topic Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console in Operating System - HP-UX

Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Jim Ferrero — Wed, 24 Oct 2001 21:59:25 GMT

Does any one know of a device that will allow me to control multiple D-Class machines from a single console. I have 12 servers and the space the keyboards and monitors take up is getting expensive?

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

A. Clay Stephenson — Wed, 24 Oct 2001 22:06:31 GMT

Hi Jim:

Just so we know what to look for, do all of your D-boxes have a graphics card and mouse or
are these dumb terminals?

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

harry d brown jr — Wed, 24 Oct 2001 22:09:17 GMT

goto www.arula.com, they used to be part of HP, and they have quite a few good products.

live free or die

harry

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Paul R. Dittrich — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 00:11:53 GMT

If you are talking about the HP, non-graphical terminal consoles, I use a Black Box serial switch to control multiple servers from a single local console in the server room. The switch positions are labeled by server name.

Note: The CRT will NOT refresh automatically as you switch from server to server but you will not "lose" your logged-in session.

Of course, from a remote desktop I use multiple X Window or telnet sessions as the task requires.

HTH,
Paul

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Bernie Vande Griend — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 02:50:04 GMT

This is a question that I'm surpised doesn't come up more often.
I recently did extensive research on this for our data center. NOt only did we want to avoid having a terminal for each server, but also wanted remote access to the consoles so we don't have to be there in person.
There are lots of options out there: terminal servers, console server devices, software.
I'm testing console servers from Cyclades and iTouch (Xyplex) both of which are fairly inexpensive and work quite well. My favorite is the conserver freeware program though as it just needs serial ports of some sort and then handles the console connections, allows multiple sessions to a port (spy mode) and logs everything. I will probably use a combination of both.
Conserver software:
http://www.conserver.com

List of many serial device solutions:
http://www.stokely.com/

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Patrick Wessel — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 07:48:09 GMT

Jim,
Another possibility is the Central Web Console. Follow the link to check out what it can do for you:
http://www.hp.com/products1/unix/management/confmanagement/cwc/

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Bill McNAMARA_1 — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 08:54:12 GMT

Apart from Patricks suggestion, try out Service Control Manager (free software) for centralise management.

http://www.hp.com/go/servicecontrol

You'll find info on the central web console and on the service control manager software. (two seperate things).. but what you're looking for.

Later,
Bill

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Bill McNAMARA_1 — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 08:54:53 GMT

http://www.hp.com/products1/unix/management/confmanagement/cwc/infolibrary/product_brief_2-1.html

Later,
Bill

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Ravi_8 — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 09:28:58 GMT

Hi,
you have few choices(as i am aware of)
1. centralised web console
2. Service control manager for centralise management
3.you can fix web console to each machine and can monitor remotely.

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Eugen Cocalea — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 09:50:30 GMT

Hi,

And what if network / serial / other ports fail?

In my opinion, best choice is a KVM with enough ports - ie physical switching between monitor, keyboard, mouse ports on the computers.

If network fails you still have console access. If keyboard/mouse/video on one of the servers fails, you can try access it from another one, via the network. If the network on the first is down, you always have the F13 button (the power button).

E.

http://www.kvmplanet.com

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Jim Ferrero — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 13:25:15 GMT

These all use dumb RS-232 terminals.

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

A. Clay Stephenson — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 13:33:12 GMT

Hi Jim:

In that case, go to http://www.blackbox.com, they have ton's of switches - some manual and some that are controlled by keyboard sequences.

Clay

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

A. Clay Stephenson — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 13:36:07 GMT

One more thought, you might want to consider a matrix switch and have 2 or 3 terminals which could connect to your servers at the same time. That feature can be mighty handy when you are trying to bring up a ServiceGuard Cluster and need to see what is happening on more than one box.

Clay

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

John Bolene — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 15:03:37 GMT

We have a room full of servers and only use a dumb terminal hooked to the serial port if we cannot get in via the network (normally only the initial setup).

We can dialin to each server thru a CISCO terminal controller hooked to serial port 1 on each machine. The CISCO is disconnected if we need local access via the dumb terminal and hopefully that person remembers to hook it back up to the CISCO.

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Uday_S_Ankolekar — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 15:08:10 GMT

Hi,

For your setup blackbox would be ideal..

Goodluck
-USA..

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Dave Wherry — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 16:17:10 GMT

I used the web console which was great as we could get to any of the systems from a browser. We kept one terminal around in case of a failure. Cheap and compact.

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

harry d brown jr — Thu, 25 Oct 2001 16:30:24 GMT

My $0.02:

"Black boxes" were great in the late 70's and 80's, but in todays world we need access. I can reboot my servers from my office, or at home, or on the road. I can do this with "web consoles" or "terminal type servers", but with a "black box " manual switch, the only thing I can do is drive into the office. At my leasure, while kicked back at home, I can use the internet to connect to a servers console (of course highly secured), and play god with that server all day long, but if I have to come in and have physical contact with a console, then productivity diminishes because I ain't coming in on my day off.

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Jim Ferrero — Fri, 26 Oct 2001 15:23:45 GMT

Thanks for all your responses. I think we have plenty to evaluate and just need to decide which road to take. Thanks, again.

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

Filomena Cantoria — Fri, 26 Oct 2001 16:47:55 GMT

I'm very happy with the Cybex KVM switches.

Re: Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

John Bolene — Fri, 26 Oct 2001 19:06:40 GMT

All good answers, seems like points could be awarded now.