INSTRUCTIONS: The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
CPS Installer/User Guide Avocent, the Avocent logo, The Power of Being There, DS1800 and vConsole are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avocent Corporation. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. This product includes cryptographic software written by Eric Young. (eay@cryptsoft.com) Realtime ETS TM Kernel Contains portions Copyright © 1996 © 2001 Avocent Corporation. All rights reserved.
FCC 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.
CPS Installer/User Guide Contents Introduction/Product Overview Getting Started.................................................................................... 9 Installation and Configuration CPS Hardware ................................................................................... 13 CPS Hardware Installation .............................................................. 15 Configuring the CPS..........................................................................
C H A P T E R 1 Introduction and Product Overview Contents Getting Started........................................................
Getting Started The CPS by Avocent provides you with access to serial devices over a network. Using the CPS, you can connect to as many as 16 serial devices, all through one network connection. The CPS is easy to install and configure. This guide will provide you with information on: CPS Hardware Installation CPS Configuration Serial port Configuration CPS Wiring Accessories Included with the CPS are the following accessories and software.
C H A P T E R 2 Installation and Configuration Contents CPS Hardware .......................................................13 CPS Hardware Installation..................................15 Configuring the CPS .............................................16 Configuring IP Address and Subnet Mask..16 Initial Login to the CPS .................................19 Configuring Serial Port Settings ..................21 Connecting to Attached Serial devices ..............23 TELNET Client Options...................
CPS Hardware Review this section to familiarize yourself with the CPS. It describes the front and rear panels, connector pinouts and device cabling. About the CPS The INIT button (Figure 1) can be used to remove configured information from a CPS unit. The CPS stores nonvolatile data, such as IP addresses and usernames, in a database in FLASH. This information can be erased by pressing the INIT button.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide The FLASH erase is performed in two phases. The first phase erases the CPS Configuration Database, which contains all nonvolatile data EXCEPT the IP address. The second phase erases the IP address and restores the CPS to factory default settings. This feature can be used to erase a CPS’s FLASH for reinstallation elsewhere on your network. When the INIT button is first pressed, the ONLINE LED will begin to blink to confirm that you have pressed the INIT button.
CPS Hardware Installation A typical installation will provide serial cabling for up to 16 attached serial devices. Locate the CPS so that you can connect cables between the serial devices and the CPS serial ports. Refer to Appendix B: Device Cabling for information on CPS serial port pinouts. The CPS also requires connection to your network. Locate the CPS where you can readily connect a LAN interface cable to the LAN connector on the rear of the CPS. 1.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Configuring the CPS To configure the CPS, you must enter the following information so that it can be stored in the CPS database: A unique IP address The subnet mask for the network A password for the “Admin” user Serial port settings There are several methods that you can use to configure your CPS. Review the remainder of this section to determine which method best suits your configuration.
BOOTP servers require the Ethernet MAC address of network devices. The Ethernet MAC address of the CPS is located on the rear panel of the CPS above the LAN connector. Once you have configured your network’s BOOTP server with the Ethernet MAC address, IP address and subnet mask for the CPS, restore power to the CPS and wait for the ONLINE LED to illuminate. Once the ONLINE LED is illuminated, the CPS has completed BOOTP protocol, obtained its IP address and subnet mask and stored these in FLASH.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Once the IP address has been successfully configured, launch a TELNET client to the IP address of the CPS to perform the initial CPS login. For additional information, see Initial Login to the CPS in Chapter 2. TELNET Command Line Interface The CPS can also be configured directly from a TELNET Command Line Interface (CLI). Choose a server or workstation that you will use to configure the CPS.
Serial Command Line Interface By factory default, Port 1 of the CPS is configured with a serial Command Line Interface (CLI), which inhibits using Port 1 with an attached serial device. Once configuration is completed you can disable the Serial CLI and use Port 1 with an attached serial device. For additional information, see Chapter 2, Configuring Serial Port Settings. The serial CLI can be accessed by cabling any ASCII TTY or VT100 compatible device to Port 1 of the CPS.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide The username for initial login is Admin. There is no password for the Admin user. At the password prompt, press Return. Avocent CPS1610 S/W Version 1.12 (ASCII) Username: Admin Password: Authentication Complete CPS configuration is required. Once authentication is completed, the CPS will prompt you for any missing CPS configuration values needed for correct operation.
Configuring Serial Port Settings By factory default, Port 1 of the CPS is configured as the Serial Command Line Interface, which inhibits using Port 1 with an attached serial device. The remaining ports are configured for an attached serial device with these settings: Baud rate Bits per Character Parity Stop Bits Flow Control 9600 Baud 8 None 1 None Your attached serial devices may require different settings.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide When a command requires a reboot to become effective, the CPS will store the configuration change in the CPS Configuration Database and you will be asked if you want to reboot the CPS. If you want the command to become effective, enter ‘Y’ to reboot the CPS. Your session and all other sessions will be terminated and the CPS will reboot. If you enter ‘N’, then the configuration change is stored, but does not become effective until you reboot the CPS.
Connecting to Attached Serial Devices Once you have completed configuration of the CPS, you can access any of the attached serial devices using vConsole, or by using a TELNET client. If you are using vConsole, refer to the included vConsole CD-Rom for further instructions. If you are using a standard TELNET client, then you may need to launch it to connect to the CPS serial port. Each serial port has a unique TELNET port number that provides a connection to the attached serial device.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide TELNET Client Options You may access the CPS using Avocent-provided or third-party TELNET client applications. Avocent provides a cross-platform TELNET client, which is bundled with Avocent’s vConsole and DS software applications. Third-party TELNET client applications may be used in combination with vConsole or stand alone. The following sections describe these options more fully.
Standalone Third-party TELNET Clients Third-party TELNET clients may be used to access the CPS directly without vConsole or DS management software. This mode of operation requires SERVER SECURITY MODE=PLAINTEXT. Refer to the SERVER SECURITY MODE command for more information on security mode settings.
C H A P T E R 3 Command Line Interface Overview and Syntax Contents The CPS Command Line Interface .....................29 Understanding CLI Syntax ..................................34 Usernames and Passwords ...................................
The CPS Command Line Interface This section describes the CPS Command Line Interface (CLI). Read this section to familiarize yourself with the CLI language syntax and to understand the features and capabilities of each CLI command. The CLI can be accessed in three ways: Using the TELNET CLI Using the Serial CLI By entering your CLI Access Character during a serial session to an attached serial device. For information on the CLI Access Character see Changing the CLI Access Character in Chapter 4.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide The BREAK access right grants users the ability to send a serial break sequence to the attached serial device. On certain servers, the serial break sequence has a special meaning. The BREAK access right allows the CPS administrator to grant this capability only to those users that need access to the PORT BREAK command. The last access right grants users access to specific serial ports on the CPS.
These commands are used to control your session with the CPS CLI or with the attached serial device. BREAK On certain attached serial devices, sending a serial break can have serious effects, such as rebooting or interrupting the operating system. The Break sequence enables a serial break via the PORT BREAK command. Users with the BREAK access right will be able to send a serial break using the PORT BREAK command on any port to which they have access.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide When you type the command > HELP the CPS will display a list of CLI commands. To obtain more information about a specific CLI command, enter that command name after HELP. For example, to learn more about the SERVER command, type > HELP SERVER to display the syntax of the SERVER command and information about how to use the SERVER command.
Right Arrow If the cursor is not at the end of the line, then the cursor moves one character to the right. If the cursor is at the end of the line, no action is taken. Up Arrow A buffer of the last 16 command lines typed is maintained by the CLI. If there is a previous command line, then it will be output as the current command line and be made available for edit.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Understanding CLI Syntax The CPS Command Line Interface (CLI) is a language that you use to communicate with the CPS. Every language has its own structure, and understanding the structure, or syntax, of the CLI will help in remembering commands and their formats. The CPS CLI has four types of syntax. These are: Positional commands Positional parameters Keyword parameters Keyword values An example demonstrates each of these syntax types.
For any positional command, positional parameter or keyword parameter, it is only necessary to enter the first three characters. Commands are not case sensitive. They can be in uppercase, lowercase or any combination. For example, all of the following commands are correct: > > > > PORT 2 SET BAUD=57600 FLOW=XON POR 2 SET BAU=57600 FLOW=XON por 2 Set Baud=57600 flow=xon port 2 set baud=57600 flow=xon Any syntax errors in the commands you enter will be displayed.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Usernames and Passwords While most elements of the CLI syntax are not case sensitive, usernames and passwords are. When you enter a username or password, the values entered are stored exactly as you enter them. For example, the username “Admin” must be entered with an uppercase “A” and all other letters lowercase. The username “ADMIN” would not be accepted by the CPS as the username “Admin”.
C H A P T E R 4 CPS Commands Contents CPS Command Line Reference ............................39 Connect Command ..........................................39 Disconnect Command .....................................41................... Port Command .................................................41 Quit Command .................................................46 Resume Command ...........................................47 Server Command..............................................48 Show Command.......
CPS Command Line Reference This section contains a complete description of each CPS command. Most commands require access rights in order for you to use the command. Each command is presented with its syntax and the access rights that are needed to use the command. In each command, some syntax elements are required and others are optional. BOLD items are required and must be entered.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide If the requested port number is in use, then the CPS will generate the error: ERR 504 - Specified port is already in use The CLI access character can be typed to gain access to the Serial CLI again. However, this does not disconnect the user from the port. Once a user has established a port connection, the PORT HISTORY command may be used to view the connected port’s history buffer as follows.
You enter CLI mode and use the QUIT command to terminate the Serial CLI session You do not transmit any data to the serial device and the connected port times out. When this happens, the CPS notifies you that you are no longer connected to the serial device and your Serial CLI session returns to CLI mode. Note that this timeout can occur while you are in CLI mode. Your Serial CLI session is terminated by the USER LOGOUT command.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide setting of that parameter remains in effect. Multiple keyword parameters may be specified on a single command. This command allows the serial port settings (BAUD, SIZE, STOP, PARITY, FLOW and TIMEOUT) for a specific port to be set. These are the settings that will be used for the serial port. Upon successful completion of this command, the new serial port settings for the port will be stored in the CPS Configuration Database and will become effective immediately.
If you use hardware flow control, be sure that these control signals are correctly wired or there may be loss of data. TIMEOUT Specify the number of seconds for session timeout. The CPS monitors data traffic between your session and the attached serial device. If no data is received or transmitted to your TELNET session, then your session will time out after the number of seconds specified in this parameter. SOCKET In addition, the socket number for the serial port may also be defined.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide You may then use one of the following commands : PORT HISTORY Rights Required: None A 64K history buffer is maintained for each CPS port. Each buffer is a circular queue that contains the last 64K of data that has been received from the attached serial device. The buffer begins filling with received data upon completion of CPS initialization, even if no user is connected to the port.
RESUME The RESUME command leaves the PORT HISTORY CLI mode and CLI mode, resuming the serial session with the attached serial device. This command provides an easy means to leave PORT HISTORY mode without have to QUIT and then RESUME in the CLI mode. SEARCH The SEARCH command searches the port history buffer for a specified text string. If the string is found, the current history display line is set to the line that contains the user-specified text string and the CPS outputs a history display page.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide By default, the SEARCH command is case sensitive. Entering -i after the search command will perform a search that ignores case. For example: PORT HISTORY> s Process (search for ‘Process’) PORT HISTORY> s -i Process (search for ‘Process’ ignoring case) TOP The TOP command sets the current history display line to 1 and outputs a history display page.
RESUME Command RESUME (no parameters) Rights Required: none To resume your connection to the attached serial device, enter the RESUME command. You will then exit the CLI and reconnect to the attached serial device. If any data was received while you were in command mode, it is contained in the history buffer. SERVER Command The SERVER command is used to make changes to the CPS and network settings in the CPS Configuration Database.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Changing the CLI Access Character SERVER CLI CHAR=^CLI access character CLI is the new CLI access character, specified using the caret (^) and an ASCII character in the range ‘A’ to ‘]’. Rights Required: SCON The CLI access character is a single character that indicates that the session with an attached serial device should be suspended and the command line interface prompt should be given to the connected user.
SERVER CLI MODEMINIT=”modem-init-string” modem-init-string is the modem initialization string for a modem attached to the serial CLI port. Rights Required: SCON This command is used to configure a modem initialization string for a modem attached to the Serial CLI port. The modem-init-string must be enclosed in quotes if it contains any white space characters. The default value is the ‘null string’ (MODEMINIT=””), which indicates that there is no modem attached.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide When a user connected via a modem to the Serial CLI issues a QUIT command, the modem will disconnect the current call. SERVER CLI HISTORY= Rights Required: SCON The SERIAL CLI HISTORY command indicates how the port history buffer will be processed when a user connects to an attached serial device. If HISTORY=HOLD, upon connection you will be informed how many bytes of information are contained in the history buffer.
Updating CPS Program FLASH SERVER FLASH HOSTIP=ip-address IMAGE=host-filename BOOT or APP indicates whether the BIOS/Bootstrap or the application image is to be updated. ip-address is the IP address of the TFTP server that will provide the image file to update the FLASH. host-filename is the name of the .IMG file on the host server that contains the program image to store in FLASH. This value must be a complete path and filename that will be accepted by the TFTP server on the host.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Selecting a Security Mode SERVER SECURITY MODE= ENCRYPT= PLAINTEXT indicates that CPS Plain Text Mode is to be used. SSL indicates that SSL Mode is to be used. DSSSL indicates that DS SSL Mode will be used. The ENCRYPT keyword parameter is used to specify a list of encryption algorithms to be used by the CPS during session negotiation with the Avocent TELNET client.
If you require data encryption and are using the CPS with vConsole, select SSL. The CPS will perform user authentication with an encrypted username/ password. The CPS performs access control using the ACCESS parameters in the User Database. All TELNET traffic is encrypted. You can specify the desired level of encryption using the ENCRYPT= keyword. To use DSAuth for user authentication and access control, select DSSSL. The DS1800’s DSView and DSAuth will perform user authentication.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Rebooting the CPS SERVER REBOOT Rights Required: SCON To reboot the CPS, use the SERVER REBOOT command. If there are any other active TELNET sessions, you will be warned of this. In any event, you must confirm or cancel the reboot request. If you confirm the reboot, all currently active sessions, including your own, will be terminated. Users will receive a message indicating that their session was terminated. The CPS will then perform a reboot.
The Port Number, Port Settings and Port Statistics are shown in the first two lines of the display. The number of bytes transmitted (TX Bytes) and received (RX Bytes) are shown. Errors include parity and framing errors. If a user is currently accessing the port, the username and access rights will be shown. Also, the time the user logged in is represented by the System UpTime value. The System UpTime value represents the number of days, hours, minutes and seconds since the CPS was last rebooted.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Displaying User Information SHOW USER Rights Required: SMON Use the SHOW USER command to display information about the user that is currently logged in. Current Session Information System Uptime at last login Access Rights Username User: Admin Access: PALL, USER, SCON, SMON Last Login: 00 01:40:10 Port 7 Username Admin Duration 00:20:14 Socket 3007 From Socket 192.168.0.
Displaying CPS Information SHOW SERVER Rights Required: SMON Use the SHOW SERVER command to display information about the CPS. The display includes CPS network configuration, currently active sessions, network statistics and software versions. Ethernet MAC Address System Uptime Subnet Mask CPS IP Address Server 192.168.0.5 Up Time 00 01:40:15 Mask MAC CPS Serial Number Security Mode Gateway IP Address 255.255.255.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide USER Command The USER command allows you to make changes to the CPS User Database, including the ability to add a new user, reset a user password, change the access rights of a user, and delete a user. You can also terminate a user’s session with the CPS. All users can also use this command to change their own password. It is important to remember that usernames and passwords are case sensitive.
rights specified in the command. The maximum number of users in the CPS User Database is 64. Changing Another Username’s Access Rights USER SET username ACCESS=Pn,Px-y,PALL,USER,SCON,PMON,BREAK username is the username to be changed. ACCESS is a keyword parameter that defines access rights for the username. Pn indicates the user will have access rights to port n. Px-y indicates the user will have access rights to ports x through y, inclusive.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Adding and Removing Access Rights USER SET username ACCESS=<+,-> Rights Required: USER The ACCESS=<+,-> keyword permits selective changes to be made to a specified user’s access rights. To add one or more access rights to a user, the ACCESS=+ keyword should be used. All access rights that follow the ‘+’ (plus) will be added to the user’s access rights. To remove one or more access rights from a user, the ACCESS=- keyword should be used.
Resetting Another Usernames’s Password USER SET username PASSWORD=password username is the username to be changed. password is the new password for the username. Rights Required: USER To reset another user’s password, use the USER SET command with the PASSWORD keyword parameter and give the user’s new password. Usernames and passwords are case sensitive, must be from three to sixteen characters in length, and contain only alphanumeric characters.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide Deleting a Username USER DEL username username is the username to be deleted. Rights Required: USER Use the USER DEL command to remove a username entry from the CPS User Database. This will permanently remove the username. The username can no longer be used to authenticate a session with the CPS. Upon successful completion of this command, the user will be deleted from the user authentication database.
C H A P T E R 5 Technical Support and Troubleshooting Contents Technical Support..................................................
Technical Support Avocent is committed to providing customers with high quality products, customer support, sales and service. Please contact us for any of your sales or support needs. Before contacting technical support: We have provided several sources of information to help you answer questions and resolve issues. Before you call, read the appropriate hardware and software manuals, online help, and release notes that describe the procedure you are trying to perform.
C H A P T E R 6 Appendicies Contents A: CLI Error Messages ..........................................69 B: Device Cabling ...................................................
Appendix A: CLI Error Messages This section contains a list of all CLI error messages and their meanings. If you receive an error message from the CLI, you should use the HELP command to receive more specific error information about the error encountered. ERR 1 - Required parameter missing The command is missing a required positional parameter. Check the syntax of your command to determine what required parameter is missing. Refer to Chapter 4 for the correct syntax for the command.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide ERR 8 - No PASSWORD specified The USER command entered does not contain a password. The command requires that you enter a password. Refer to Chapter 4 for the correct syntax for the command. ERR 9 - PASSWORD must be 3 to 16 characters long The password entered is not valid. Passwords are case sensitive, must be three to sixteen characters in length, and contain only alphanumeric characters.
ERR 16 - No IP ADDRESS specified The SERVER SET command requires the IP keyword parameter. Both the IP and the MASK parameters must be valid. Refer to Chapter 4 for the correct syntax for the command. ERR 17 - Invalid IP ADDRESS specified The keyword value of the IP= keyword parameter is not valid. The ip-address should be entered in standard dot notation (i.e. 192.168.0.5). ERR 18 - No subnet MASK specified The SERVER SET command requires the MASK keyword parameter.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide ERR 24 - SET command parameter required The SET positional parameter is missing on the PORT command. Refer to Chapter 4 for the correct syntax for the command. ERR 25 - SET keyword value missing The PORT SET command is missing a keyword value. The keyword parameter that is missing its value is underlined. Refer to Chapter 4 for the correct syntax for the command. ERR 26 - SET keyword parameter invalid The PORT SET command has an invalid keyword parameter.
ERR 33 - MASK incompatible with IP ADDRESS The keyword value for the IP= keyword parameter is not a valid IP address for the subnet defined by the MASK= keyword value. The IP= keyword value is the subnet broadcast IP address for the subnet defined by the MASK. The CPS ip-address value cannot be the subnet broadcast address. Contact your network administrator for assistance.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide ERR 41 - Bad HOSTIP or IMAGE filename The command line processor is unable to validate the HOSTIP and filename parameters. The requested FLASH update cannot be performed. Either the IP address is not accessible on the network, or the TFTP server at that IP address is not operating correctly. ERR 42 - Cannot access IMAGE file on HOSTIP TFTP Server The command line processor is unable to validate the HOSTIP and filename parameters.
ERR 50 - At least one user must have USER access The USER DELETE command entered would delete the last user in the database with USER access rights. This would make future changes to the user database impossible. ERR 51 - The ENCRYPT keyword is not valid with MODE=PLAINTEXT. The ENCRYPT= keyword cannot be used in MODE PLAINTEXT. To encrypt data, specify either SSL or DSSSL mode. ERR 52 - The MODEMINIT keyword is not valid. There is no serial PORT with CLI enabled.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide ERR 502 - No match found The SEARCH parameters entered did not match any text in the PORT HISTORY buffer. Check the SEARCH direction and retry the command. ERR 503 - No search string specified There is no current search string. You must specify one.
Appendix B: Device Cabling Each CPS serial port provides an RJ-45 connector for attaching the CPS to your serial devices. The RS-232 pinouts are shown in Figure 3. Figures 4 and 5 show wiring diagrams for making cables to connect to terminals and PCs.
CPS 810/1610 Installer/User Guide RJ-45 Modular Adaptors Modular adaptors are available from Avocent to convert RJ-45 modular jacks to DB-25 or DB-9 connectors. These modular adaptors, in conjunction with 8-wire modular cables, perform the same functions as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 6 below describes the modular adaptors available from Avocent.
Modular Adaptors RJ-45 to DB-25 DTE Male Adaptor (Pn 210090) RJ-45 to DB-25 DTE Female Adaptor (Pn 210091) RJ-45 to DB-25 DCE Male Adaptor (Pn 210092) RJ-45 to DB-25 DCE Female Adaptor (Pn 210093) RJ-45 to DB-9 Male Adaptor (Pn 210094) RJ-45 to DB-9 Female Adaptor (Pn 210095) Modular Cables 10 foot 8-wire Reversing Modular Cable (Pn 690226) 25 foot 8-wire Reversing Modular Cable (Pn 690227) 75 foot 8-wire reversing Modular Cable (Pn 690228) Other Accessories Rack-mount Shelf (Pn 790200) Wiring Starter
