Hi Guru,

I have an ultra10 which is installed Sol 10 already, and the machine
seats in the lab.  I also have an existing kvm switch (model Avocent
DSR 4020 16 ports).

Question:
- Is that is it possible to connect my sol 10 machine to this kvm
switch & get a console connection?  If it is, what type of
converter/connector do I need & where I can buy it?

Any helps are appreciated.
TIA,
-Chris

On Thu, 9 Nov 2006, lazyboy_2k@yahoo.com wrote:

> Question:
> - Is that is it possible to connect my sol 10 machine to this kvm
> switch & get a console connection?  If it is, what type of
> converter/connector do I need & where I can buy it?

Probably, but why bother?  Just use a serial console for those
odd occassions where you need to be on the console.  (Solaris is
capable of displaying graphical applications remotely, so you
don't actually have to be sitting on the console to run them.)

HTH,

-- 
Rich Teer, SCSA, SCNA, SCSECA, OpenSolaris CAB member

President,
Rite Online Inc.

Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
URL: http://www.rite-group.com/rich

Rich Teer wrote:
> On Thu, 9 Nov 2006, lazyboy_2k@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> > Question:
> > - Is that is it possible to connect my sol 10 machine to this kvm
> > switch & get a console connection?  If it is, what type of
> > converter/connector do I need & where I can buy it?
>
> Probably, but why bother?  Just use a serial console for those
> odd occassions where you need to be on the console.  (Solaris is
> capable of displaying graphical applications remotely, so you
> don't actually have to be sitting on the console to run them.)
>
> HTH,
>
> --
> Rich Teer, SCSA, SCNA, SCSECA, OpenSolaris CAB member
>
> President,
> Rite Online Inc.
>
> Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
> URL: http://www.rite-group.com/rich

How do I get a serial console connection on ultra 10?  Do I need to
have a terminal concentrator in order to get a serial console?  How do
I get it works?  If I remember correct, ultra10 doesn't have a serial
port, but I could be wrong because I don't have it in front of me.....
I'm trying to make use of my existing kvm switch which is already
installed & up and running in a rack.  Any suggestions are appreciated.

TIA,
-Chris

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006, lazyboy_2k@yahoo.com wrote:

> How do I get a serial console connection on ultra 10?  Do I need to
> have a terminal concentrator in order to get a serial console?  How do
> I get it works?  If I remember correct, ultra10 doesn't have a serial

I'm pretty sure they do have a serial port.  If you boot up the U10
with no keyboard attached, it will automatically use the serial port
for its console (a trait common to most, if not all, Sun machines).

You don't NEED a terminal concentrator, though that would be a good
idea if you have multiple Suns and/or you want to get a console
connection over your Ethernet.

-- 
Rich Teer, SCSA, SCNA, SCSECA, OpenSolaris CAB member

President,
Rite Online Inc.

Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
URL: http://www.rite-group.com/rich

Rich Teer wrote:
> On Fri, 10 Nov 2006, lazyboy_2k@yahoo.com wrote:
> 
> 
>>How do I get a serial console connection on ultra 10?  Do I need to
>>have a terminal concentrator in order to get a serial console?  How do
>>I get it works?  If I remember correct, ultra10 doesn't have a serial
> 
> 
> I'm pretty sure they do have a serial port.  If you boot up the U10
> with no keyboard attached, it will automatically use the serial port
> for its console (a trait common to most, if not all, Sun machines).
> 
> You don't NEED a terminal concentrator, though that would be a good
> idea if you have multiple Suns and/or you want to get a console
> connection over your Ethernet.
> 
The Ultra 10's have two serial ports, one uses a DB-25 and the other 
uses a DB-9 (technically a DE-9, the second letter stands for the size 
of the shell). The port using the DB-25 is the one that is the default 
console port for headless operation.

If the Ultra 10 is configured to your liking (and operating reliably), 
it is possible to administer it via ssh, hit the power switch to bring 
it up, login to it and su to root to issue a shutdown -i 5 command to 
turn it off. The serial console is needed, however, when things go wrong.

- Erik

Hi Rich & Erik,

I see that ultra10 has both db25 & 9 on the system, however, the issue
is that will this work on my Avocent DSR 4020 kvm switch?  I try to
connect my ultra 10 to the kvm switch & the kvm gui doesn't recognize a
new device.  Btw, this kvm swich has no problem to recognize a window
machine in which I have a dozen of them already.  I can get a no moderm
cable to connect 1 side to ultra 10 but where does it connect to the
other side?  I can't connect it to my laptop or other machine and leave
it in the lab.  Any suggestions are appreciated?  Of course, I'm
looking for a way not to buy a terminal concentrator.

Thanks,
-Chris

Chris,

Perhaps this will help you get some additional information or ideas:

http://www.ifh.ee.ethz.ch/~ballisti/computer_topics/docs/U10svc/HTML/BOOK.htm

Cheers
Glenn