Compaq Integrated Remote Console User Guide

Compaq Integrated Remote Console User Guide

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About This Guide

This guide is designed to be used as step-by-step instructions for installation, and as a reference for operation, troubleshooting, and future upgrades.

Text Conventions

This document uses the following conventions to distinguish elements of text:

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Telephone Numbers

For the name of your nearest Compaq Authorized Reseller:

In the United States, call 1-800-345-1518

In Canada, call 1-800-263-5868

For Compaq technical support:

In the United States and Canada, call 1-800-OK COMPAQ (For continuous quality improvement, calls may be monitored or recorded.)

For Compaq technical support phone numbers outside the United States and Canada, visit the Compaq website at:

http://www.compaq.com.

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Chapter 1

Introduction

Compaq Integrated Remote Console (IRC) is an integrated hardware function that provides remote access and remote control to diagnose server failures interactively. IRC gives authorized users direct access to the managed server, independent of the operating system or other software, from locations a few feet away or from another continent.

Ability to control the server is not dependent upon any special software running on the server, nor is it restricted to when the managed server is in a particular state (like running BIOS). An administrator now has the ability to access the server, perform diagnostics, reset the system, watch the reset process remotely, and view Automatic Server Recovery sequences, regardless of whether the server operating system is online or offline.

IRC capability is built into your server. No add-on system management board is required.

Integrated Remote Console

Capabilities

The primary capabilities of IRC let you:

???Access the server via modem from a distant location

???Access the server via direct-line connection to a terminal or terminal server

???Remotely control the managed server with complete remote console access, regardless of the state of the server operating system

???Perform a controlled reset of the server, regardless of the state of the server operating system

???Cycle the power, unconditionally resetting all features and internal peripherals, followed by automatic reconnection to Integrated Remote Console

???View a complete boot sequence including all ROM POST messages and operating system load information following an Automatic Server Recovery event

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Installation Sequence Outline

In preparation for using IRC, the following tasks must be performed:

???Prepare the management console with the necessary hardware and software for out-of-band communication

???Prepare the managed server for out-of-band communications by installing a modem or connecting the managed server to a suitable communications device

???Configure the usage and communication parameters of IRC

???Set up a list of authorized users and their permissions in the IRC user database

Figure 1-1. Communication topology showing a modem-based out-of-band connection between a managed server, left, and a management console, right

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Accessing Integrated Remote

Console

Integrated Remote Console can be accessed through either Compaq Insight Manager or through any communications package that supports ANSI terminal emulation. It can be accessed through Compaq Insight Manager by configuring the modem remote console feature associated with the managed server. When accessed through Insight Manager, Integrated Remote Console supports dynamic text mode changes and extended keyboard functionality, including the function and alternate keys.

Integrated Remote Console can also be accessed through any ANSI terminal emulation program. This gives you multiple options in the choice of a server management console application. In addition, Integrated Remote Console supports complex keystroke combinations. You can synthesize complex combinations, such as function and alternate keys, which would otherwise be unavailable through the ANSI standard. As a result, virtually any keystroke combination can be entered from any terminal emulation package. Integrated Remote Console also supports different terminal line modes (for example, 80 x 25 or 80 x 50) in both monochrome and color.

Expected Audience

This document assumes that you are familiar with the setup and configuration of Compaq server hardware and that you have a working knowledge of Compaq Insight Manager. The Compaq Insight Manager User Guide is referred to throughout this document.

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Chapter 2

Setup and Configuration

This chapter describes the steps required to implement Integrated Remote Console (IRC) using an internal modem, external modem, or direct serial port connection.

See Chapter 6 for information on supported modems and for additional information pertaining to the appropriate configuration of modems with IRC.

To operate IRC by modem, the management console must be equipped with a modem that is compatible with the modem in the managed server. Using different classes of modems in the management console and managed server, particularly if they are from different manufacturers, can cause various connection problems, including the inability to obtain a login prompt. Using the same type of modem from the same manufacturer in both the management console and managed server is strongly recommended.

IMPORTANT: Most connectivity problems are caused by modems that default to a ???floating??? computer-to-modem (or DCE-to-DTE) port speed. (U.S. Robotics modems and others). For Integrated Remote Console to function properly, both the modem in the management console and the modem in the managed server must have the computer-to-modem port speed set to ???fixed.??? This can be configured through initialization strings in both Integrated Remote Console and the management application. See Chapter 6 and your modem's documentation for more information.

Installing the Modem

Consult the instructions for installing hardware options in the documentation that accompanied your Compaq server. Consult the user documentation that accompanied your modem for additional instructions specific to the modem, including default settings.

For internal modems, the Compaq System Configuration Utility can be used to determine the appropriate COM port and IRQ jumper settings.

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6.Select !ISA0010.CFG Generic Modem (for use with IRC) from the list of boards that appears.

Figure 2-1. Example: Selecting a configuration file

7.Select the slot where the modem is installed when the Configuration Utility identifies appropriate slots for the modem, then press Enter.

8.Press F10 to return to the System Configuration Main Menu.

9.Select Step 3: View or Edit Details.

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4.Note the COM and interrupt settings for the desired integrated serial port; these are needed when configuring IRC.

Figure 2-3. Example: Configuring an integrated serial port

Figure 2-4. Example: Viewing the resources of an integrated serial port

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Integrated Remote Console Configuration Summary Continued

1.Select Remote Console Functions from View or edit details, and set to

Enabled.

Figure 2-5. Example: Enabling Remote Console Functions

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Modem Strings

Configure the Modem Command Strings (not required for direct connect):

1.Set the Primary and Secondary Initialization strings. These command strings are used to initialize the modem used by IRC.

The Primary Initialization string must include the appropriate AT command to reset the modem to a known state. Since AT command strings can contain multiple configuration and command sub-strings, this string can also contain additional configuration commands. (For example, AT&F and AT&C1&D2 can usually be combined into one command: AT&F&C1&D2.) Not all command strings can be concatenated. For example, most modems ignore commands following the ATZ command.

The Secondary Initialization string must include additional AT configuration commands necessary to properly configure the modem for use with IRC.

The configuration utility sets the Primary and Secondary Initialization strings to ???ATZ??? and ???AT&C1&D2,??? respectively. These strings were chosen since they generally apply to all modems. Your modem may require different strings to operate properly. These initialization strings must place the modem in the following state for proper operation with Integrated Remote Console.

???Computer to modem serial port speed:computer to modem, to fixed (&B1 or \J0)

???DCD serial port signal assertion to ???normal??? (&C1)

???Modem responds correctly to DTR assertion (&D2)

???Computer to modem serial port set for hardware flow control

???Error correction enabled

Additional configuration options may be necessary if you have the modem in the shared configuration. These settings are necessary to ensure that Integrated Remote Console and the operating system have configured the modem similarly. Additional configuration settings include:

???Modem response format (numeric or verbose)

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User Configuration

You must have at least one user configured in the database to access IRC. The maximum number of users is eight. Use the System Configuration Utility to add, delete, or modify user entries. Users can also be added, deleted, or modified online from the IRC Main Menu if the connected user has supervisor privileges.

To edit user information:

1.Select View or edit details from the System Configuration Utility.

2.Highlight Configure Users, then press Enter.

Figure 2-7. Example: Selecting a user to modify

3.Highlight the desired user line, then press Enter. To add a user, simply choose one of the unassigned entries.

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5.Verify/Change the user???s security settings. Position the highlight to Security Access and press Enter. Ensure the correct setting of the following security attributes:

Figure 2-8. Example: Edit User screen

a.Supervisor Rights ??? A user with supervisor rights can remotely modify all Integrated Remote Console configuration parameters, including the addition, deletion, and modification of other users. The default setting is disabled.

b.Remote Console Rights ??? Authenticated user has remote access to the managed server???s console. Users can be assigned login access, but have no access to the server console. The default setting is enabled.

c.Reboot Server Rights ??? Authenticated user can remotely reboot or power-cycle the managed server. The default setting is enabled.

d.Boot Sequence Replay Rights ??? Authenticated user can replay boot sequences stored in the Integrated Remote Console. The default setting is enabled.

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Chapter 3

Establishing a Connection

You can establish a connection to Integrated Remote Console (IRC) from any ANSI X3.64 compatible terminal or terminal emulator. This section contains specific information on how to establish a connection using either Compaq Insight Manager or Windows HyperTerminal. In addition, this section contains general guidelines necessary if an administrator wants to use a different terminal emulator application.

Establishing a Connection Using

Compaq Insight Manager

Compaq Insight Manager is the recommended application for accessing IRC in a managed server. Although IRC is designed to be accessible from any ANSI compatible terminal, Insight Manager incorporates several keyboard and terminal extensions to make certain tasks easier from within IRC. In addition, Insight Manager combines access to the Compaq suite of remote management tools into one convenient location.

Compaq Insight Manager provides the ability to manage multiple servers either through a local area network (LAN) or a dial-up connection. In addition to providing in-band manageability to these machines, Insight Manager provides the ability to establish an out-of-band modem remote console session with any of the managed servers. Out-of-band remote console access to a server???s Integrated Remote Console feature can be enabled simply by supplying Insight Manager with that server???s out-of-band management phone number. Once completed, the Remote Console menu item is activated for this server and you are able to use this menu item to establish a connection with Integrated Remote Console.

To use the Insight Manager out-of-band remote console feature, both the managed server and the management console must be equipped with compatible (preferably identical) modems.

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Figure 3-1. Device Setup window

4.Enter the phone number of the managed server in the Modem Remote Console configuration group.

5.Verify the COM port settings to ensure they are correct and reflect the configuration of the modem in the management console.

NOTE: The COM port used for this configuration setting is based entirely upon the hardware setup of the management console and is not related in any way to the COM port setup of IRC.

6.Click OK to complete the configuration.

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Insight Manager launches a terminal window and dials the number configured above. The call progress is displayed in the terminal window???s status bar. If configured correctly, IRC on the managed server answers the call. If the server does not answer (possibly indicating that the OS currently owns the modem), wait 60 seconds and try again. For more troubleshooting information, see Appendix C.

Invoke Integrated Remote Console Login

When Insight Manager indicates that the connection is established (???Connected??? is displayed in the terminal status window), press Enter three times. This tells the managed server that the incoming call is intended for Integrated Remote Console.

IMPORTANT: After connection has been established, you have 10 seconds to press the ENTER key three times to validate the call. Pressing any other key combination or pressing the correct key combination after the 10-second interval causes the call to be forwarded to the OS and does not invoke IRC. If this occurs and modem sharing is enabled, IRC is unavailable for at least 60 seconds following the failed login attempt. Wait 60 seconds and try again.

After the login is successfully invoked, see the section ???Login??? later in this chapter.

Benefits of Using Insight Manager to

Establish the Connection

One of the benefits of accessing IRC through Insight Manager is enhanced keyboard support. Certain key sequences, like the function and Alt keys, are not available through strict ANSI emulation. These key sequences are necessary to perform certain remote server operations. (Pressing F10 to invoke system partition utilities, for example). If IRC detects Insight Manager is the control application, many of these key sequences are directly supported and do not require attention sequences. See chapter 4 for the enhanced key sequences available directly through Insight Manager.

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Figure 3-3. COM port settings

3.The COM port settings dialog box is displayed. The modem initialization string for out-of-band access on the management console is listed in the Modem Control Strings control group. The default value is ???AT&F&C1&D2E0S0=0???. Additional configuration settings may need to be appended to this string (for example, some modems may require appending an &B1 (set computer-to-modem speed to fixed) resulting in a string like ???AT&F&C1&D2E0S0=0&B1???). To finish configuration, click OK.

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???No auto-answer support ??? Must manually enter modem commands in the terminal window to take advantage of call back.

IMPORTANT: Make sure your IRC firmware revision revision is 1.41 or greater if you wish to use HyperTerminal to connect to IRC. In certain circumstances, HyperTerminal may not accurately transmit characters until is has received characters from the remote system. Consequently, the Enter, Enter, Enter sequence may not be correctly sent by HyperTerminal, even though it was typed correctly by the administrator. If IRC receives any characters other than the three carriage return sequence, it rejects the call and does not display the login prompt. IRC Firmware revisions 1.41 or greater automatically detect this condition to work-around the HyperTerminal anomaly. To update your IRC firmware, obtain the latest ROMPaq ROM update for your server.

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2.Enter a name that describes the managed server, then click OK.

3.Enter the server phone number. Also verify that the modem identified under ???Connect using:??? correctly describes the modem in the management console, then click OK.

Figure 3-5. Entering connection details

HyperTerminal is now ready to dial into the managed server.

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5.After verifying the phone number, click Dial. You should be prompted with a status dialog box and hear the modem establishing connection with the managed server.

Figure 3-7. Establish a connection using HyperTerminal

The HyperTerminal application should indicate that a call is in progress. If configured correctly, IRC answers the call. If the server does not answer answer (possibly indicating that the OS currently owns the modem), wait 60 seconds and try again. For more troubleshooting information, see Appendix C.

Upon connection, the status dialog box closes and returns you to the terminal window. Notice that the status bar of the terminal window indicates ???Connected.???

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Establishing a Connection Using an

ANSI Compatible Terminal Emulator

The ANSI terminal standard allows access to IRC from most standard terminal emulation applications.

Configuration Guidelines

The following are general guidelines for using ANSI terminal emulation programs to access Remote Console.

Display Settings

Display font ??? If the display font of your terminal application can be configured, choose a font that supports the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) character set. The ???terminal??? font is usually a good choice. If your terminal application is configured for a non-OEM-based font, some of the graphic line-draw characters used in the Remote Console menu system may not be drawn correctly.

Terminal settings

Terminal Size ??? If the terminal size of your terminal application is configurable, set it to the maximum number of lines to be displayed on the server console. For Netware and Unix applications, 25 lines is the appropriate setting to ensure that all lines on the server console are visible on the remote terminal. Windows NT, however, switches to a 50-line mode during OS load and during ???blue-screen??? error conditions. To insure that this information is also visible on the terminal, set the terminal size to 50 lines. The terminal size setting within Integrated Remote Console must be set to match the setting of your terminal application to function correctly.

???Line Wrap ??? Make sure your terminal application is configured to wrap lines that exceed terminal width. This is the default in most terminal applications.

???Backspace key mapping ??? Some terminal applications allow the backspace key to either be mapped to Backspace (Ctrl+H) or Delete. Make sure that Backspace is mapped to Ctrl+H and not Delete.

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???Callback Support ??? You need to manually place the modem in auto- answer mode if either of the following situations occur:

???callback authentication is required to complete your login

???you want IRC to automatically reestablish a connection following a remote power cycle

Establishing a Connection

After verifying the proper configuration of the terminal emulator settings, instruct the application to dial into the managed server. The terminal emulator application should indicate that a call is in progress. If configured correctly, IRC answers the call. If the server does not answer (possibly indicating that the OS currently owns the modem), wait 60 seconds and try again. For more troubleshooting information, see Appendix C.

Invoke IRC Login

When the terminal emulator verifies that the connection is established, press Enter three times. This action indicates that the incoming call is intended for IRC.

IMPORTANT: After connection has been established, you have 10 seconds to press Enter three times to validate the call. Pressing any other key combination or pressing the correct key combination after the 10-second interval causes the call to be forwarded to the OS and does not invoke IRC. If this occurs and modem sharing is enabled, IRC is unavailable for at least 60 seconds following the failed login attempt. Wait 60 seconds and try again.

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If you established your connection using any standard terminal emulation program that supports ANSI, the Integrated Remote Console application main menu displays as shown in Figure 3-9 after you have successfully logged in.

Figure 3-9. Remote Console Main Menu

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Chapter 4

Using Integrated Remote

Console

Use the instructions in Chapter 3 to establish a connection to the managed server and to log in to Integrated Remote Console (IRC).

If you establish your connection using an application other than Compaq Insight Manager, the Integrated Remote Console Main Menu displays, as shown in Figure 4-1, after you have successfully logged in.

Figure 4-1. Remote Console Main Menu

The Main Menu is the main control center for the various functions available through IRC.

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Main Menu Options

The following options are available from the Main Menu.

???Remote Console ??? Redirects the managed server???s console to the management console to provide the user with remote control capabilities, regardless of the software running on the managed server.

???Reboot Server ??? Lets you reset the managed server. Use this only as a last resort; it performs an unconditional reset of the server.

???View Reboot Sequence -??? Lets you view all recorded video activity following an Automatic Server Recovery (ASR) event. This includes all ROM POST messages and operating system load information.

???View Event Log ??? Lets you examine the IRC event log.

???Change Password ??? Lets users without supervisory access modify their login password.

???Manage Login Information ??? Lets a user with supervisory access add or delete users or modify an existing user???s configuration.

???Manage Configuration ??? Lets an administrator remotely change the configuration parameters of Integrated Remote Console.

???Disconnect ??? Lets the user terminate the connection with IRC.

This chapter discusses each of the menu options in the order listed above.

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Beginning a Remote Console Session

If the attention key and terminal size settings are correct, select Begin a Remote Console Session to enter the Remote Console mode. The managed server console is displayed if the following conditions are met:

???The user has remote console access to the server.

???The managed server is in text mode. If the managed server is in graphics mode, an appropriate message is displayed.

In this mode, characters typed into the terminal emulation window are redirected to the managed server. Figure 4-4 shows an example of remote console mode. In this example, the server is running the Windows NT operating system and is currently waiting for input at the initial OS Loader.

Figure 4-4. Using Remote Console mode

In this example, the arrow keys can be used to move the selector to the appropriate operating system choice. Again, if your terminal emulator supports arrow keys (true for Insight Manager and HyperTerminal), you can move the selector bar using these keys, as you would at the server console.

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In this example, the attention key is defined to its default: Ctrl+A. To perform a down-arrow attention key sequence:

1.Hold the Ctrl key down while pressing the A key on the terminal keyboard.

2.Release both keys making sure to release the Ctrl key last. This informs IRC that you want to generate an enhanced key sequence. There is no change to the server console, since Remote Console is waiting for the next key to complete the sequence.

3.Press the M key. The down-arrow key sequence is complete.

Since the M key was preceded by the attention key [Ctrl + A], IRC presses the down-arrow key on the managed server???s keyboard. The M key used to complete the attention sequence is not case sensitive.

NOTE: Remote Console interprets the character sequence the same regardless of the state of the CAPS LOCK key on the terminal emulator keyboard.

Keep in mind that your are actually composing this character sequence by entering two distinct characters: first the [Ctrl+A] and then the M. It is incorrect, for example, to hold down all three keys (Ctrl+A+M) at the same time. If you have entered this sequence correctly, Remote Console generates a down-arrow to the managed server, which moves the highlight down one entry. You can move the highlight down one more entry by repeating the above sequence.

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In addition to the Switch Consoles feature, Insight Manager offers enhanced keyboard and terminal support. As a result, the function keys (F1-F12) and Alt sequences can be performed on the terminal console, without having to use attention sequences. In addition, the Insight Manager terminal window dynamically resizes itself to match the screen size of the server console. Windows NT, for example, changes between 25-line and 50-line mode during its boot process.

Note that your ability to control the server is not dependent upon any special software running on the server, nor it is restricted to when the managed server is in a particular state (like running BIOS). This allows you to inspect and control the server between operating system transitions or when the server is completely off line.

Changing the Default Attention Key

The attention key is important since it must be used to exit from remote console mode and return to the Main Menu. Be sure to note the currently defined attention key before entering Remote Console mode. Figure 4-3 illustrates the default attention key setting of Ctrl + A.

The Change Attention Key menu option lets you modify the key that is used to generate unavailable key sequences and special command sequences from standard ANSI terminal emulation programs.

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Most of the more advanced ANSI terminal emulation packages allow adjustment of the number of displayed rows. If this is the case, it is recommended that both the remote terminal and the terminal size settings be adjusted to accommodate the maximum number of lines which will usually be displayed on the server console. For instance, if the managed server operating system is Windows NT, the recommended terminal size is 50 lines, since Windows NT uses this video mode during operation system load and during ???blue screen??? trap conditions. If both the terminal emulation application and IRC are configured for more lines than are currently being displayed on the managed server, IRC adjusts the output so it is correctly displayed on the Management Console. This allows you to use one terminal size setting for all display modes.

If you are using a terminal emulation package that supports 25 lines, make sure that the terminal application is correctly configured for 25 lines. If the terminal emulation package does not support 25 lines (like HyperTerminal), IRC must be configured to match this limitation. In either case, the terminal size setting in IRC and the terminal emulation application must match for correct display. IRC saves this setting in your user profile, so changes to the terminal size are retained between sessions. If the terminal size requires adjustment, select the ???Change Terminal Size??? option from the Remote Console submenu. Adjust the terminal size to either 24, 25, 43, or 50 lines.

Return to Main Menu

You can return to the IRC Main Menu by pressing Esc or selecting this option.

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Reboot Server Menu Option

It may become necessary to reboot a server that has gone off line and is no longer accessible through the OS. Compaq Automatic Server Recovery can be configured to reboot the server automatically when this condition is determined. In some instances, however, the administrator may want to control this reset event so that it can be interactively invoked and monitored.

For this example, a catastrophic error was intentionally introduced in the Windows NT operating system. This server is no longer available through OS- based tools since the operating system is off line. If this server is equipped with IRC, it is still accessible and can be rebooted remotely.

To establish a connection with IRC in this server, use the steps described in Chapter 3. Upon entering Remote Console mode, notice that the operating system is currently off line and is displaying valuable information about the failure, as shown in Figure 4-7.

Figure 4-7. Example of a failure situation

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This debug information can be easily captured for later analysis by using the Copy to Clipboard function of the terminal emulator application. In Insight Manager this can be done by clicking Copy, located at the bottom of the terminal window.

From visual inspection of the server console, you can see that the operating system is off line. To restore this server to an online state, it must rebooted. This can be done by returning to the Main Menu and selecting the Reboot Server??? menu option.

To return to the Main Menu, press the [Atn] Esc sequence, described earlier in this chapter. If you are using the terminal window from within Insight Manager, click Switch Consoles.

After switching to the Main Menu, select Reboot Server??? . This invokes the Reboot Server submenu shown in Figure 4-8.

Figure 4-8. Server Reboot menu

From this menu, you can reboot the server in one of two ways:

???Perform a low-level reset of the server and all connected peripherals. This is the same type of reset that occurs following an Automatic Server Recovery event. Although the server itself is reset, you remain connected and can monitor the reboot process from within Remote Console mode.

???Cycle Power to the Server is available on servers that support this feature. Since both Remote Console and the modem rely on server power to function, you cannot remain connected to the server through this type of reset. However, Remote Console can be configured to automatically reestablish the connection when power returns.

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Figure 4-10. Power Cycle warning

Type Y to instruct Remote Console to attempt to automatically reestablish the connection upon power-up. Integrated Remote Console prompts for the phone number of the management console. After entering the phone number of the management console, you are prompted for verification one last time. Type Y to initiate the remote server power down sequence.

Figure 4-11. Power Cycle dial back

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View Reboot Sequence

Selecting the View Reboot Sequence option from the IRC Main Menu lets you view a stored boot sequence. The IRC boot sequence recorder starts automatically following an Automatic Server Recovery (ASR) event. The boot sequence contains all ROM POST messages and operating system load messages that were displayed on the managed server console while it was being rebooted. If the Compaq Health Driver for your particular operating system is loaded, this sequence will also include a snapshot of the server console at the time the ASR event occurred. Boot sequences are stored in system memory and are not available once the server power has been deactivated.

When the boot sequence recorder is activated, all text-mode video data is collected until the boot sequence recorder is full or the recorder duration timer expires (approximately five minutes). The recorder duration timer insures that even the minimal overhead necessary to sustain the boot sequence recorder will not affect server performance.

If IRC contains a valid boot sequence, the View Reboot Sequence menu option is available. If this menu option is gray or inactive, there is no boot sequence to view. Select View Reboot Sequence from the Main Menu to display a screen similar to Figure 4-13, showing the commands that control sequence playback.

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View Event Log

Select View Event Log from the Main Menu to view the IRC Event Log, as shown in Figure 4-14.

Figure 4-14. Event Log screen

If the event log contains multiple pages of information, you may navigate through these pages using Page Up, Page Down, Home, or End (or character equivalents). The following events are logged as they occur:

???IRC user login

???Failed login attempt

???IRC user logout

???Server logged critical error(s)

???Event log cleared

???Server reset

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Manage Login Information

Manage Login Information is available to users with supervisory rights. This option enables an administrator to add or delete users or modify an existing user???s configuration remotely. Select Manage Login Information to display a screen similar to that shown in Figure 4-16.

Figure 4-16. Manage Login Information screen

Press A to add a user. You are then prompted to fill in the added user information.

To delete or modify a user, position the highlight next to the desired user and press Enter to edit the highlighted user, or D to delete the highlighted user. A confirmation message is displayed before a user is deleted.

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Manage Configuration

The Manage Configuration option, available to users with supervisory rights, allows an administrator to view or change the configuration parameters of IRC remotely. Since many configuration options are necessary for the proper operation of IRC, care must be exercised when making changes. Selecting Manage Configuration presents a screen similar to that shown in Figure 4-18.

Figure 4-18. Manage Configuration screen

From this screen, the administrator can perform the following functions:

???Remote Console Functions ??? Toggles the status of Remote Console Functions from Enabled to Disabled.

IMPORTANT: If Remote Console Functions are remotely disabled, IRC no longer accepts incoming calls. IRC can only be re-enabled by running the Compaq System Configuration Utility.

???Keyboard Type ??? Specifies which country-specific keyboard is attached to the managed server. For proper remote keyboard operation, this setting must match the keyboard country configuration of the server???s OS. This option allows the administrator to ensure that the keyboard type matches the keyboard configuration of the server.

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???Communications Setup??? ??? Allows the administrator to view or change all communication parameters used by Integrated Remote Console.

???System Information??? ??? Displays hardware and firmware revision information pertaining to the managed server.

???IRC Information ??? Displays hardware and firmware revision information pertaining to Integrated Remote Console.

To edit or select a particular item, position the highlight to the desired field and press Enter. To accept changes, select Save Modified Information. To reject changes, press Esc.

Changes made in the Communications Setup configuration screen are permanent if you accept these changes as they are applied. The Save Modified Information pertains only to changes made to the Remote Console Functions and Keyboard Type fields.

Communications Setup

Selecting Communications Setup from the Manage Configuration screen displays the administrator screen, similar to the one shown in Figure 4-19.

Figure 4-19. Communications Setup screen

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NOTE: The Compaq System Configuration Utility helps in the initial setup of communications setup parameters.

The following communications parameters can be changed from this screen:

???Baud Rate

???Data Bits

???Stop Bits

???Parity

See Chapter 2 for detailed information on these parameters. To edit or select a particular item, position the highlight on the desired field and press Enter. To accept changes, select Save Modified Information. To reject changes, press

Esc.

Modem Strings

Select Edit Modem Strings at the Communications Setup screen to display a screen similar to that shown in Figure 4-20. Again, see Chapter 2 for detailed information on how these strings should be set. See Appendix A for additional information on modem configuration commands and parameters.

Figure 4-20. Edit Modem Strings screen

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Chapter 5

Using Attention Key Sequences

You can use attention key sequences in Remote Console mode to maximize ANSI terminal emulation functionality. Integrated Remote Console (IRC) provides a mechanism to enter complicated key sequences otherwise unavailable from a standard ANSI terminal emulation program. This mechanism consists of key sequences where you press a configurable ???attention key??? followed by a standard ANSI key.

The attention key is actually a combination of key strokes (usually two) that alerts the server that a command is about to follow. IRC lets you define the attention key, or you can use the default selection Ctrl + A.

Attention key sequences are used to perform three types of functions:

???Attention Key Command Sequences

???Attention Key Support Sequences

???Attention Key Compose Sequences

Each of the items is described in detail in the following sections.

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Attention Key Support Sequences

These sequences emulate special PC keyboard keys that are not part of the ANSI standard, such as function keys and Page Up and Page Down.

Table 5-2 lists the attention key sequences for entering special non-ANSI key sequences from any ANSI terminal program. Included are keys such as Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, and function and arrow keys.

NOTE: Some of the sequences described in Table 5-2 are not required with Compaq Insight Manager or other ANSI terminal programs that support function keys, Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End.

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Attention Key Compose Sequences

These sequences extend the ability to enter complex keyboard sequences necessary in the PC environment, like Ctrl + Alt + Delete.

Table 5-3 identifies keystroke sequences used to enter complex keyboard commands. These settings are automatically cleared after an ANSI key is entered, or if the Sequence Clear or Sequence End attention code is entered.

*Other attention key signals can be used simultaneously if the appropriate attention sequence(s) are entered before terminating the sequence.

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Example: Entering Ctrl + Alt + Del

The attention key compose sequences can be combined together and with other attention key support sequences to compose virtually any key combination. For example, if you needed to perform a Ctrl + Alt + Del key sequence on the managed server:

1.Enter the attention key. In this example the attention key is set to its default: Ctrl+A. Press both the Ctrl and the A keys down simultaneously. Release both keys, making sure to release the Ctrl key last.

2.Enter the command to press and hold the Ctrl key on the managed server???s keyboard. This command key is Z.

3.Enter another attention key to begin the sequence to add the Alt key to list of keys that should be pressed down on the managed server???s keyboard. Press Ctrl + A as above in step 1.

4.Enter the command to add the Alt key to the list of keys pressed down on the managed server???s keyboard. This command key is X.

5.Enter another attention key to begin the Del key support sequence. Press Ctrl + A as above in step 1.

6.Enter the command to press the Del key on the managed server???s keyboard. This command key is B.

Steps 1 and 2 signal IRC that you wish to compose a key sequence on the managed server keyboard with the Ctrl key pressed down. Steps 3 and 4 signal IRC that you additionally want to hold down the Alt key on the managed server keyboard. Steps 5 and 6 generate a Del key on the managed server keyboard. Since the Del key was preceded by the Ctrl and Alt compose sequences, all three are pressed simultaneously on the server???s keyboard. The Del support sequence, since it is not an attention compose sequence, automatically ends the compose sequence, releasing both the Ctrl and Alt keys following the Ctrl + Alt + Del sequence.

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Attention Key Template

Figure 5-1 illustrates the layout of the attention key sequences. Essentially the attention key places the keyboard in an alternate mode, much like the ???alt- function??? keys on a laptop keyboard. Note the geographic placement of these sequences as seen on an U.S. domestic keyboard layout.

Esc

Menu

Figure 5-1. Example: United States Keyboard with Attention Keys indicated

Changing the Attention Key

See Chapter 4 for instructions on how to change the attention key. The attention key may be changed to any ASCII key, preferably a key that is infrequently used.

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Chapter 6

Additional Modem Information

Integrated Remote Console (IRC) has been tested and is compatible with a wide variety of internal and external modems. IRC requires a high-speed (14400 baud or greater) Hayes-compatible serial modem. Virtually all external RS-232 serial modems meet this requirement.

Modem Types

Internal modems must be ISA and must be controller-based. The following sections describe many of the commercially available types of modems and their compatibility with IRC.

Table 6-1

Modem Requirements

???ISA adapter card

???Jumper-able resource settings (COM & IRQ)

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Internal ISA Plug-n-Play Modems

Internal ISA Plug-n-Play modems, designed for the PC consumer industry, are designed to be easy to install and configure. Such modems rely on the operating system for resource configuration, eliminating the need for the user to set pre- determined jumpers. The modem???s COM port and interrupt settings are automatically configured by the operating system and can be adjusted at run- time to resolve resource conflicts when new hardware is installed. Although these modems greatly simplify the hardware configuration process, they require the operating system for proper operation.

IRC must be able to access the communications device, regardless of the state or health of the server operating system. If the managed server is unable to load the operating system, IRC is unable to access the communications device. In addition, the operating system may readjust the modem resources at run-time. For IRC to function correctly the modem configuration must be fixed and it must be available regardless of the state of the managed server.

Fortunately, however, most ISA internal Plug-n-Play modems contain jumpers that allow the modem to be configured in ???legacy??? mode. These jumpers ensure that the modem can be used whether or not the operating system loads. For proper operating with Integrated Remote Console, internal plug-n-play modems must be jumpered for ???legacy??? mode, with the resources manually configured using methods described in Chapter 2.

???Windows??? Modems

Since these modems require the operating system and a proprietary driver to function correctly, they cannot be used with IRC. ???Windows??? modems, offered by some modem manufacturers, attempt to reduce the hardware complexity and cost of internal modems by replacing the industry standard controller interface with a proprietary one. Functions that would normally be performed on the modem in hardware are shifted to the main CPU. These modems require a specific driver and considerable CPU resources to function correctly. These modems are usually a poor choice in a server environment.

???Windows??? modems were not designed to be accessible from anywhere except through the operating system. As mentioned above, IRC must be able to access the communications device regardless of the state or health of the server operating system.

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Modem Configuration Strings

For IRC to function correctly, the modem must be configured correctly. The modem is configured using the primary and secondary initialization strings, which are specified during the configuration process. For many modems, the proper initialization strings can be found in Appendix A. This section provides the information necessary to determine the proper initialization strings for modems not listed in this chapter.

To function in a wide array of computing environments, modems have many configuration options. Table 6-2 provides a summary of those settings which are important for compatibility with IRC.

Table 6-2

Modem Configuration Setting Summary

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Data Terminal Ready (DTR) Interpretation

Most modems have a configuration option that controls the interpretation of the DTR serial port interface signal. For IRC to function properly, the modem must be configured to terminate a connection whenever DTR is dropped. Improper setting of this configuration option results in the improper termination of an existing IRC session and may result in the inability to establish a future IRC connection. The &D AT command controls this setting in most modems. Since modem vendors differ with respect to the default setting of this configuration option, appending an &D2 to Integrated Remote Console???s initialization string insures proper DTR interpretation.

Flow Control

IRC is designed to use hardware flow control on the serial port interface. For IRC to function properly, the modem must be set to hardware flow control for both receive and transmit operations. Improper setting of this configuration option could result in the loss of characters, causing the remote terminal to display incomplete or garbled information. Modem manufacturers differ with respect to how this configuration option is implemented and controlled. Typical AT commands to configure flow control include &K, &H, &R, &J, &E, \G or \Q. Refer to your modem???s AT command reference for more details.

Error Correction

Most high-speed modems, by default, automatically negotiate an error control protocol such as v.42 (LAPM) or MNP upon establishing a connection to another modem. For connection speeds in excess of 1200 baud, error control is essential to insure proper communication between IRC and the management console. If error control is not negotiated between modems, erroneous data may result in either the inability to obtain a login prompt, garbled characters on the terminal display, or incorrect or extra keystrokes being sent to the server. Error control is normally negotiated, unless it is explicitly turned off on either modem or the modems are incompatible. If you encounter any of the problems mentioned above, try using identical modems for both the server and the management console. Typical AT commands to configure error control include \N, &Q, &M, &E, and S-Register settings. Refer to your modem???s AT command reference for more details.

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Chapter 7

Direct Connections

In a data-center environment, connecting a modem to each server may be undesirable. For this reason, Integrated Remote Console (IRC) supports configurations whereby access can be obtained through companion hardware, such as a ???buddy server??? or terminal server. In a ???buddy server??? configuration, two servers are directly connected to each other???s serial ports. If either server fails, the other server can be used to gain out-of-band access to the failing one.

In a terminal server configuration, a cluster of servers can be connected to a terminal server or terminal concentrator, allowing out-of-band access to any of the servers through either a LAN (telnet) connection, or through a shared modem or bank of modems.

For both configurations, identical concepts apply. The following section entitled ???Connecting Using a Terminal or Terminal Emulator??? describes the elements necessary to setup a direct-connection to IRC from a generic terminal device. Additional information necessary for terminal server configurations is found later in this chapter in the section entitled ???Connecting to a Terminal Server.???

Connecting Using a Terminal or

Terminal Emulator

The following section contains information necessary to connect IRC directly to a terminal or terminal emulator. For simplicity, the terminal or terminal emulator is referred to as the ???terminal.???

For proper operation in direct connect mode mode, IRC requires the following:

1.A null-modem cable, with the complete set of modem control signals.

2.A terminal or terminal emulator that supports the complete set of modem control signals, including hardware flow control, proper DTR assertion, and DCD interpretation.

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???DTR Control ??? For compatibility with IRC, the terminal must assert DTR whenever a communication session is open. IRC uses the DCD control signal (which is driven by the terminal???s DTR output) to determine whether a remote session is open. IRC ignores any serial port activity whenever DCD is inactive. Consequently, if the terminal does not assert it???s DTR output, it is impossible to establish a connection with IRC. Conversely, the terminal must lower DTR whenever a communication is closed. This ensures that the current user is properly logged out and IRC will return to a passive state.

???DCD Interpretation ??? IRC asserts it???s DTR serial port control signal whenever it is prepared to accept an incoming login request. Through the null-modem cable, this signal is wired to the terminal???s DCD input, which is usually reflected by the terminal???s status bar as ???CARRIER??? or ???ONLINE.??? IRC drops DTR in response to a logout or close session request.

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Connecting Using a Terminal Server or Concentrator

A terminal server can be a perfect compliment to IRC, particularly in a data- center environment where servers are grouped in clusters. Through one terminal server, a remote administrator can gain access to a number of different servers either through a shared modem or through a local area network connection. This topology greatly decreases or eliminates the need for multiple modems and phone lines. This topology also provides another level of security since access can be restricted to a trusted private network or a centralized remote access server.

LAN

Management

Modem

Modem

Figure 7-1. Typical terminal server topology

Figure 7-1 shows a typical terminal server topology. In such a configuration, the terminal server is directly connected to the integrated serial ports on a cluster of servers. The Integrated Remote Console feature of each server is configured for direct-connect access through the selected integrated serial port. Out-of-band access to any connected server can be obtained by establishing a TELNET connection through the terminal server to the appropriate port.

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Such an implementation has three requirements:

1.You must select or obtain an appropriate cable or adapter to connect the terminal server asynchronous serial port to the managed server DB-9F serial port.

2.You must properly configure the IRC feature of each server for this environment.

3.You must configure each port of the terminal server with the necessary serial port settings.

Each of these requirements is described in detail in the following sections.

Obtaining the Appropriate Cable

Unfortunately, this is usually the biggest obstacle preventing proper operation of Integrated Remote Console in this environment. To obtain the necessary connector density, terminal servers typically route the serial ports to non- standard connectors. Typically, the serial port connections are provided in an RJ-45 style connector located either on the terminal server or available through a special high-density ???break-out??? cable. Although the use of the RJ-45 connector is somewhat standard, the way the signals are routed to this connector differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Consequently, the adapter required to connect to the DB-9F connector on the managed server differs with each brand of terminal server. Adapters offered by the terminal server vendors are typically constructed to connect to simple RS-232 devices and may not contain the complete set of serial port control signals which Integrated Remote Console requires to operate correctly. The requirements of the necessary adapter are listed in Table 7-1. Check with your terminal server vendor to make sure all these conditions are satisfied.

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Connector Example

To demonstrate the proper adapter, a serial port found on the Cisco 2509/2511 terminal server is used as an example. On this terminal server, a breakout cable provides the serial port connectivity through individual RJ-45 style connectors. The RJ-45 connector is defined with the following pinouts:

Table 7-1

Example: Cisco 2509/2511 RJ-45 Connector Pinout

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???Integrated Remote Console Communication Device Settings ??? Set the communication device to direct connect and ensure that the communication device COM port and interrupt settings match the serial port selected above.

???Integrated Remote Console Sharing Options ??? In instances where a terminal server is used, in-band management information is typically available directly through a LAN connection. Consequently, the serial port sharing option should be set to dedicated, making the selected serial port a dedicated out-of-band management port.

???Integrated Remote Console Communication Settings ??? Set the baud rate and communication settings to match those configured on the terminal server. A baud rate of 19200 is sufficient for most applications, although a higher rate can be selected provided the cable and terminal server can accommodate it. The recommended setting of data, parity, and stop bits are 8, none, and 1 respectively. Keep in mind that these settings must match the settings configured for the corresponding port on the terminal server.

Configuring the Terminal Server

Typically, terminal servers are extremely adaptable and configurable. The exact configuration mechanisms and commands differ between manufacturers. Use the following guidelines along with your terminal server documentation to correctly configure the terminal server to communicate with Integrated Remote Console.

???Communication Settings Settings ??? Configure each port on the terminal server to match to communication settings specified for Integrated Remote Console. This includes the communication baud rate, number of data bits, whether a 7-bit parity mode is selected, and the number of stop bits. If the receive and transmit baud rates are each configurable, make sure they are both set to match maximum baud rate settings specified in IRC. Note that the terminal server???s default configuration almost always needs to be modified. If the communication settings are not configured correctly, you will not be able to obtain a login prompt from Integrated Remote Console.

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Chapter 8

Modem Sharing

The modem sharing feature of Integrated Remote Console (IRC) allows you to use the same modem for hardware and operating system-based management. If asynchronous management is installed on the managed server, the management console can remotely monitor and receive traps from the managed server through an operating system-based dial-up connection on the shared modem. This same connection can be used to obtain graphical remote control through applications such as pcANYWHERE or Compaq Carbon Copy. In the event that the server goes off-line and these utilities are unavailable, access to the server can still be obtained through IRC.

The modem sharing feature does not require any additional software or drivers to be installed on the managed server. In this mode, IRC owns the configured modem and performs the function of modem arbitrator. If IRC detects the operating system attempting to access the modem or if an incoming call is identified as destined for the operating system, the modem is given to the operating system, allowing the connection to complete normally. Once IRC has relinquished the modem, it monitors the modem usage, reclaiming the modem once the call completes and 60 seconds of inactivity is detected.

For incoming calls, it is essential that IRC configure the modem in a way that the operating system will expect and understand. Consequently, the communication settings of IRC must be identical to the communication settings used by the operating system. In addition, the modem must likewise be configured identically. This is accomplished through the primary and secondary initialization string configuration settings of IRC.

To aid in the proper selection of these strings, Appendix A contains a table of commonly used modems and the suggested initialization strings. It is strongly suggested that you use one of these modems along with the recommended initialization strings. If your modem is not listed in this table, see Chapter 6 in conjunction with your modem???s AT command reference to determine the proper string. Advanced Windows NT 4.0 users can use the procedure found later in this chapter to extract the operating system initialization strings.

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A general outline of the configuration process is shown below.

1.Disable IRC ??? It is highly recommended that IRC be disabled before the operating system based utilities are installed. This step is not required, but can eliminate communication problems introduced by an incorrectly configured IRC.

2.Install and Configure Dial-up Networking ??? Install PPP communication software on the managed server. See the Compaq Insight Manager User???s guide for detailed information on how to configure dial-up networking to accommodate asynchronous management.

3.Install and Configure Asynchronous Management ??? Install asynchronous management using the SmartStart Management CD supplied with your server. See the Compaq Insight Manager User???s Guide for detailed information on configuring asynchronous management.

4.Test Dial-up Networking and Asynchronous Management ??? Once configured, test the configuration by dialing into the managed server. If dial-up networking is installed correctly, you should be able to establish a PPP connection with the server. Once connected, you should be able to browse management data if asynchronous management is configured correctly. Test dial-out asynchronous traps using the test facility provided by the asynchronous management software.

5.Configure and Enable IRC ??? Once proper operation with the

operating system has been verified, enable IRC paying close attention to the communication port and modem initialization settings.

6.Test OS Dial-in Capability ??? Once enabled, you should be able to access either IRC or operating system-based management. Test the configuration by attempting to establish a dial-up networking connection. Wait several minutes after booting the operating system to insure that IRC has had a chance to regain ownership of the modem after the operating system initialization process. If the call does not connect properly, review your IRC configuration settings. See Appendix C for additional troubleshooting information. Test the connection several times, allowing at least 60 seconds to transpire between connections.

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3.Install and Configure Graphical Remote Control Application ???

Install graphical remote control application using directions supplied by the software vendor. Configure the host for network TCP/IP access. The client application should also be configured for TCP/IP access, specifying the managed server???s PPP IP address or server name.

4.Test Dial-up Networking and Graphical Remote Control ??? Once configured, test the configuration by dialing into managed server. If dial-up networking is installed correctly, you should be able to establish a PPP connection with the server. Once connected, you should be able to open a graphics remote control session using the TCP/IP transport.

5.Configure and Enable IRC ??? Once proper operation with the

operating system has been verified, enable IRC paying close attention to the communication port and modem initialization settings.

6.Test OS Dial-in Capability ??? Once enabled, you should be able to access either IRC or operating system-based management. Test the configuration by attempting to establish a dial-up networking connection. Wait several minutes after booting the operating system to insure that IRC has had a chance to regain ownership of the modem after the operating system initialization process. If the call does not connect properly, review your IRC configuration settings. See Appendix C for additional troubleshooting information. Test the connection several times, allowing at least 60 seconds to transpire between connections.

7.Test IRC Dial-in Capability ??? Finally, test the ability to invoke the IRC login prompt by dialing into the server using an ANSI or telnet based client application. Once connected, you should be able to invoke the IRC login prompt by entering three carriage returns. If this attempt fails, wait at least 60 seconds and try again. See Appendix C for troubleshooting information if repeated attempts fail.

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Temporarily disable IRC

If IRC is enabled, temporarily disable IRC using the Compaq System Configuration Utility. This prevents incorrect settings from interfering with RAS.

Turn on Modem Log File

1.From the Windows Control Panel, double-click on Modems.

2.From the Modem Properties dialog box, select the modem that you want to share with IRC and click Properties.

3.Click the Connection tab control. Click Advanced to display the Advanced Connection Settings dialog box.

4.Check the Record a log file option in the Advanced Connection Settings dialog box.

5.Click OK to dismiss the Advanced Connection Settings and Modem Properties dialog boxes.

6.Click Close to finish modem configuration.

7.Shutdown and Restart Windows NT to allow this new configuration setting to take effect.

View Modem Log File

After restarting Windows NT, a log file is recorded containing all activity to the modem. When the RAS service starts, the modem initialization commands are recorded in this log file.

1.From Windows Explorer, navigate to the directory where Windows NT is installed.

2.Locate the modem log file. This file is named ModemLog_<name of modem>. One way to quickly locate this file is by clicking the Modified column tab to sort the directory entries by their modified timestamp. The modem log should be one of the most recently modified entries.

3.Double-click the log file to view the contents in Windows notepad.

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The initialization strings invoked by Remote Access Server are located between the ???Initializing modem??? and ???Waiting for a call??? lines in the modem log file. Typically, there are three or four AT command sequences listed. The last command sequence is usually constructed using the options you have selected in the Modem Properties dialog box. This string usually contains entries for compression, error control, timeout settings, and so on. The strings proceeding the options init string are common to all configurations of this modem and contain reset, mode, and response code configuration. AT commands which are particularly important to proper modem sharing operation are those which specify the response format of the modem. These strings define how the modem reports negotiated speed, error control, and compression information upon establishing a carrier and whether this information is to be reported in numeric (V0) or verbose (V1) mode. Using your modem???s AT command reference, determine which commands strings differ from the modems default settings and construct new initialization strings for IRC using these settings. If you are unsure of which settings may be important, try using the strings verbatim. In this example, the IRC primary initialization string could be set to ???AT &F E0 %U2 V0 &D2 &C1 S0=0??? and secondary initialization string to ???ATS7=60\T0L1M1\N3%C3\Q3B0X4.???

Re-enable IRC with Proper Initialization

Strings

Re-enable IRC using the COM port and initialization string settings determined from the modem log file.

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Appendix A

Suggested Modem Settings

The following tables provide suggested settings for when a modem is dedicated or shared in non-Windows-NT environments, and when the modem is shared in a Windows NT 4.0 environment.

NOTE: Some of the initialization string entries in Tables A-1 and A-2 may be too long to be completely displayed on one line and consequently wrap to another line. When entering the string into IRC???s modem configuration, combine wrapped lines into one string.

Pay special attention to the numbers 0 and 1 to distinguish them from the letters O and I. The letter ???O??? does not appear in any of the modem strings.

Suggested Settings When Modem is

Dedicated or Shared in non-

Windows NT Environments

NOTE: The Port Setting for all modems is 8-N-1.

Table A-1

Dedicated or Shared in non-Windows NT Environment Modem Settings

Continued

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Suggested Settings When Modem is

Shared in Windows NT 4.0

The following table contains the suggested configuration settings for Integrated Remote Console when the modem usage is set to shared. These settings are dependent upon how the operating system is configured and assume that the modem was installed with the default settings. It is also assumes that the correct INF file is used when the modem is installed under Windows NT. Modems which require an INF file other than the set shipped standard with the operating system are noted.

NOTE: The Port Setting for all modems is 8-N-1.

Table A-2

Shared in Windows NT 4.0 Environment Modem Settings

Continued

1 Requires INF file from modem manufacturer to complete modem installation in Windows NT. (Appropriate INF file not shipped with Windows NT.)

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Appendix B

Null-Modem Cable Description

For proper communication, Integrated Remote Console requires a null-modem cable with a complete set of modem control signals. The exact wiring diagram for this cable is shown in below. Cables are occasionally labeled as ???null- modem??? which do not conform to this diagram. Check with your cable vendor to insure that the cable meets the requirements shown below. Cables that differ from this specification may not function correctly.

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Appendix C

Troubleshooting

Table C-1

Error Table of Contents

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Connection Problems

Due to the complexity and diversity of communications hardware, you may experience problems reliably connecting to IRC. A majority of these problems are due to improper configuration settings and can usually be remedied quickly by correcting the configuration error. The following section guides you through some possible configuration errors and their remedies.

This section is divided into three categories:

???Connection problems using a modem in dedicated mode

???Connection problems using a modem in shared mode

???Connection problems using a direct-connection

Refer to the appropriate section depending upon your hardware configuration.

Connection problems using a modem in dedicated mode

Integrated Remote Console does not answer the phone in dedicated mode

The management console attempts to establish a connection with the managed server, but the phone is never answered.

Explanation: IRC cannot correctly place the modem in auto-answer mode.

Solution: This is most likely the result of a configuration or cabling error.

Review the configuration, specifically:

???If you are using an external modem, make sure that the modem is powered on and connected properly with the correct cable. The cable must be a straight-through cable with full modem control signal support. If the modem has configuration switches, make sure they are set to factory defaults.

???Make sure IRC is enabled and at least one user is defined in the user database

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???If you are using Compaq Insight Manager as the terminal application and have either a Compaq SpeedPaq 33.6 or U.S. Robotics modem installed in the management console, change the ???initialize??? string under Insight Manager???s COM port setup from ???AT&F&C1&D2E0S0=0??? to ???AT&F 1&C1&D2&B1E0S0=0???. This selects the hardware-flow control template and also specifies a fixed DTE baud rate.

???If you have either a Compaq SpeedPaq 33.6 or U.S. Robotics modem in the managed server, make sure that &B1 is included in either the primary or secondary initialization string. If this type of modem is used in the management console, make sure that the initialization string used by your communications package includes &B1. See chapter 2 for information on correctly configuring the management console.

???Double check the primary and secondary modem initialization strings with the requirements specified in Chapter 2. Check Appendix A for the appropriation initialization strings for your modem.

???If you are using HyperTerminal to establish the connection, make sure that your IRC firmware is 1.41 or greater. Obtain the latest system ROM upgrade for your server to upgrade the Integrated Remote Console firmware.

???Try the connection again following a cold power-cycle of the managed server. If problem only occurs after the server is warm-booted, obtain the latest system ROM upgrade for your server. IRC firmware versions 1.51 and greater fix a problem where IRC is unavailable following a warm boot.

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???If the modem is not configured correctly in the operating system, the operating system may fail to communicate with the modem and periodically retry this operation. These periodic attempts will gain ownership of the modem from IRC making it unavailable for login. Check for proper operation of the modem by temporarily disabling IRC. When proper operation with the operating system has been verified, re- enable IRC.

Cannot obtain a login prompt in shared mode

When dialing into the managed server, the phone is answered and the modems complete negotiation, but a login prompt does not appear on the management console after three carriage returns are entered.

Explanation: Three carriage returns are used to positively identify that an incoming call is intended for IRC. If this sequence is not correctly received by IRC or if IRC did not own the modem at the time the call was received, you do not receive a login prompt.

Solution: Assuming that the login prompt can reliably be obtained when the modem is in dedicated mode, the following are possible solutions:

???Insure that you are sending three carriage returns (Enter key) within 10 seconds after a connection had been established with IRC. If any other character is received, or the carriage returns are received after the timeout period, the call is incorrectly forwarded to the operating system.

???The modems on the managed server and the management console may be incompatible ??? even if the modems seem to work properly in dedicated mode. If the modems do not establish a consistently clean connection, spurious and/or erroneous characters received after the data carrier detect (DCD) signal interfere with the carriage return sequence, incorrectly forwarding the incoming call to the operating system. This is a problem particularly if the modems are from different manufacturers or of different speed classes. Try using the same type and brand of modem in both the managed server and the management console.

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Cannot dial into operating system-based management in shared mode

You can connect to IRC, but attempts to dial into the server???s operating system fail.

Explanation: If an incoming call is not positively identified as destined for Integrated Remote Console, the call is forwarded to the operating system. Integrated Remote Console uses its configured initialization strings to reset the modem after it regains ownership. If these initialization strings are not compatible with the initialization strings used by the operating system, the modem may not return data in the format which the operating system expects. This is typically a problem with the response code format. Windows NT, for example, configures many modems (but not all) for numeric response codes. (V0). If the configured initialization string in IRC does not specifically contain the command to configure the modem for numeric responses, the modem returns to its default state which is usually verbose responses. As a result, the operating system may be returned a verbose connect string like:

???CONNECT 38400/V34/LAPM/V42BIS/33600:TX/33600:RX???

when it is expecting a numeric code like ???17.??? For incoming calls to be processed correctly, the modem must be configured identically by both the operating system and IRC.

Solution: Reconfigure IRC???s communication settings to more accurately match those of the operating system.

???Make sure that IRC???s primary and secondary initialization strings are compatible with how the modem is used by the operating system. See Chapter 6 for more information on modems and Appendix A for suggested initialization strings.

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???Try the connection again following a cold power-cycle of the managed server. If the problem only occurs after the server is warm-booted, obtain the latest system ROM upgrade for your server. Integrated Remote Console firmware versions 1.51 and greater fix a problem where IRC is unavailable following a warm boot.

Problems while using IRC

Screen temporarily pauses during menus or remote console text

Screen inexplicably pauses for several seconds while menus or remote console text is being drawn.

Explanation: Certain U.S. Robotics 28.8 or 33.6 modems contain a firmware bug that results in this condition during ANSI text connections.

Solution: Obtain a firmware upgrade from modem manufacturer.

???If you are using either a Compaq SpeedPaq 33.6 or U.S. Robotics 28.8 or 33.6 modem in either the managed server or management console and see this behavior, contact U.S. Robotics for a firmware update.

Terminal doesn???t scroll correctly in Remote

Console Mode

When entering remote console mode, screen is painted and is immediately scrolled. Actions that cause the screen on the managed server to scroll are not be properly echoed on the management console.

Explanation: To scroll correctly, IRC needs to know the size of the terminal window on the management console.

Solution: Check the following:

???Adjust the terminal size setting by returning to the IRC Main menu and selecting the ???Remote Console?????? submenu. For most ANSI terminal emulators and TELNET clients, the default terminal size is 24 rows.

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???View Reboot Sequence??? is grayed out

Menu item ???3. View Reboot Sequence??? is gray and cannot be selected.

Explanation: The ???View Reboot Sequence??? menu option is only available if IRC contains a valid boot sequence. The boot sequence recorder is only activated under certain conditions. See Chapter 4 ???View Reboot Sequence??? for more information on this feature.

Solution: If you believe a valid boot sequence should be available, check the following:

???Make sure that the server has not been power-cycled since the capture event.

???If you have the modem sharing options set to shared, obtain the latest system ROM upgrade for your server. IRC firmware versions 1.51 and greater fix a problem where IRC would accidentally clear the boot sequence during certain modem sharing events.

Compaq Integrated Remote Console User Guide

Compaq Integrate Remote Console User Guide

Index-2

Compaq Integrate Remote Console User Guide

Compaq Integrate Remote Console User Guide

Compaq Integrate Remote Console User Guide

Index-8

Compaq Integrate Remote Console User Guide

Index-10

Compaq Integrate Remote Console User Guide