
1
Product Overview
Features and Benefits
The IBM 1x8 Console Switch and the IBM 2x16 Console Switch integrate keyboard, video, and
mouse (KVM) switching technology with advanced cable management, flexible access for up to
two simultaneous users, and an intuitive user interface. The console switches feature powerful onscreen management for easy system configuration and server selection.
NOTE: The 1x8 console switch enables a single local user to access any attached servers. The 2x16 console
switch enables two simultaneous users to access attached servers.
The IBM 3M Console Switch Cables (PS/2 and USB) are unique benefits of the console switch. By
using CAT 5 cabling, the switch cable reduces cable clutter, while providing optimal resolution and
video settings. The built-in memory of the switch cable simplifies configuration by assigning and
retaining unique server names and port numbers for each attached server. The switch cable is
powered directly from the server and provides Keep Alive functionality even if the console sw itch
is not turned on. Keep Alive functionality enables the server to operate properly with or without
connectivity to the console switch.
Switch Cable
The switch cable enables direct KVM connectivity to servers attached to the console switch. The
1x8 console switch has 8 Analog Rack Interface (ARI) ports and the 2x16 console switch has 16
ARI ports for connecting switch cables.
Using a PS/2 switch cable you can attach additional switches to expand the console switch system.
This flexibility enables you to add capacity as the data center grows.
Multiplatform Support
The
switch cable
s available with the console switch support PS/2 and USB server environments.
Using the On-Screen Configuration and Activity Reporting (OSCAR
®
) graphical user interface in
conjunction with these cables enables you to switch easily across platforms.
The PS/2 switch cable is used to connect a PS/2 server to a console switch. This cable has one HD15
connector for video, one PS/2 connector for keyboard, an d one PS/2 connector for mouse.
2 IBM Console Switch Installation and User’s Guide
The USB switch cable is used to connect a USB server to a console switch. This cable has one HD1 5
connector for video and one USB connector for keyboard and mouse.
Figure 1.1: PS/2 Switch Cable and USB Switch Cable
OSCAR Graphical User Interface
The console switch uses the OSCAR interface, which features intuitive menus to configure the
switch system and select servers. Servers can be identified by a unique name and port number,
enabling you to assign a unique server name.
Security
The OSCAR interface enables you to protect the 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 resolutions for analog VGA, SVGA, and XGA video. You
can achieve resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 with a 3-m (9.8-ft) cable.
Table 1.1: Console Switch Cable Resolution and Refresh Rate
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
USB Switch
Cable
PS/2 Switch
Cable
Chapter 1: Product Overview 3
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 standa rd.
Firmware Upgrades
You can upgrade the firmware at any time through an update utility to be sure that the console
switch system is always running the most current version available. See “Appendix A: Firmware
Upgrades” for more information.
Tiering Expansion
The 1x8 console switch supports up to 8 directly attached servers and the 2x16 console switch
supports up to16 directly attached servers. Each model can conveniently scale to support additional
servers. You can expand the system by tiering with console switches and earlier-model console
switches. This extra tier of units enables you to attach up to 256 servers in one system. See “Tiering
Console Switches” in Chapter 2 for more information.
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
1280 x 1024 75 Hz VGA
Table 1.1: Console Switch Cable Resolution and Refresh Rate
4 IBM Console Switch Installation and User’s Guide
Figure 1.2: Example of a Console Switch Configuration
Safety Precautions
Use the following safety guidelines to help ensure your own personal safety and to help protect the
system and working environment from potential damage.
Console Switch
(tiered)
Earlier-model
Switch (tiered)
Switch Cable
(tiered)
Rack of Servers
Critical Server
Local User A
Console Switch
(main)
Local User B
Chapter 1: Product Overview 5
6 IBM Console Switch Installation and User’s Guide
General
• Observe and follow service markings.
• Do not service any console switch except as explained in the console switch documentation.
• Opening or removing covers that are marked with the triangular symbol with a lightning bolt
might expose you to electrical shock.
• Components inside these compartments should be serviced only by a trained service technician.
• The console switch contains no serviceable components. Do not attempt to open.
• If any of the following conditions occur, unplug the console switch from the electrical outlet
and replace the part or contact the trained service provider:
• The power cable, extension cable, or plug is damaged.
• An object has fallen into the product.
• The console switch has been exposed to water.
• The console switch has been dropped or damaged.
• The console switch does not operate correctly when you follow the operating instructions.
• Keep the console switch away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block
cooling vents.
• Do not spill food or liquids on the console switch components, and never operate the console
switch in a wet environment. If the console switch gets wet, see the appropriate section in the
troubleshooting guide or contact the trained service provider.
• Use the console switch only with approved equipment.
• Enable the console switch to cool before removing covers or touching internal components.
• Operate the console switch only from the type of external power source indicated on the elec-
trical ratings label. If you are not sure of the type of power source required, consult the service
provider or local power company.
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