Starting the KVM Console

This chapter includes the following sections:

KVM Console

The KVM console is an interface accessible from the Cisco UCS Manager GUI or the KVM Launch Manager that emulates a direct KVM connection. Unlike the KVM dongle, which requires you to be physically connected to the server, the KVM console allows you to connect to the server from a remote location across the network.

You must ensure that either the server or the service profile associated with the server is configured with a CIMC IP address if you want to use the KVM console to access the server. The KVM console uses the CIMC IP address assigned to a server or a service profile to identify and connect with the correct server in a Cisco UCS.

Instead of using CD/DVD or floppy drives directly connected to the server, the KVM console uses virtual media, which are actual disk drives or disk image files that are mapped to virtual CD/DVD or floppy drives. You can map any of the following to virtual drives:

  • CD/DVD or floppy drives on your computer
  • Disk image files on your computer
  • CD/DVD or floppy drives on the network
  • Disk image files on the network

Recommendations for Using the KVM Console to Install a Server OS

To install an OS from a virtual CD/DVD or floppy drive, you must ensure that the virtual CD/DVD or floppy drive is set as the first boot device in the service profile.

Installing an OS using the KVM console may be slower than using the KVM dongle because the installation files must be downloaded across the network to the server. If you map a disk drive or disk image file from a network share to a virtual drive, the installation may be even slower because the installation files must be downloaded from the network to the KVM console (your computer) and then from the KVM console to the server. When using this installation method, we recommend that you have the installation media as close as possible to the system with the KVM console.

Virtual KVM Console

The KVM console is an interface accessible from CIMC that emulates a direct keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) connection to the server. It allows you to connect to and control the server from a remote location, and to map physical locations to virtual drives that can by accessed by the server during this KVM session.

Important:

The KVM console requires JRE (Java Runtime Environment) version 1.5.0 or higher.

KVM Tab

This tab provides command line access to the server. The menu options available in this tab are described below.

Virtual Media Tab

Instead of using CD/DVD or floppy drives physically connected to the server, the KVM console uses virtual media, which are actual disk drives or disk image files that are mapped to virtual CD/DVD or floppy drives on the server. The Client View table displays the floppy images, floppy drives, CD/DVD drives, and ISO images that are available to the server.

Name Description

Mapped column

If the check box in this column is checked, the associated disk drive or image file can be accessed by the server. Clear the check box to disconnect the server from the drive or image file.

Each drive or image file can exist either on the users local computer or on the network, and each falls into one of three categories:

  • Virtual CD/DVD
  • Removable Media
  • Floppy—This category includes USB keys or flash drives.

You can enable Virtual Media for one drive or image in each of the three categories, but you cannot virtualize multiple drives or images in the same category.

Read Only column

If checked, the server cannot write to the Virtual Media device even if the device has write capability.

Drive column

Displays the path to the device used by the server.

Exit button

Returns to the KVM tab.

Create Image button

Opens the Open dialog box that lets you navigate to the local folder that you want to map on the server.

After the system has created the image, it saves the IMG file on your desktop and adds it to the Client View table. Check the check box in the Mapped column to complete the mapping process.

Add Image button

Opens the Open dialog box that lets you navigate to the ISO or IMG file you want to the server to access.

After you select the file, the system adds it to the Client View table. Check the check box in the Mapped column to complete the mapping process.

Remove Image button

Removes the selected image from the Client View table.

Details button

Toggles the display of the Details area. This area contains a table showing the three device categories, their mapped status, read and write statistics, and the length of time that the device has been mapped.

USB Reset button

Resets all USB devices connected to the server.

Note   

The Details area must be visible in order to use this button.

File Menu

Menu Item Description

Capture to File

Opens the Save dialog box that lets you save the current screen as a JPG image.

Note   

This option is only available on the KVM tab.

Exit

Closes the KVM console.

View Menu on the KVM Tab

Menu Item Description

Refresh

Updates the console display with the server's current video output.

Full Screen

Expands the KVM console so that it fills the entire screen.

Windowed

Returns the KVM console to Windowed mode where it can be resized.

Fit

Resizes the console window to the minimum size needed to display the video image from the server.

This option is only available if the console is in Windowed mode.

Macros Menu on the KVM Tab

Select the keyboard shortcut you want to execute on the remote system.

Tools Menu on the KVM Tab

Menu Item Description

Session Options

Opens the Session Options dialog box that lets you specify:

  • Whether all keystrokes are passed to the target system when the console is in Windowed mode. The default is no.
  • The termination key when in single cursor mode. The default is F12.
  • The mouse acceleration to use on the target system. The default is Windows.

Single Cursor

Turns on the single cursor feature, which offsets mouse alignment issues encountered on some remote operating systems. When you turn this feature on, the mouse pointer is trapped within the viewer window.

To turn the feature off, press the termination key specified in the Session Options dialog box.

Stats

Opens the Stats dialog box, which displays the:

  • Frame rate measured in number of frames per second
  • Bandwidth measured in number of KBs per second
  • Compression measured in the percentage of compression being used
  • Packet rate measured in number of packets per second
Session User List

Opens the Session User List dialog box that shows all the user IDs that have an active KVM session.

Starting the KVM Console from a Server

Procedure
    Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Equipment tab.
    Step 2   On the Equipment tab, expand Equipment > Chassis > Chassis Number > Servers.
    Step 3   Choose the server that you want to access through the KVM console.
    Step 4   In the Work pane, click the General tab.
    Step 5   In the Actions area, click KVM Console.

    The KVM console opens in a separate window.

    Tip   

    If the Caps Lock key on your keyboard is on when you open a KVM session, and you subsequently turn off your Caps Lock key, the KVM console may continue to act as if Caps Lock is turned on. To synchronize the KVM console and your keyboard, press Caps Lock once without the KVM console in focus and then press Caps Lock again with the KVM console in focus.

    Starting the KVM Console from a Service Profile

    Procedure
      Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Servers tab.
      Step 2   On the Servers tab, expand Servers > Service Profiles.
      Step 3   Expand the node for the organization which contains the service profile for which you want to launch the KVM console.

      If the system does not include multitenancy, expand the root node.

      Step 4   Choose the service profile for which you need KVM access to the associated server.
      Step 5   In the Work pane, click the General tab.
      Step 6   In the Actions area, click KVM Console.

      The KVM console opens in a separate window.

      Tip   

      If the Caps Lock key on your keyboard is on when you open a KVM session, and you subsequently turn off your Caps Lock key, the KVM console may continue to act as if Caps Lock is turned on. To synchronize the KVM console and your keyboard, press Caps Lock once without the KVM console in focus and then press Caps Lock again with the KVM console in focus.

      Starting the KVM Console from the KVM Launch Manager

      The KVM Launch Manager enables you to access a server through the KVM console without logging in to Cisco UCS Manager.

      Before You Begin

      To access the KVM console for a server through the KVM Launch Manager, you need the following:

      • Cisco UCS username and password.
      • Name of the service profile associated with the server for which you want KVM access.
      Procedure
        Step 1   In your web browser, type or select the web link for Cisco UCS Manager GUI.

        Example:

        The default web link is http://UCSManager_IP or https://UCSManager_IP . In a standalone configuration, UCSManager_IP is the IP address for the management port on the fabric interconnect. In a cluster configuration, UCSManager_IP is the IP address assigned to Cisco UCS Manager.

        Step 2   On the Cisco UCS Manager launch page, click Launch KVM Manager.
        Step 3   If a Security Alert dialog box appears, click Yes to accept the security certificate and continue.
        Step 4   On the UCS - KVM Launch Manager Login page, do the following:
        1. Enter your Cisco UCS username and password.
        2. Optional: If your Cisco UCS implementation includes multiple domains, select the appropriate domain from the Domain drop-down list.
        3. Click OK.
        Step 5   In the Service Profiles table of the KVM Launch Manager, do the following:
        1. Locate the row containing the service profile and associated server for which you need KVM access.
        2. In the Launch KVM column for that server, click Launch.

          The KVM console opens in a separate window.

          Tip   

          If the Caps Lock key on your keyboard is on when you open a KVM session, and you subsequently turn off your Caps Lock key, the KVM console may continue to act as if Caps Lock is turned on. To synchronize the KVM console and your keyboard, press Caps Lock once without the KVM console in focus and then press Caps Lock again with the KVM console in focus.