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Table Of Contents
Virtual Console
Description
The Virtual Console feature allows you to access dial and router shelves connected to a system controller. During a system controller session, you can connect to a router or dial shelf at the same privilege level as the current system controller session.
By entering one command, you can Telnet directly to a shelf, provide a username and password, and then go to the same privilege level as the system controller.
Benefits
The Virtual Console feature allows you to connect to all managed shelves through one session and switch between sessions easily. You do not have to reenable privileged EXEC mode every time you switch to another shelf session.
This feature is useful when you need to do quick tasks on different managed shelves.
List of Terms
shelf—An access server or router managed by the system controller.
system controller—A Cisco IOS-based device that aids in the monitoring and management of a number of access servers and routers.
Security
The Virtual Console feature has the following security aspects:
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The system controller and managed shelves typically communicate over a private network. Thus, unauthorized access is limited.
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Prerequisites
In order to use the Virtual Console feature, you must first configure the Shelf Discovery and Autoconfiguration feature. Refer to the "Shelf Discovery and Configuration" feature documentation for these tasks.
Virtual Console Tasks
To use the virtual console feature, perform the following tasks beginning in user EXEC or privileged EXEC mode:
On the system controller, connect to the managed shelf.
attach shelf shelf-id
Enter commands on the managed shelf.
You will be connected to the managed system until one of the following occurs:
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In every case except the first, control is returned to the system controller. In the first case, the connection to the current shelf is closed and a new connection to the specified shelf is opened.
Virtual Console Examples
In the following example, a user connects to a managed shelf from the system controller from user EXEC and privileged EXEC modes. Notice that the user connects to the shelf at the current user privilege level.
systemcont> show sysconShelf# 2 172.23.66.102 SDB update 09:09:16 PST Jan 27 1998systemcont> attach shelf 2Trying 172.23.66.102 ... Openshelf2> show sysconCurrent uptime 09:10:00 PST Jan 27 1998, system controller 172.23.66.100Last hello packet received at 09:09:16 PST Jan 27 19988625 Total SDP packets0 packets with bad MD5 hash4311 Hello packets received4314 Hello packets sent0 Command packets received0 Command packets sentshelf2> quit[Connection to 172.23.66.102 closed by foreign host]systemcont> enablePassword:systemcont# attach shelf 2Trying 172.23.66.102 ... Openshelf2# show syscon sdpCurrent uptime 09:10:45 PST Jan 27 1998, system controller 172.23.66.100Last hello packet received at 09:10:14 PST Jan 27 19988627 Total SDP packets0 packets with bad MD5 hash4312 Hello packets received4315 Hello packets sent0 Command packets received0 Command packets sentshelf2# exit[Connection to 172.23.66.102 closed by foreign host]systemcont#Command Reference
This section documents new or modified commands. All other commands used with this feature are documented in the Cisco IOS Release 11.3 command references or in other 11.3 AA feature documentation.
attach shelf
To start a session on a manager dial or router shelf, use the attach shelf EXEC command.
attach shelf shelf-number
Syntax Description
Command Mode
EXEC
Usage Guidelines
This command first appeared in Cisco IOS Release 11.3 AA.
If you are connected to a system controller, use this command to start a session with a managed shelf.
If you are already connected to a shelf unit, this command disconnects from the current shelf and connects to the specified shelf.
Example
In the following example, a user connects to a managed shelf from the system controller from user EXEC mode. Notice that the user connects to the shelf at the current user privilege level.
systemcont> show sysconShelf# 2 172.23.66.102 SDB update 09:09:16 PST Jan 27 1998systemcont> attach shelf 2Trying 172.23.66.102 ... Openshelf2> show sysconCurrent uptime 09:10:00 PST Jan 27 1998, system controller 172.23.66.100Last hello packet received at 09:09:16 PST Jan 27 19988625 Total SDP packets0 packets with bad MD5 hash4311 Hello packets received4314 Hello packets sent0 Command packets received0 Command packets sentshelf2> quit[Connection to 172.23.66.102 closed by foreign host]systemcont>Related Commands
syscon address
syscon shelf-id