Dell™ 2161DS-2/4161DS Console Switch Installer/User’s Guide www.dell .com | support.dell.
USA Notification Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
Contents Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General . . . . . . . . . . Rack Mounting of Systems . LAN Options . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SIP Intelligent Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Product Overview Multiplatform Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 Basic Operations Controlling Your System at the Analog Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 27 Viewing and Selecting Ports and Devices . Selecting devices . Soft Switching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Navigating the OSCAR® Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Configuring OSCAR® Interface Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 . . . . . . . . . .
Safety Precautions Use the following safety guidelines to help ensure your own personal safety and to help protect your system and working environment from potential damage. CAUTION: The power supplies in your system may produce high voltages and energy hazards, which can cause bodily harm. Only trained service technicians are authorized to remove the covers and access any of the components inside the system. This warning applies to Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers and Dell PowerVault™ storage systems.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com • Do not spill food or liquids on your system components, and never operate the product in a wet environment. If the system gets wet, see the appropriate section in your troubleshooting guide or contact your trained service provider. • Use the product only with approved equipment. • Allow the product to cool before removing covers or touching internal components.
• Mechanical Loading: Mounting of the equipment in the rack should be such that a hazardous condition is not achieved due to uneven mechanical loading. • Circuit Overloading: Consideration should be given to the connection of the equipment to the supply circuit and the effect that overloading of circuits might have on overcurrent protection and supply wiring. Consider equipment nameplate ratings for maximum current. • Reliable Earthing: Reliable earthing of rack mounted equipment should be maintained.
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1 Product Overview Features and Benefits The multiuser, Dell™ 2161DS-2/4161DS Remote Console Switch integrates Dell field-proven digital keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) switching technology with advanced cable management, flexible access for up to four simultaneous users, and a patented, next-generation user interface. The Remote Console Switch features user-side USB and PS/2 ports that support major device platforms.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com OSCAR® GUI The Remote Console Switch uses the OSCAR® interface, which features intuitive menus to configure your switch system and select computers. Devices can be identified by a name, EID or port number, allowing you to assign unique device names. Security The OSCAR® interface allows you to protect your system with a screen saver password. The screen saver mode engages and access is prohibited until the appropriate password is entered to reactivate the system.
Table 1-1. Maximum Resolution Refresh Rate Video Type 720 x 400 @ 70 Hz VGA 640 x 480 @ 60 Hz VGA 640 x 480 @ 72 Hz VESA 640 x 480 @ 75 Hz VESA 800 x 600 @ 56 Hz VESA 800 x 600 @ 60 Hz VESA 800 x 600 @ 70 Hz VESA 800 x 600 @ 75 Hz VESA 1024 x 768 @ 60 Hz VESA 1024 x 768 @ 70 Hz VESA 1024 x 768 @ 75 Hz VESA FLASH Upgradeable Upgrade your Remote Console Switch and SIP modules at any time to ensure you are always running the most current firmware version available.
Product Overview www.dell.com | support.dell.
2 Installation The Remote Console Switch requires that the Remote Console Switch Software be installed prior to use. Remote Console Switch Software allows a user to view and control a device attached to the Remote Console Switch switch system, configure and maintain the system, and prevent unauthorized access to the Remote Console Switch via IP connection. NOTE: The analog port does not require the Remote Console Switch Software for operation.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Optional items: • Port Expansion Module (PEM) • Front Access Panel Setting Up Your Network The Remote Console Switch system uses IP addresses to uniquely identify the Remote Console Switch units and the computers running Remote Console Switch Software. The Remote Console Switch supports DHCP and static IP addressing. (If you are connecting your remote software to the previous a 2161DS, you will need to use BootP instead of DHCP).
To install the 0U switch mounting bracket (shipped as default): 1 Line up the holes of the mounting brackets with the screw holes in the switch. 2 Fasten the mounting bracket to the switch using the button head socket cap screws on each side. 3 Mount the switch assembly to the rack by inserting the three mounting hooks on one side of the bracket into square holes in the vertical rack. 4 Press down until the blue push button pops out and clicks. Figure 2-1.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com 6 Mount the switch assembly to the rack cabinet by matching the holes in the “short side” of each bracket to an appropriate set of matching holes on your rack cabinet. Next, insert the combination hex head screws through the slots in the bracket, then the holes in the mounting rail, and then into the cage nuts or clip nuts. 7 Attach four cage nuts or clip nuts to the rack mounting flange of the rack cabinet back so that the nut is positioned on the inside of the rack.
Figure 2-3. Basic Remote Console Switch Configuration Power Cord Analog User ARI Port Network Digital User USB Devices Server Interface Pod (SIP) or AVRIQ Servers 2-16 Server 1 CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to your equipment do not disable the power cord grounding plug. The grounding plug is an important safety feature. Plug the power cord into a grounded (earthed) outlet that is easily accessible at all times.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com 2 Plug the supplied power cord into the back of the Remote Console Switch unit and then into an appropriate power source. 3 When the power is switched on, the Power indicator on the rear of the unit will blink for 30 seconds while performing a self-test. Press the key to access the main menu. To configure the Remote Console Switch hardware: 1 You will see the Terminal Applications menu with six options. Select option 1, Network Configuration. Figure 2-4.
Video Optimization To ensure optimal video quality, configure the Remote Console Switch with the same settings as the network switch. For example, if the Remote Console Switch is set to Auto-Negotiate, then the network switch must be set to Auto-Negotiate in both speed and duplex. For example, if the Remote Console Switch is set to 100MB - full duplex, then the network switch must be set to 100MB - full duplex.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com 4 Connect the other end of the CAT 5 cable to the desired Analog Rack Interface (ARI) port on the back of your Remote Console Switch unit. 5 Repeat steps 2-4 for all servers you wish to attach. NOTE: Power down the Remote Console Switch unit before servicing. Always disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet. Power down the Remote Console Switch unit before servicing. Always disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet.
4 Connect the devices to your cascaded switch according to the switch manufacturer's recommendations. 5 Repeat steps 1-4 for all the cascade switches you wish to attach to your Remote Console Switch system. Figure 2-6. 2161DS-2 or 4161DS With a Cat 5 Analog Switch Local User CAT 5 ACI Port NOTE: The Remote Console Switch supports only 1 switch per ARI port. You cannot cascade another switch under this first switch.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Cascading with Legacy Switches To add a legacy switch (optional): 1 Mount the switch into your rack. Locate a CAT 5 cable to connect your Remote Console Switch unit to the legacy switch (Figure 2-7). 2 Attach one end of the CAT 5 cabling to the ARI port on the Console Switch. 3 Connect the other end of the CAT 5 cable to a Dell SIP or Avocent AVRIQ. 4 Connect the SIP or AVRIQ to your legacy switch according to the switch manufacturer's recommendations.
Figure 2-7. Remote Console Switch Cascading Configuration With Legacy Console Switches Adding a PEM (Optional) A Port Expansion Module (PEM) allows you to expand each ARI port to accommodate up to eight devices instead of one. NOTE: The PEM operates passively. Therefore, once a user accesses a device attached to a PEM, any subsequent users attempting to access any of the devices attached to that PEM will be blocked. To add a PEM (optional): 1 Mount the PEM into your rack.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com 2 Attach one end of the CAT 5 cabling that will run between your PEM and the Remote Console Switch unit to the RJ45 connector slightly separate from the other connectors on the PEM. Connect the remaining end of the CAT 5 cable to the desired ARI port on the back of your Remote Console Switch unit. 3 To one of the eight RJ45 connectors grouped on the back of the PEM, attach the CAT 5 cabling that will run between your PEM and each device’s SIP.
3 Basic Operations Controlling Your System at the Analog Ports The Remote Console Switch features user-side keyboard and mouse ports that allow you to connect a USB or PS/2 keyboard and mouse for direct analog access. The Remote Console Switch uses the powerful OSCAR® interface, which uses intuitive menus to configure your system and select computers. Viewing and Selecting Ports and Devices Use the OSCAR® Main dialog box to view, configure and control devices in the Remote Console Switch system.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Figure 3-1. Example of a Main Dialog Box NOTE: You can also press the key twice within one second to launch the OSCAR® interface. You can use this key sequence in any place you see throughout this installer/user guide. Viewing the status of your switch The status of the devices in your system is indicated in the right columns of the Main dialog box. Table 3-1 describes the status symbols. Table 3-1.
Selecting devices Use the Main dialog box to select devices. When you select a device, the appliance reconfigures the keyboard and mouse to the proper settings for that device. To select devices: Double-click the device name, EID or port number. or If the display order of your device list is by port (Port button is depressed), type the port number and press .
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Navigating the OSCAR® Interface Table 3-2 describes how to navigate the OSCAR® interface using the keyboard and mouse. Table 3-2. OSCAR® Interface Navigation Basics This Keystroke Does This , OSCAR® activation sequence. By default, and Ctrl-Ctrl are set as Ctrl-Ctrl, Shift-Shift the OSCAR® activation options. Shift-Shift and Alt-Alt must be set within OSCAR® before use.
Configuring OSCAR® Interface Menus You can configure your Remote Console Switch from the Setup menu within the OSCAR® interface. Select the Names button when initially setting up your appliance to identify devices by unique names. Select the other setup features to manage routine tasks for your devices from the OSCAR® interface menu. See Table 3-3. Table 3-3.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Figure 3-2. Setup Dialog Box Changing the Display Behavior Use the Menu dialog box to change the display order of devices, set a Screen Delay Time for the OSCAR® interface, and change the OSCAR® launch sequence. The display order setting alters how devices display in several screens including the Main, Devices and Broadcast dialog boxes. To access the Menu dialog box: 1 Click Setup - Menu in the Main dialog box. The Menu dialog box displays. Figure 3-3.
To choose the default display order of devices: 1 Select Name to display devices alphabetically by name. or Select EID to display devices numerically by EID number. or Select Port to display devices numerically by port number. 2 Click OK. To set a Screen Delay Time for the OSCAR® interface: 1 Type in the number of seconds (0 to 9) to delay the OSCAR® interface display after you press . Enter 0 to launch the OSCAR® interface without delay. 2 Click OK.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com To set or change the password: NOTE: If you lose or forget your password, please contact Dell Technical Support. See Appendix C: Technical Support for contact information. 1 Click and press or double-click in the New text box. 2 Type the new password in the New text box and press . Passwords must contain both alpha and numeric characters, are case sensitive and may be up to 12 characters long. Legal characters are: A to Z, a to z, 0 to 9, space and hyphen.
To enable the screen saver mode with no password protection: 1 If your console does not require a password to gain access to the Security dialog box, proceed to step 2. or If your console is password protected, see the previous procedure, then go to step 2. 2 Select Enable Screen Saver. 3 Type the number of minutes for Inactivity Time (from 1 to 99) to delay activation of the screen saver. 4 Choose Energy if your monitor is ENERGY STAR® compliant; otherwise select Screen.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Figure 3-5. Flag Dialog Box To determine how the status flag is displayed: 1 Select Name or EID to determine what information will be displayed. 2 Select Displayed to show the flag all the time or select Timed to display the flag for only five seconds after switching. 3 Select a flag color in Display Color. 4 In Display Mode, select Opaque for a solid color flag or select Transparent to see the desktop through the flag.
Figure 3-6. 3 4 Language Dialog Box Click to select the language you want the OSCAR® interface to appear in. Click OK to accept the change you have made and return to the Setup dialog box. The Setup dialog box displays in the language you have selected. Assigning Device Types The Remote Console Switch automatically discovers cascaded KVM switches, but you need to specify the number of ports on the cascaded switch through the Devices dialog box.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com When the Remote Console Switch discovers a cascaded switch, the port numbering changes to accommodate each device under that switch. For example, if the switch is connected to ARI port 6, the switch port is listed as 06 and each device under it is numbered sequentially 06-01, 06-02 and so on. NOTE: Changes made in the Device Modify dialog box are not saved until you click OK in the Devices dialog box.
To assign names to devices: 1 In the Names dialog box, select a device name or port number and click Modify. The Name Modify dialog box displays. 2 Type a name in the New Name box. Names of devices may be up to 15 characters long. Legal characters include: A to Z, a to z, 0 to 9, space and hyphen. 3 Click OK to transfer the new name to the Names dialog box. Your selection is not saved until you click OK in the Names dialog box. 4 Repeat steps 1 to 3 for each device in the system.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Displaying Version Information The OSCAR® interface enables you to display the versions of the Remote Console Switch and the SIP module firmware. For optimum performance, keep your firmware current. For more information, see Appendix A: FLASH Upgrades. To display version information: 1 Press . The Main dialog box will appear. 2 Click Commands - Display Versions. The Version dialog box displays.
Figure 3-11. Scan Dialog Box 3 The dialog box contains a list of all devices attached to your appliance. Click the checkbox next to the devices you wish to scan. or Double-click on a device name or port. or Press and the number of the device you wish to scan. You can select up to 16 devices from the entire list. 4 In the Time box, type the number of seconds (from 3 to 99) of desired time before the scan moves to the next device in the sequence. 5 Click OK.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com NOTE: If the Add/Remove button is clicked when a device is highlighted, the check box corresponding to the highlighted device toggles state. To cancel scan mode: 1 Select a device if the OSCAR® interface is open. or Move the mouse or press any key on the keyboard if the OSCAR® interface is not open. Scanning stops at the currently selected device. or Press . The Main dialog box will appear. 2 Click Commands. The Commands dialog box displays.
Figure 3-12. 4 Scan Dialog Box Click OK to save the settings. Displaying Configuration Information You can view the configuration of your Remote Console Switch from the Configuration dialog box. This dialog box provides you with quick access to the settings you have entered and allows you to add additional features by clicking the Licence Key button and typing the licence key for any additional features. NOTE: If there are no features that require a licence in the firmware, the button is grayed out.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Figure 3-13. Diagnostics Dialog Box As each test is finished, a pass (green circle) or fail (red x) symbol displays to the left of each item as that test finishes. The following table details each of the tests. Table 3-4.
Broadcasting to Servers The analog user can simultaneously control more than one server in a system to ensure that all selected servers receive identical input. You can choose to broadcast keystrokes and/or mouse movements independently. NOTE: You can broadcast up to 16 devices at a time, one device per ARI port. NOTE: Broadcasting Keystrokes - The keyboard state must be identical for all devices receiving a broadcast to interpret keystrokes identically.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com 2 Click OK to save the settings and return to the Setup dialog box. Click X or press to return to the Main dialog box. 3 Click Commands. The Commands dialog box displays. 4 Click the Broadcast Enable checkbox to activate broadcasting. The Broadcast Enable Confirm/Deny dialog box displays. 5 Click OK to enable the broadcast. Click X or press to cancel and return to the Commands dialog box.
A Appendix A: FLASH Upgrades Upgrading the 2161DS-2/4161DS Remote Console Switch The Remote Console Switch FLASH upgrade feature allows you to update your appliance with the latest firmware available. You can upgrade the switch firmware either through a serial console or directly in OSCAR®. NOTE: If the Enable SIP Autoupdate option is selected, all attached Server Interface Pods (SIPs) are automatically upgraded when the appliance firmware is upgraded.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com 6 Assign the IP address in the Remote Console Switch, if needed: a In the HyperTerminal window, type 1 to select Network Configuration. b Note the Remote Console Switch IP address. The first three numbers must be the same as in the server IP address from step 5. The last number must be different. If the Remote Console Switch IP address is not correct, change it as follows: type 3 to select IP address, then enter the correct address.
Figure A-1. Download Dialog Box 4 In the TFTP IP field, type the IP address of the TFTP server where the appliance firmware FLASH file is located. 5 In the Filename field, type the filename of the firmware FLASH file. 6 Click Download. The firmware upgrade proceeds. 7 Once the firmware upgrade has completed, the Upgrade dialog box is displayed. Upgrading the SIP module firmware The SIP modules can be upgraded individually or simultaneously.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Figure A-2. SIP Status Dialog Box 3 Click one or more types of modules to upgrade. Click Upgrade. 4 The SIP Upgrade dialog box displays. Click OK to initiate the upgrade and return to the SIP Status dialog box. To upgrade SIP module firmware individually: 1 Press . The Main dialog box will appear. 2 Click Commands - Display Versions. The Version dialog box displays. Figure A-3.
NOTE: During an upgrade, the SIP status indicator in the Main dialog box is yellow. The SIP module is unavailable while an upgrade is in progress. When an upgrade is initiated, any current connection to the server via the SIP module is terminated. NOTE: If you wish to return a SIP to its factory settings, click SIP in the Version dialog box. The SIP Version dialog box displays. Click Decommission and then OK to restore factory defaults to the SIP.
Appendix A: FLASH Upgrades www.dell.com | support.dell.
B Appendix B: Technical Specifications Table B-1. Product Specifications Remote Console Switch Product Specifications Server Ports Number 16 Types Dell PS/2 and USB SIP modules. Avocent PS/2, USB, Sun and serial AVRIQ’s.
www.dell.com | support.dell.com Table B-1. Product Specifications Remote Console Switch Product Specifications AC-input voltage rating 100 to 240 VAC Autosensing AC-input current rating 0.
C Appendix C: Technical Support Our Technical Support staff is ready to assist you with any installation or operating issues you encounter with your Dell product. If an issue should develop, follow the steps below for the fastest possible service. To resolve an issue: 1 Check the pertinent section of this manual to see if the issue can be resolved by following the procedures outlined. 2 Check our web site at www.dell.com/support to search the knowledge base or use the online service request.
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Index Numerics C M 2161DS-2 or 4161DS With a Cat 5 Analog Switch, 21 CAT 5, 9 Menu dialog box, 30 changing password, 32 Mouse Acceleration, 19 2161DS2/4161DS2 Console Switch Configuring, 18 Installing, 17 2161DS2/4161DS2 Console Switch Unit Installing, 16 A Configuration port, 17 configuring OSCAR interface menus, 29 N console security, 31 Names dialog box, 36 navigating the OSCAR interface, 28 D Device Modify dialog box, 36 O Address Resolution Protocol. See ARP.
Index R T Rack Mounting, 14 Terminal Applications, 18 Remote Console Switch Software, 13-14 TFTP server, 45-46 removing password protection, 32 V Version dialog box, 38 VGA video, 10 S Scan dialog box, 39, 41 Video Optimization, 19 scanning system, 38 screen saver turning off, 33 server status, 26 servers adding to scan list, 38 assigning names, 36 broadcasting to, 43 configuring for soft switching, 27 disconnecting from, 27 selecting, 27 soft switching to a server, 27 viewing and selecting,
