NonStop NS2400 Series Planning Guide

System Consoles for NonStop NS2400 Series Systems
NOTE: Because HP requires two sources of HSS files for NonStop NS2400 series systems, you
must have two system consoles (primary and backup) configured on the dedicated service LAN.
If you do not have a second system console available for this purpose, you must order a second
one with your system.
New system consoles are preconfigured with the required HP and third-party software. When
upgrading to the latest RVU, you can install software upgrades from the HP NonStop System
Console Installer DVD.
System console hardware for NS2400 commercial systems, including the Windows Server system
unit, monitor, and keyboard, can be mounted in the cabinet. System console hardware for the
NS2400T and NS2400ST systems must be installed outside the cabinet and require separate
provisions or furniture to hold the Windows Server hardware.
System consoles communicate with NonStop NS2400 series systems over a dedicated service
local area network (LAN) or a secure operations LAN. A dedicated service LAN is required for
use of OSM Low-Level Link functionality.
NOTE: The NonStop system console must be configured with some ports open. For more
information, see the NonStop System Console Installer Guide.
System Console Configurations
Several system console configurations are possible:
• “Primary and Backup System Console Managing One System” (page 160)
• “Primary and Backup System Consoles Managing Multiple Systems” (page 161)
Primary and Backup System Console Managing One System
This configuration is required for NonStop NS2400 series systems. For fault-tolerant redundancy,
it includes a second maintenance switch and a backup system console. The maintenance switches
provide a dedicated LAN in which all systems use the same subnet. Figure 45 (page 155) shows a
fault-tolerant configuration.
NOTE: A subnet is a network division within the TCP/IP model. Within a given network, each
subnet is treated as a separate network. Outside that network, the subnets appear as part of a
single network. The terms subnet and subnetwork are used interchangeably.
When using the NonStop system consoles for remote support services – either remote notification
(dial-out) services via Insight Remote Support Advanced or dial-in services via Remote Desktop, the
second network interface card (NIC) on each NonStop system console is used to provide the
necessary connectivity to the operations LAN.
Because this configuration uses only one subnet, you must:
• Enable Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) in switches or routers that are part of the operations LAN.
160 Maintenance and Support Connectivity