HMX Manager For Technical Support: www.avocent.
EMI Statements USA 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.
HMX Manager Installer/User Guide Avocent, the Avocent logo and The Power of Being There are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avocent Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © 2008 Avocent Corporation.
iii TABL E OF CONTEN TS Table of Contents Chapter 1: Product Overview.......................................................................................... 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Features and benefits......................................................................................................................... 1 Safety precautions..................................
iv HMX Manager Installer/User Guide Changing target computer properties ...................................................................................... 19 Active media sessions ............................................................................................................... 20 Departments and Locations Windows ............................................................................................. 21 Chapter 4: Managing Users.......................................................
1 CHAPTER 1 Product Overview Introduction The HMX Manager is a secure, web browser-based, centralized enterprise management solution that allows users to remotely manage and monitor multiple HMX extender systems. The HMX extender system, which includes a transmitter and a user station, provides users with a full computer desktop experience from anywhere on the corporate TCP/IP network, while maintaining the computers securely housed in a corporate data center.
2 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide NOTE: To access the HMX Manager through a firewall, you must ensure that the firewall uses the default HTTPS port 443. HMX extender system support The transmitter connects externally to the video, audio and USB ports of the target computer and is attached directly to the target computer. It captures, compresses and encrypts the computer’s media stream and transmits it to the user station over a standard TCP/IP network.
Chapter 1: Product Overview 3 • Do not use household extension power cords with Avocent equipment because household extension cords are not designed for use with computer systems and do not have overload protection. • Ensure that air flow is sufficient to prevent extreme operating temperatures. Provide a minimum space of 6 inches (15 cm) in front and back for adequate airflow. • Keep power and interface cables clear of foot traffic.
4 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide • Always test every installed segment with a cable tester. “Toning” alone is not an acceptable test. • Always install jacks so as to prevent dust and other contaminants from settling on the contacts. The contacts of the jack should face up on the flush mounted plates, or left/right/down on surface mount boxes. • Always leave extra slack on the cables, neatly coiled in the ceiling or nearest concealed location.
5 CHA PTER 2 Installation and Setup Installation Overview Rack mounting the HMX Manager appliance Rack mount safety considerations • Elevated Ambient Temperature: If installed in a closed rack assembly, the operating temperature of the rack environment may be greater than room ambient. Use care not to exceed the rated maximum ambient temperature of the switch.
6 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide To connect the HMX Manager appliance: WARNING: 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. - Disconnect the power from the target computer by unplugging the power cord from either the electrical outlet or the target computer. 1.
Chapter 2: Installation and Setup • 7 Define primary DNS and secondary DNS NOTE: The IP address on LAN port 1 must not change during operation of the appliance. Always configure LAN port 1 with a static IP address or, if using DHCP, ensure that the IP addresses are assigned with unlimited lease times. There is no restriction on how LAN port 2 can be configured. It is also possible to configure DNS on the HMX Manager appliance if it is required for administrator access through a web browser.
8 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide A B C D E Figure 2.1: Explorer Window Areas Table 2.1: Explorer Window Area Descriptions Letter Description A Top option bar - Use the top option bar to log out of a software session, or to access online help. The name of the logged in user is displayed on the left side of the top option bar. B Tab bar - Use the tab bar to display and manage units, user accounts, system settings and reports.
Chapter 2: Installation and Setup 9 The arrows displayed in the side navigation bar indicate where sub-options are available. You can display these items by clicking the main link. Where no arrow is displayed, clicking the link brings you directly to the option you have selected. Displaying pages Multiple page windows contain menu options that may be used to navigate from one display to another. You can click the Select All checkbox to select all items on a page.
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11 CHA PTER 3 Managing Units Accessing the HMX Manager Appliance Web Interface To access the HMX Manager appliance web interface: 1. Launch a web browser. 2. In the address field of the browser, enter the IP address or host name assigned to the HMX Manager appliance you wish to access. Use https://xxx.xx.xx.xx or https://hostname as the format. 3. When the browser makes contact with the appliance, enter your username and password, then click Login. The HMX Manager Explorer window appears.
12 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide The table below lists and describes the possible values in the status field. Table 3.1: Unit Status Values Type Status and Icon Description Managed Units Idle Unit is turned on, can be communicated with and is not associated with an active media session. Managed Units In Use Unit is associated with a session. Managed Units Upgrading Unit firmware is being upgraded. Managed Units Not Responding The HMX Manager appliance cannot contact the unit.
Chapter 3: Managing Units 13 Adding units via the Add Unit Wizard Before you can manage units in the HMX Manager appliance, you must first add them to the HMX Manager appliance database. You can add units to the HMX Manager appliance database by clicking on Add in the Units - All window.
14 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide 6. The Add Discovered Unit window will open. Select the discovered unit from the list, then click Next. 7. The Completed Successfully window will open. To exit the Add Unit Wizard, click Finish. Adding units from a range of IP addresses This procedure is valid for transmitters and user stations. To add a unit from a range of IP addresses: 1. In a Units - All window containing managed units, click Add. The Add Unit Wizard Welcome Window will open. Click Next. 2.
Chapter 3: Managing Units 15 6. To remove one or more managed units, select the managed units in the Units to Add list, then click Remove. The managed units will be moved to the Units Found list. 7. Click Next. 8. The Completed Successfully window will open. To exit the Add Unit Wizard, click Finish. Deleting units When you delete a unit, it is removed from the HMX Manager appliance database and all associated connections will also be deleted.
16 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide Changing unit properties The HMX Manager appliance enables you to manage the department and location properties as well as the primary contact details for each unit. To change the properties of a unit: 1. Click the Units tab. A list of all units managed by the HMX Manager appliance is displayed. 2. Click the unit name you wish to change. The Unit Overview window will open. 3. Select Properties from the side navigation bar. 4. The Unit Properties window will open.
Chapter 3: Managing Units 17 Authentication server settings Authentication server settings are applied only to user stations. The Authentication Servers menu item in the side navigation bar (under Unit Settings) will only be displayed if the unit type is a user station. To change unit authentication server settings: 1. Click the Units tab. A list of all units managed by the HMX Manager appliance is displayed. 2. Click the user station name for which you require information.
18 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide • Boot - The boot software version. • FPGA - The FPGA version. Rebooting a unit To reboot a unit: 1. Click the Units tab. A list of all units managed by the HMX Manager appliance is displayed. 2. Click the unit name for which you require information. The Unit Overview window opens. 3. In the Tools section, click Reboot. The unit reboots to apply any changes.
Chapter 3: Managing Units 19 5. Select the firmware file you wish to use. Click Next. The unit reboots to apply the new settings. The Completed Successfully window will open. 6. Click Finish. During a firmware upgrade, the unit status in the Units - All window will be set to Upgrading. The event log can also be used to monitor the status of a unit firmware update. When the firmware update is complete, the unit firmware revision field is updated and the unit reverts to the status Idle.
20 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide • Model Number • Asset tag number • Department • Location • Primary contact details (name, telephone number) To change the properties of a target computer: 1. In the Target Computers - All window, click the name of the target computer to edit. The Target Computer Overview window will open. 2. Click Properties on the side navigation bar. 3. The Target Computer Properties window opens. This window displays the general properties of the target computer.
Chapter 3: Managing Units 21 2. Click Active Sessions in the side navigation bar. The Active Media Sessions window will open. A list is displayed of all the current active media sessions. 3. Click to select the checkbox to the left of the sessions. To disconnect all sessions, click the checkbox to the left of the Start Time field at the top of the list.
22 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide 4. Click Delete. A confirmation dialog box will appear. 5. Confirm or cancel the deletion. To change the name of a department or location: 1. Click the Units tab. The Units - All window will open. 2. To change the name of a department, click Departments in the top navigation bar. The Departments window opens. - or To change the name of a location, click Locations in the top navigation bar. The Locations window opens. 3. Click the name of a department/location.
23 CHA PTER Managing Users 4 Using the Users Tab in the Explorer Window From the Users tab in the HMX Manager Explorer, you can carry out the following operations: • Add, change and delete user accounts • Enable/disable user accounts • Specify user password policy restrictions • Change user group membership • Display user access rights to target transmitters and managed units User Accounts windows User accounts are displayed and managed through User Accounts - All window.
24 HMX Manager - Installer/User Guide Adding user accounts Users Users cannot log on to a user station and access a transmitter unless a User Station User Account has been created for them in the HMX Manager appliance. Only an HMX Manager appliance administrator can create a User Station User Account. User station users cannot access the HMX Manager appliance. User Station User Accounts are authenticated by an HMX Manager appliance internal authentication service.
Chapter 4: Managing Users 25 2. Click to select the checkbox to the left of the username(s). To delete all users on the page, click the checkbox to the left of the User Name field at the top of the list. 3. Click Delete. A confirmation dialog box will appear. 4. Confirm or cancel the deletion. Enabling and disabling user accounts To restrict the access to the system, you can disable a user’s account within the HMX Manager appliance. You can re-enable the user’s account at any time.
26 HMX Manager - Installer/User Guide 4. Click Save, then click Close. The updated user account overview information is displayed. Managing user access to target computers Except for pooling cases, if there are no transmitters selected as part of the user station configuration, then that user cannot log in from a user station. For more information on pooling, see Chapter 5. . To allocate target computers to a user station user: 1. Click the Users tab. The User Accounts - All window opens. 2.
Chapter 4: Managing Users 27 Internal user authentication services You may set the internal authentication settings for users logging into the HMX Manager appliance. These settings relate to the minimum requirements that passwords must meet. You can set minimum length, a requirement that passwords contain both alpha and numeric characters, and a requirement that passwords contain both upper and lower case characters. To set the internal user authentication settings: 1. Click the Users tab.
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29 CHA PTER 5 Advanced Operations Using the System Tab in the Explorer Window From the System tab in the HMX Manager Explorer, you can enable target computer pooling, back up and restore your database, upgrade the software, manage firmware files and reset the administrator password. Target computer pooling The HMX Manager appliance allows you to “pool” transmitters so that they are accessible to multiple users.
30 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide 4. Click Backup System. The File Download dialog box appears. 5. Click Save and browse to the location where you want to store the system data. 6. Click Save and then click Close. To restore the HMX Manager appliance database: 1. Click the System tab. 2. Click HMX Manager Server in the top navigation bar. 3. In the side navigation bar, click Backup and Restore. The Data Backup and Restore window will open. 4. Click Data Restore.
Chapter 5: Advanced Operations 31 Firmware management The firmware files for transmitters and user stations can be added, viewed and deleted using the Unit Firmware Files window. Once a firmware file(s) has been added, you may use the file(s) to upgrade the managed unit. To add a firmware file: 1. Click the System tab. The Unit Firmware Files window opens. 2. Click Add. The Add Firmware File Wizard will appear. 3. Click Next. The Select Firmware File to Import window will open. 4.
32 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide 3. Send the request code to Technical Support at Avocent. Technical Support will generate a reset code and send it to the administrator. For information on catacting Avocent Technical Support, see Technical Support on page 36. 4. Enter this reset code in the Reset Code text box and click Submit to reset the password. 5. At the Management Appliance login page, select User. The text listed in the Password box will reset to the correct password.
33 CHA PTER Events and Event Logs 6 Using the Reports Tab in the Explorer Window When an enabled, defined event occurs in the HMX Manager appliance, it is saved in the event log. Events are classified by severity and category. You can display the event log content or view details about an individual event log entry. If you wish, you can also export event logs to Microsoft Excel for further analysis. It is also possible to change the event log’s retention period and export the event log’s content.
34 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide Changing the event log retention period By default, an event log is retained for seven days. NOTE: Event log information is stored in the HMX Manager appliance database. Increasing the event log retention time may impact the performance of the HMX Manager appliance. To change the event log retention period: 1. Click the Reports tab. 2. Click Log Configuration in the side navigation bar. The Event Log Retention Time window will open. 3.
35 A P P EN D IC ES Appendices Appendix A: Technical Specifications Table A.1: HMX Manager Appliance Specifications Network Connection Number 2 Type Ethernet, 10BaseT, 100BaseT, GigE Connector RJ-45 Serial Port Number 1 Type RS-232 serial Connector DB9 male Mechanical HxWxD 4.3 x 42.7 x 35.6 cm (1.7 x 16.8 x 14 in), 1 U form factor Weight 5.
36 HMX Manager Installer/User Guide Appendix B: Technical Support Our Technical Support staff is ready to assist you with any installation or operating issues you encounter with your Avocent 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. Visit www.avocent.
License Information 37 License Information This product includes various software programs that are copyrighted and released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), and other licenses that permit copying, modification, and redistribution of source code (such licenses referred to as Public Licenses), in particular the software program “mtd”.
38 1. HMX Manager Installer/User Guide You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program’s source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty; and give any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License along with the Program.
License Information 39 redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program. If any portion of this section is held invalid or unenforceable under any particular circumstance, the balance of the section is intended to apply and the section as a whole is intended to apply in other circumstances.
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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.
HMX Manager For Technical Support: www.avocent.
