Controlling multiple servers (d class) with one console

[Jim Ferrero]

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?

[A. Clay Stephenson]

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?

[harry d brown jr]

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


live free or die

harry

[Paul R. Dittrich]

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

[Bernie Vande Griend]

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/

[Patrick Wessel]

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/

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

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

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

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

Later,
Bill

[Ravi_8]

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.

[Eugen Cocalea]

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

[Jim Ferrero]

These all use dumb RS-232 terminals.

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

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

[A. Clay Stephenson]

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

[John Bolene]

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.

[Uday_S_Ankolekar]

Hi,

For your setup blackbox would be ideal..

Goodluck
-USA..

[Dave Wherry]

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.

[harry d brown jr]

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.

[Jim Ferrero]

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

[Filomena Cantoria]

I'm very happy with the Cybex KVM switches.

[John Bolene]

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

[Magdi KAMAL]

Hi Jim

DIGIPort is what you need.

One console and one keyboard for N connections ( N could be 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 ).

Magdi

[Duncan Edmonstone]

If all your boxes are D class, then be careful! One nice little feature of the D class is that it won't actually boot if there is no console attached (it gets so far thro and then justs displays the message 'AP CONSOLE' on its LCD). This can be lots of fun when your system panics in the middle of the night, and then doesn't restart.
Not a problem if you are using a terminal server, but I'm not sure what would happen if you are using a serial switch, and the switch was set to another server.

HTH

Duncan

[John Bolene]

I have 2 D390's and they boot just fine with no console.

Maybe you don't have autoboot turned on.

[Duncan Edmonstone]

No we did have autoboot rurned on - I guess the more likely reason is an old firmware bug which is now fixed (I haven't actually worked with D class systems for a couple of years now)

[David Krull]

Try Perle CS9000 console server
http://www.perle.com
They can be used on HP, Sun, Cisco etc