Is a DVD Cold Install via MP Telnet Session Possible for HP-UX 11.31?

[PaulHoffrichter]

Hello,

On our rx2600 the MP and server are connected directly to the router using the LAN ports. There is no serial cable to a Comms Server. I can telnet to the MP, reboot the server, and with CO, I observe that a DVD cold-install begins to run smoothly. But the installation appeared to stop just before the screen that requests the keyboard type.

Back at the office, we hooked up a VGA-monitor into the VGA port, and saw the keyboard type screen displayed. I was able to continue the installation from that point.

Can you explain how to be able to see the cold-install screens remotely via MP Telnet session in order to complete the installation?

Prior to the 11.31 cold-install, the rx2600 configuaration was:

OS                      : HP-UX 11.23

EFI FW               : 01.22
System FW        : 02.31
BMC FW             : 01.53
iLO MP FW         : E.03.32

Thanks.

[Kris_Knigga]

Is there a keyboard plugged in?  I know workstations default to the local console (USB/VGA) if a keyboard is plugged in.

[PaulHoffrichter]

Originally, I tried the cold-install without monitor/KB/mouse just using the MP LAN connection (using telnet), and the telnet session CO hung just at the point where the KB screen is normally issued. I attached them to the server and saw the KB screen.

[Kris_Knigga]

Check "Selecting your HP-UX console for Itanium-based systems" on page 25 of this: HP-UX 11i v3 Installation and Update guide

[Torsten.]

While at EFI shell level, boot menu etc the output goes to all available channels.

As soon as hp-ux starts only the primary output device is active, the systems runs, but you cannot see anything on the non-primary console.

From the menu adjust the primary console to the MP device.

[PaulHoffrichter]

I was originally at HP-UX 11i v2, and its v2 Installation manual does not refer to conconfig. But, I tried using it, but got: 'conconfig' not found

 
Here are EFI screens which I think may be pertinent:

EFI Boot Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]  Firmware ver 2.31 [4411]

--> Boot Option Maintenance Menu

--> Select Active Console Output Devices
===============================================
EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Output Device(s)

      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
    * Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(2|0)
    Save Settings to NVRAM
    Exit

===============================================

-->  Select Active Console Input Devices
===============================================
EFI Boot Maintenance Manager ver 1.10 [14.61]

Select the Console Input Device(s)

      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
      Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
    * Acpi(PNP0501,0)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(PcAnsi)
      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
      Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100+)
    * Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(VtUtf8)
    * Acpi(HWP0002,0)/Pci(1|1)/Usb(0, 0)
    Save Settings to NVRAM
    Exit

===============================================

The KB/Mouse use the designated KB/Mouse USB ports.

[Torsten. · Accepted solution]

conconfig does not exist on this system.

Make sure you configure

Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)

as input/output/error device. Remove all the other "*".

[PaulHoffrichter]

Thank you for the information. Just to be sure about the implications of setting for input/output/error:
    Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(1|1)/Uart(9600 N81)/VenMsg(Vt100)
(turning off all other settings)

My understanding is that I will now be able to telnet into MP, and that even after hp-ux starts, CO will still receive console output (at least up to, but not including, the CDE login display that normally appears on the monitor). The VGA monitor/KB/Mouse ports will no longer receive any console output including the CDE login; but I can always set it back to original configuration if I need it.

Currently, I can ssh into the server directly via another LAN port. Will the new setting affect this functionality?

PuTTY Configuration, Connection-->Data-->Terminal-type string: xterm

Should I change this setting to vt100?

[Kris_Knigga]

This setting should not change anything about sshing to the host.

[Torsten.]

If you have set the console to serial via MP, the console is no longer at VGA.

But you can use the VGA screen as Xterminal in run level 3 as follows:

Check /etc/dt/config/Xservers.

If last line is commented out as follows:

# * Local local@console /usr/bin/X11/X :0

remove '# ' and restart dtlogin:

# /sbin/init.d/dtlogin.rc stop

# /sbin/init.d/dtlogin.rc start