Users Guide

In a serial, Telnet, SSH console, CMC supports the connect command to establish a serial connection to a server or I/O
module. The server serial console contains both the BIOS boot and setup screens, and the operating system serial console. For
the I/O module, the switch serial console is available. There is a single IOM on the chassis.
CAUTION: When run from the CMC serial console, the connect -b option stays connected until the CMC
resets. This connection is a potential security risk.
NOTE: The connect command provides the –b (binary) option. The –b option passes raw binary data, and
cfgSerialConsoleQuitKey is not used. Additionally, when connecting to a server using the CMC serial console,
transitions in the DTR signal (for example, if the serial cable is removed to connect a debugger) will not result in you exiting
the application.
NOTE: If the IOM does not support console redirection, the connect command displays an empty console. In that case, to
return to the CMC console, type the Escape sequence. The default console escape sequence is <Ctrl><\>.
To connect to an IOM:
connect switch-n
where n is an IOM label A1.
When you reference the IOM in the connect command, the IOM is mapped to switch as shown in the following table.
Table 23. Mapping IO Module to Switches
IO Module Label Switch
A1 switch-a1 or switch- 1
A2 switch-a2 or switch- 2
NOTE: At a time, there can be only one IOM connection per chassis.
NOTE: You cannot connect to pass-throughs from the serial console.
To connect to a managed-server serial console, run the command connect server-n , where n = 1-4 (PowerEdge
FM120x4), and n = 1–8 (PowerEdge FC630). You can also use the racadm connect server-n command. When you
connect to a server using the -b option, binary communication is assumed and the escape character is disabled. If the iDRAC is
not available, the No route to host error message is displayed.
The connect server-n command enables the user to access the server's serial port. After this connection is established,
the user can view the server's console redirection through CMC's serial port that includes both the BIOS serial console and the
operating system serial console.
NOTE:
To view the BIOS boot screens, serial redirection has to be enabled in the servers’ BIOS setup. Also, you must set
the terminal emulator window to 80×25. Otherwise, the characters on the page are not properly displayed.
NOTE: All keys do not work on the BIOS setup pages. Therefore, provide appropriate keyboard shortcuts for <Ctrl> <Alt>
<Delete> and others. The initial redirection screen displays the necessary keyboard shortcuts.
Configuring the managed server BIOS for serial console redirection
You can use a Remote Console session to connect to the managed system using the iDRAC7 web interface (see the Dell
Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) User’s Guide on dell.com/support/manuals).
By default, the Serial communication in the BIOS is turned off. To redirect host text console data to Serial over LAN, you must
enable console redirection through COM1. To change the BIOS setting:
1. Turn on the managed server.
2. Press the <F2> key to enter the BIOS setup utility during POST.
3. Go to Serial Communication, and then press <Enter> . In the dialog box, the serial communication list displays the
following options:
● off
● on without console redirection
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Configuring CMC to use Command Line consoles