LANconsole problem, could be n/w conf. related...

[Banibrata Dutta]

hi,

i have a setup of 1 linux box and 2 hpux boxes. i access the LANconsoles of the 2 hpux (PA-risc BTW) boxes by first telnet'ing to linux box, and then telneting again to the hpux LANconsoles. these connections are over a dedicated switch. the linux box thus has a public-static IP on one interface and a private-class-C IP on the other interface.

the strange thing that is happening is that when i logon to the LANconsole of hostA, the GSP logon tells me that i am on hostA, and then i can do a "CO" to enter the running hpux's console on hostA. so far so good. but, when i logon to the LANconsole of hostB, although the GSP logon screen tells me that i am on hostB, just before getting the GSP> prompt, i am told that i am on hostA !!! now when i do a "CO" i am indeed taken to the console of hostA.

note that hostA & hostB have 3 other lan connections each (in hpux). 1 connects it to the same switch via which LANconsole is connected. 1 connects to another switch. 1 connects to the enterprise LAN thru another switch.

could someone shed some light on what's going on?

thanks & regards,
bdutta

[Victor Fridyev]

Hi,

It seems that you run from a console of hostB telnet lanconsole-of-hostA.

Look at
ps -ef |grep telnet
and
ps -ft console
on hostB.

HTH

[Banibrata Dutta]

well victor, i tried that, but didn't help much. since i am indeed getting into hostA under all circumstances, the output of ps -ef | grep telnet & ps -ft console is same on both windows (one entered via lanconsole of hostA & the other via lanconsole of hostB)...

# ps -ef | grep telnet
root 22639 21922 0 09:12:11 console 0:00 grep telnet
# ps -ft console
UID PID PPID C STIME TTY TIME COMMAND
root 22640 21922 1 09:12:17 console 0:00 ps -ft console
root 21922 1 0 22:11:20 console 0:00 /sbin/sh

doesn't tell me much!

[John Waller]

Hi,
What model of PA-RISC systems are these. When I telnet to my lan console I don't see an hostname at the login screen.

e.g.

# telnet hostname
Trying...
Connected to hostname.
Escape character is '^]'.
Local flow control off

Service Processor login:

The hostname just duplicates your telnet command but does not guarantee that you have connected to the correct host.

Could it be you have duplicated the IP address of your lan console for hostB to the same as hostA on your DNS server or your host file on the linux server.

[Banibrata Dutta]

hi,

the model is:
9000/800/L2000-44

thanks,
bdutta

[John Waller]

Are you telneting via IP address or name. I can't see an hostname displayed before I login and from your description at the point were you do see the machine hostname you are on the wrong box. If you are using a name to telnet to each GSP card try doing a ping to confirm that the addresses are different. You should also be able to do an arp -a after your pings on your linux server to confirm the MAC address for each lan console which sould match the label on the rear for your L2000's.

[Banibrata Dutta]

This is what I see when I connect to LANconsole...
--------

$ telnet hostB
Trying 192.168.100.104...
Connected to hostB (192.168.100.104).
Escape character is '^]'.

Service Processor login:
Service Processor password:




Hewlett-Packard Guardian Service Processor


9000/800/L2000-44 System Name: hostBgsp


--------

note that the "System Name" is "hostBgsp" as configured in LanConsole configuration.

regards,
bd

[Banibrata Dutta]

and yeah, "arp -a" on the linux box does show both the LANconsole IP's of hostA & hostB with their corresponding (distinct) MAC addresses as well.

[John Waller]

Trying to understand why a CO takes you to the incorrect box? Your screen shot of your telnet command indicates you are connecting to the correct Lan Console and I can't tnink of a situation where packets sent over telnet would end up at the wrong server.
at the GSP> prompt does the Lan Status (LS) command report HostA and HostA's MAC address. Also an who command at the GSP prompt should show a connection againt the LAN with the IP address of your Linux C11 port.

[Banibrata Dutta]

that's right, even LS shows that the MAC-address of hostA & hostB are distinct and correct.

BTW, this is something which I had not noticed earlier (since I was busy debugging the LANconsole problem)...

I seem to have lost the ability to reach hostB via the public-IP i.e. via the enterprise LAN !!

Does that give any hints ?

thanks,
bdutta

[John Waller]

Hi,

I'm sorry to admit this has got me beaten. I thought I knew about networking but I can't understand this one. Perhaps another forum member can add some ideas.
What we know is
1- An LS command from the GSP prompt on both hostA and HostB report the correct information.
2- A CO command from the GSP prompt on host B which should bring up the console screen of hostB displays the console of hostA.

What you could try is to telnet from linux to hostB's 192.168.100 address. Login to hostB then telnet from hostB to hostB lan console and see if the same thing occurs.
Also try disconnecting the network cable from hostA's lan console and see if you get the same symptoms. If these fail then you need somebody more familiar with the GSP and internal connections.

As for the public network connection on hostB can you connect from hostB out to the public network? Also this may be a switch/firewall issue as reading your other post, you have no knowledge about this switch