topic Re: connection to MP using console serial port in Integrity Servers

connection to MP using console serial port

Miguel Silva Rentes — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:21:27 GMT

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to connect to MP using console serial port in a HP-UX server rx2660 and don't see the MP login screen when I connect to the console serial port. I'm using a DB9 female/female cable to connect one end into the serial port and the other end into a serial-USB converter that connects into my laptop's USB port. I'm using Ubuntu 9.10 in my laptop.

Here's what I've done so far:

- connected the cable to the server and to my laptop and issued the following command from my laptop:

$ dmesg | grep tty

which gives me:

[ 0.001189] console [tty0] enabled
[ 1100.381505] usb 5-1: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0

then I did:

$ cu -l /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 9600

from my laptop and got this output:

$
Connected.

From here I can't see the MP login window at all nor do I know what do I have to do from this point to be able to login myself in MP.

What am I doing wrong?

Best regards

Miguel Rentes

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Michal Kapalka (mikap) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:15:37 GMT

hi,

you could install putty on your linux and try tu copnnect to the MP serial via your USB cable.

mikap

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Torsten. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:53:36 GMT

Many many years ago when I was using MUX panels to get access via "cu" to devices I needed to edit /etc/uucp/Devices first, then "cu -l ..." was working.

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Matti_Kurkela — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:29:27 GMT

In Linux, it's possible to use cu without editing any uucp configuration files first.
The cu command line looks OK for that purpose.

A serial console works differently from a VGA console.

When you plug in a VGA cable, you'll instantly see the whole screen, including the sum total of all the updates that have happened while the display was disconnected.

On a serial console, you'll get nothing at all. Usually you have to press Enter or some other key once or twice to make the console "wake up". At that point, either the MP or the HP-UX process running on the console will send something back. Usually it'll be a login prompt.

If there is no response, try pressing Control-B: that should switch you to the MP mode, which allows you to check if the server is powered down or if the HP-UX is hung (by checking the VFP).

The only way to see messages that were sent to the serial console while the cable was disconnected is to use the CL (Console Log) function of the MP.

MK

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Miguel Silva Rentes — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:30:26 GMT

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately, Ctrl-B doesn't work either. I've attached two images using minicom (that shows my configuration) and another one that shows minicom when I connect to the server. I can't issue any command at all inside minicom.

When I use "cu -l /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 9600" I get this:

miguel@c32868:~$ cu -l /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 9600
Connected.

When I send a "~" it's waiting for some command:

~[c32868]

but Ctrl-B doesn't work at all. It only outputs this:

[Unrecognized. Use ~~ to send ~]

Any ideas?

Thank you for your help, nevertheless.

Regards,

Miguel Rentes

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Torsten. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:55:43 GMT

I think the connected means connected to the port, not the device (not really sure).

You can try to attach the cable to your PC only, the other end open and see if you get the "connected" again.

Do you use a null modem cable?

I used different USB -> serial converters before, some really doesn't work at all.

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Miguel Silva Rentes — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:43:29 GMT

Hi Torsten,

I'm pretty sure I'm using a null modem cable (it's a Lorenz Bell null modem cable :)), but I'm unsure if the usb-serial converter is working as it should. It has a led that flashes whenever I issue a command and I thought "it's working..." but now I'm not so sure about it.

I only connected to my pc and left the other end open as you told me and got the same:

miguel@c32868:~$ cu -l /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 9600
Connected.

Right now I'm thinking "how didn't I think of this before?" :D

So, I'm thinking this converter is not working as it should... do you have any other ideas to test this converter? Can you point me any usb-serial converter that you know it works?

Regards,

Miguel Rentes

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Torsten. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:57:09 GMT

I'm sure the converter I have is no longer sold. This is the only one I know ...

Why not try to connect via LAN?

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Miguel Silva Rentes — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:01:11 GMT

Ok, thank you Torsten.

I'll try to connect via LAN (I have to assign an IP first to the MP board) and post here if I have any setbacks.

Regards,

Miguel Rentes

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Torsten. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:53:58 GMT

Well the default settings are to use DHCP.

But you can do this:

The IPF offline CD has a this tool

fs0:\EFI\HP\TOOLS\ilosetup> ilosetup set -l -i 15.255.96.44 -g 15.255.96.1 -s 255.255.248.0
Attempting to set iLO LAN parameters...
LAN parameters have been set.

so you can use the CD, a VGA screen and a keyboard and set this IP.

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Miguel Silva Rentes — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:04:00 GMT

Hi Torsten,

I have two IPF CD's with me: IPF 0703 and IPF 0712, both of which don't have the ilosetup utility... can you tell what is the IPD CD number that has this utility or if I can download it from HP?

Regards,

Miguel Rentes

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Miguel Silva Rentes — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:12:53 GMT

Hi,

I downloaded IPF 0909 (Sept. 2009) and managed to use ilosetup, but first I had to upgrade iLo firmware to 02.23 version in order to use ilosetup. I now have my MP with the IP address I want and everything is working nice!

Thank you for all your help!

Regards,

Miguel Rentes

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Miguel Silva Rentes — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:15:31 GMT

I'm closing this thread as I now have my MP configured to have an IP address =)

Re: connection to MP using console serial port

Torsten. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:15:40 GMT

Good news!