Minicom Advanced Systems Minicom Supervisor Phantom User Manual
Phantom Operating Guide
International HQ
Jerusalem, Israel
Tel: + 972 2 535 9666
minicom@minicom.com
www.minicom.com Customer support - support@minicom.com
North American HQ
Linden, New Jersey
Tel: + 1 908 4862100
info.usa@minicom.com
German Europe
Zurich, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 1 455 6220
info.german@minicom.com
Italy
Rome
Tel: + 39 06 8209 7902
info.italy@minicom.com
V1.5 3/03
Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduction
The Phantom system from Minicom is a CAT5 based Distributed KVM Switching system for server
management. Connect up to 64 computers in the Phantom system. The system can be managed and controlled by
1 or 2 users. For 2-user control see the MX II Guide.
The Phantom system components
The Phantom system consists of:
• Management unit
• Remote units
• Cables and accessories – explained in the Installation guide
• Marketing & Documentation CD – includes application software
Manager unit
The Management unit can be either a Universal Phantom Manager (UPM) external box or an internal PCI card
Remote units
The Remote units may be either internal PCI cards or Micro-sized external boxes called Specters.
There are a number of Specter types as follows:
• For PS/2 interface computers – Specter PS/2 for 1-User system. Specter II PS/2 for a 2-User system
• For SUN computers – Specter SUN for 1 or 2-User systems
• For RS232 controllable devices – Specter RS232 for 1 or 2-User systems
• For computers with USB interfaces– Specter USB for 1 or 2-User systems
All Management and Remote models are fully compatible with each other.
Compatibility
The Phantom system is compatible with:
• IBM compatible, Silicon Graphics, SUN and Alpha computers
• VGA, SVGA, or XGA video standards
• All major computer and server manufacturers
• IntelliMouse™, Logitech WheelMouse, and PS/2 mice
• Microsoft DOS, Windows 3.1, 95, 98, 2000, NT4, ME, and XP. Novel, Linux, SGI, BeOS, HP UX Alpha UNIX, Open
VMS
• PS/2, SUN, RS232, USB interfaces
1-1
The Phantom configuration
Features
The Phantom system gives you:
• Control and monitor mixed, multi-platform server environments of up to 63 remote computers from 1 or 2 Manager
position
• Advanced On Screen Display management (including multi-layer security), and BIOS level access
• The option to connect a keyboard, video and mouse to any Remote PCI card computer – referred to as a Local
Workstation
• A total distance of up to 110m/360ft between the Manager computer and the last connected Remote computer
• Pure hardware solution. No drivers. No IRQs. No interrupts
The Phantom configuration
Figure 1-1 illustrates the Phantom configuration for the Manager and Remote PCI cards.
SD
P1610
Remote
Computer 1
OUT
IN
Remote
Card
Remote
Computer 2
OUT
IN
Remote
Card
Remote
Computer 3
OUT
IN
Terminator in the
last Phantom Unit
Manager
Card
Manager
Computer
RS232
OUT
Remote
Card
CAT5 System Cable CAT5 System Cable CAT5 System Cable
Figure 1-1 The card version configuration
Figure 1-2 illustrates the Phantom configuration for the UPM (without the optional computer) and Specter
models.
SD
P50
Remote
Specter Specter Specter
Computer 1
Remote
Computer 2
Remote
Computer 3
Link
Active
www.minicom.com
85-265VAC 50/60 Hz
USER COMPUTER
SYSTEM SERVICEPOWER
CAT5 System Cable
UPM
CAT5 System Cable CAT5 System Cable
Link
Active
Link
Active
Terminator
in the last
Phantom Unit
Figure 1-2 The Phantom Specter configuration with the UPM
1-2
Introduction
The configuration diagram below shows both Remote PCI cards and Specters in the Phantom UPM system.
SD
P110
Optional
www.minicom.com
UPM
85-265VAC 50/60 Hz
CAT5 System Cable
SYSTEM SE RVICEPOWER
USER COMPUTER
3 in 1 Cable
OUT IN
PHANTOM
OUT IN
PHANTOM
OUT IN
PHANTOM
OUT IN
PHANTOM
OUT IN
PHANTOM
OUT IN
PHANTOM
OUT IN
PHANTOM
Specter
Specter
Specter
Specter
Specter
Specter
Specter
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
OUT
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
OUT
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
Link
Active
Link
Active
Link
Active
Link
Active
Link
Active
IN
Link
Active
IN
Link
Active
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
Figure 1-3 Phantom mixed configuration with the UPM
RS232 Serial Cable
1-3
The Phantom configuration
The configuration diagram below shows both Remote PCI cards and Specters in the Phantom RackManager
UPM system.
SD
P110
Optional
RackManager
Front panel
Phantom
Universal Manager
MINICOM
85-265VAC 50/60Hz
www.minicom.com
COMPUTER
SERVICE SYSTEM
3in1CPUcable
CAT5 System cable
RS232 Serial cable
PHANTOM
PHANTOM
PHANTOM
PHANTOM
PHANTOM
PHANTOM
Specter
PHANTOM
Specter
Specter
Specter
Specter
Specter
Specter
MINICOM
www.minicom .com
MINICOM
www.minicom .com
MINICOM
www.minicom .com
MINICOM
www.minicom .com
MINICOM
www.minicom .com
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
MINICOM
www.minicom.com
Link
Active
Link
Active
Link
Active
Link
Active
Link
Active
IN
OUT
Link
Active
IN
OUT
Link
Active
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
ProLiant DL360
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
9.1 - GB
ULTRA2 SCSI
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
10k
Figure 1-4 Phantom mixed configuration with the RackManager UPM
1-4
OSD Technology
OSD Technology
The Phantom system superimposes a menu on the Manager position computer screen. This On-Screen-Display
(OSD) consists of three sections. From the OSD, you activate various functions discussed in the Operating guide.
The Local Workstation Option
When using the Phantom Remote PCI cards, you have the option of working at the remote computer by
connecting a keyboard, video, and mouse to it. This is called the Local Workstation option.
The Phantom Manager and the local user can both work on the remote computer with a one second AccessTimeout. This means that when one of them stops working for one second the other can take control.
Note! This option is not available with the Phantom Specter.
1-5
The OSD functions
Chapter 2: The OSD functions
The Phantom system is controlled and monitored through an On-Screen-Display (OSD) on the Manager screen.
When the Phantom Manager is the UPM you can also use Minicom’s Control software or equivalent software.
The Control software is discussed in chapter 4. The OSD contains a number of different windows that are
accessed using Hot-keys. Each window has its own special function.
Displaying the OSD
To display the OSD:
Press Shift, Shift. The Select Computer window appears. See Figure 2-1.
Pressing keyboard hotkeys
Note! For all keyboard hotkey sequences mentioned in this guide – press the first key, release and then
press the next key.
Note! When using a UPM not connected to a local computer the OSD appears automatically.
Name
Computers
Instructions
and
Hot-keys
Figure 2-1 The Select Computer window
The OSD is divided into three sections. These are:
• Name
• Computers
• Instructions and Hot-key guide
The Computers section
The Computers section displays the computers in groups of eight.
Navigate between the groups with the Page Up and Page Down Arrow keys.
In this section you select computers - discussed below.
Line Color codes
Each computer line can be one of three colors as follows:
Yellow Connected and switched on computer.
Black Connected and switched on computer with a Local Workstation attached and presently being
used locally. After remaining idle for 30 seconds, it changes to yellow.
Blue Unconnected or switched off computer.
2-1
The hotkey functions
Selecting a Computer
To select a computer:
1. Navigate to the desired computer with the Up and Down Arrow keys.
Or
Type the computer number. It will appear in the “SELECT COMPUTER” line. See Figure 2-1.
2. Press Enter. The selected computer’s screen replaces the Manager’s screen. A Confirmation label appears
showing which computer is accessed. See Figure 2-2. Control and monitor the computer from the Manager
KVM position.
Figure 2-2 The Confirmation label
To return to the OSD:
Press Shift, Shift.
To return to the Manager computer screen:
Press Shift, Esc.
To return to the previously accessed computer screen:
Press Shift, Tab.
The hotkey functions
The OSD hotkey functions are briefly outlined in the table below.
Hotkey Function
F1 Move label identifying the current selected computer to anywhere on the screen
F2 Opens Edit window to edit text – change computer names etc.
F3 Opens Setup window to set parameters – scan times etc.
F4 Activate scan
F5 Image tuning
F6 Autoskip – during a scan skip inactive computers
F7 Opens Password window to activate password protection – explained in chapter 3
F8 Keyboard language
F9 Change the display hotkey
F10 Firmware upgrade/ Numbering software access mode – explained in chapters 5&6
F11 Load defaults – explained in chapter 4
F12 Auto-numbering – explained in chapter 3
2-2
The OSD functions
Move Label - F1
Position the Confirmation label – Figure 2-2 above – anywhere on the screen.
To position the label:
1. Navigate to the desired computer using the Up and Down arrow keys.
2. Press F1. The selected screen image and Identification label will appear.
3. Use the arrow keys to move the label to the desired position.
4. Press Esc to save and exit.
Edit Mode window - F2
You can edit text in the Name and Computers sections. This is done in the Edit Mode window.
To display the Edit Mode window:
Press F2. The Edit Mode window with instructions appears, see Figure 2-3.
Name
Computers
Instructions
Figure 2-3 The Edit Mode window
Navigating between sections
To navigate between the Name and Station sections, use the Up and Down Arrow keys.
Editing options
The editing options below apply to all OSD windows in which you can edit characters.
You can either overwrite or erase a character.
To overwrite a character:
1. Navigate to it using the Arrow keys.
2. Type the new character.
To erase a character:
1. Navigate to it using the Arrow keys.
2. Press the Spacebar. The character disappears. A blank space replaces the erased character.
To erase a sequence of characters:
2-3
The hotkey functions
1. Navigate to the first character in the sequence.
2. Press and hold the Spacebar down until you erase the sequence.
Saving changes
To save all editing changes and return to the Select Computer window:
Press Esc.
Editing the Name section
You can substitute the text in the Name section with up to 30 characters in each of the two lines. A space
constitutes a character.
Editing the Computers section
The numbering at the start of each line is unalterable.
You can substitute the text that appears after the number with up to 20 characters per line.
Editing a group of lines
You can edit a group of lines with the same data change.
To edit a group of lines:
1. Navigate to the first line you want to change.
2. Type the desired change.
3. Press End, End. The rest of the column downwards takes on the same change.
The Setup window - F3
You set parameters, and configure settings, in the Setup window.
To display the Setup window:
Press F3. The Setup window with the relevant instructions and hotkeys appears. See Figure 2-4.
Figure 2-4 The Setup window
The Setup window contains 7 columns, as follows:
2-4
The OSD functions
Column Function
Numbers Computer numbers in groups of 8
SCN Scanning time period
DSP Confirmation label display time
KB Keyboard setting, either PS or Unix
MS Mouse type
OUT Security Timeout period (Explained in chapter 3)
1-6 Security profiles (Explained in chapter 3)
The SCN (Scan) column
The SCN column shows the length of time in seconds that a remote computer’s screen will appear on the
Management screen during scanning.
The DSP (Display) column
The DSP column shows the length of time in seconds that the remote computer’s Confirmation label appears
on the Management screen.
Changing the SCN and DSP time spans
The SCN and DSP time spans are preset to 030 seconds. You can adjust these times to suit your needs.
To change the time span:
1. Navigate with the Tab or Right and Left Arrow keys to the time span you want to change.
2. Type the desired time span using the numbers above the keyboard letters.
3. Press Esc.
When typing over a group of three digits, the cursor automatically reverts to the first digit once you edit the
third digit.
Changing the time span of a group of computers
You can change the time spans of the SCN and DSP columns from a particular computer downwards.
To change the time span:
1. Navigate to the time span of the first computer you wish to change.
2. Type the desired change.
3. Press End, End. The remainder of the column takes on the same change.
4. Press Esc.
2-5
The hotkey functions
Removing a computer from the scanning sequence
To remove a computer from the scanning sequence:
1. Type 000 in the SCN column.
2. Press Esc.
Constantly displaying the Confirmation label
To constantly display the computer Confirmation label:
1. Type 999 in the DSP column.
2. Press Esc.
The KB column
The KB column shows the keyboard mapping settings. Set the KB mapping for each computer according to its
operating system.
The default KB mode is PS, which is the standard keyboard mapping for Windows and Linux based operating
systems.
For a UNIX operating system using a standard PS/2 keyboard, set the KB mapping as follows:
• U1 for HP UNIX and SGI
• U2 for Alpha UNIX and Open VMS
To change the KB column from PS to U1 or U2:
1. Navigate to the KB field by using the Tab or Arrow keys.
2. Press the Spacebar. The display interchanges between PS, U1 and U2. Find the desired setting.
3. Press Esc.
The MS column
The Phantom system automatically detects the mouse types, and configures the system accordingly.
2-6
The OSD functions
Scanning Computers – F4
You scan computers from the Select Computer window.
To start scanning:
Press F4. During scanning a Confirmation label appears, showing which Remote computer is presently
displayed. See Figure
2-5.
Figure 2-5 The Scan Confirmation label
Note! The scan will skip any active computer set to 000 in the SCN column.
To stop scanning press F4.
Image tuning - F5
You can tune the image of any remote computer screen from the Select Computer window.
To adjust the screen image:
1. Navigate to the remote computer you wish to adjust.
2. Press F5. The screen image of the selected computer appears, together with the Image Tuning label. See
Figure
3. Adjust the image by using the Right and Left Arrow keys.
2-6.
Figure 2-6 The Image Tuning label
4. When the image is satisfactory, press Esc.
Note! Picture quality is relative to distance. The further away a remote computer is from the Manager position,
the lower the image quality, and the more tuning needed. So place the higher resolution computers closer to the
manager unit.
2-7
Loading...