Setup guide

Dominion KX II Frequently asked questions Page 7/10
Questions Answers
How do I connect a serially controlled
(RS-232) device to Dominion KX II,
such as a Cisco router/switch or a
headless Sun server?
If there are only a few serially-controlled devices, they may be connected
to a Dominion KX II using Raritan’s serial adapter, AUATC, or the new
P2CIM-SER serial converter.
However, if there are four or more serially-controlled devices, we
recommend the use of Raritan’s Dominion SX line of secure console
servers. For multiple serial devices, Dominion SX offers more serial
functionality at a better price point than Dominion KX II. This SX is
easy to use, configure and manage, and can be completely integrated
with a Dominion Series deployment. In particular, many UNIX and
networking administrators appreciate the ability to directly SSH to a
Dominion SX unit.
Local Port
Can I access my servers directly
from the rack?
Yes. At the rack, Dominion KX II functions just like a traditional
KVM switch – allowing control of up to 64 servers using a single
keyboard, monitor and mouse.
When I am using the local port, do I
prevent other users from accessing
servers remotely?
No. The Dominion KX II local port has a completely independent access
path to the servers. This means a user can access servers locally at the
rack – without compromising the number of users that access the rack
remotely at the same time.
Can I use a USB keyboard or mouse
at the local port?
Yes. Dominion KX II offers both PS/2
®
and USB keyboard and mouse
ports on the local port. Note that the USB ports are USB v1.1, and
support keyboards and mice only – not USB devices such as scanners
or printers.
Is there an On-Screen Display (OSD)
for local, at-the-rack access?
Yes, but Dominion KX II’s at-the-rack access goes way beyond
conventional OSD’s. Featuring the industry’s first browser-based
interface for at-the-rack access, KX II’s local port uses the same interface
for local and remote access. Moreover, most administrative functions are
available at-the-rack.
How do I select between servers while
using the local port?
The local port displays the connected servers using the same user
interface as the remote client. Users connect to a server with a simple
click of the mouse.
How do I ensure that only authorized
users can access servers from the
local port?
Users attempting to use the local port must pass the same level of
authentication as those accessing remotely. This means that:
• If the Dominion KX II is configured to interact with an external
RADIUS, LDAP or Active Directory server, users attempting to
access the local port will authenticate against the same server.
• If the external authentication servers are unavailable, Dominion KX II
fails-over to its own internal authentication database.
Dominion KX II has its own standalone authentication, enabling instant,
out-of-the-box installation.
If I use the local port to change the
name of a connected server, does this
change propagate to remote access
clients as well? Does it propagate to
the optional CommandCenter
appliance?
Yes. The local port presentation is identical and completely in sync with
remote access clients, as well as Raritan’s optional CommandCenter
Secure Gateway management appliance. To be clear, if the name of a
server via the Dominion KX II on-screen display is changed, this updates
all remote clients and external management servers in real-time.
If I use Dominion KX II’s remote
administration tools to change the
name of a connected server, does that
change propagate to the local port
OSD as well?
Yes. If the name of a server is changed remotely, or via Raritan’s
optional CommandCenter Secure Gateway management appliance,
this update immediately affects Dominion KX II’s on-screen display.