Managing Remote Presence

Configuring Serial Over LAN

Serial over LAN enables the input and output of the serial port of a managed system to be redirected over IP. Configure and use serial over LAN on your server when you want to reach the host console with Cisco IMC.

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to configure serial over LAN.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Administration.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Communication Services menu.

Step 3

In the Serial over LAN Properties area, update the following properties:

Table 1. Serial over LAN Area
Name Description

Enabled toggle button

Allows you to enable/disable Serial over LAN (SoL) on this server.

Baud Rate drop-down list

The baud rate the system uses for SoL communication. This can be one of the following:

  • 9600 bps

  • 19.2 kbps

  • 38.4 kbps

  • 57.6 kbps

  • 115.2 kbps

Com Port drop-down list

The serial port through which the system routes SoL communication.

You can select one of the following:

  • com0—SoL communication is routed through COM port 0, an externally accessible serial port that supports either a physical RJ45 connection to an external device or a virtual SoL connection to a network device.

    If you select this option, the system enables SoL and disables the RJ45 connection, which means that the server can no longer support an external serial device.

  • com1—SoL communication is routed through COM port 1, an internal port accessible only through SoL.

    If you select this option, you can use SoL on COM port 1 and the physical RJ45 connection on COM port 0.

Note

 

Changing the Com Port setting disconnects any existing SoL sessions.

SSH Port filed

The port through which you can access Serial over LAN directly. The port enables you to by-pass the Cisco IMC shell to provide direct access to SoL.

The valid range is 1024 to 65535. The default value is 2400.

Note

 

Changing the SSH Port setting disconnects any existing SSH sessions.

Step 4

Click Save.

Configuring Virtual Media

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to configure virtual media.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Properties area, update the following properties:

Table 2. Properties Area

Name

Description

Enable Virtual KVM toggle button

Allows you to enable or disable virtual KVM.

Max Sessions drop-down list

The maximum number of concurrent vKVM sessions allowed. You can select any number between 1 and 4.

Remote Port field

The port used for vKVM communication.

Active Sessions

The number of vKVM sessions running on the server.

Enable Virtual Media toggle button

If checked, the server encrypts all video information sent through the vKVM.

Enable Local Server Video toggle button

If checked, the vKVM session is also displayed on any monitor attached to the server.

Lower Power USB Enabled toggle button

If checked, low power USB is enabled.

If the low power USB is enabled, after mapping the ISO and rebooting the host, the virtual drives appear on the boot selection menu.

But, while mapping an ISO to a server that has a UCS VIC P81E card and the NIC is in Cisco Card mode, this option must be disabled for the virtual drives to appear on the boot selection menu.

Active Virtual Media Sessions

Displays the active virtual media sessions.

Creating a Cisco IMC Mapped vMedia Volume

Before you begin

You must log in with admin privileges to perform this task.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Virtual Media Mapping area, click Add New Mapping.

Step 4

In the Add Virtual Media dialog box, update the following fields:

Name Description

Virtual Media Type radio button

This is can be one of the following:

  • CDD

  • HDD

Mount Type drop-down list

The type of mapping. This can be one of the following:

Note

 

Ensure that the communication port of the mount type that you choose is enabled on the switch. For example, when you are using CIFS as your mount type, ensure port 445 (which is its communication port) is enabled on the switch. Similarly, enable ports 80 for HTTP, 443 for HTTPS and 2049 for NFS when you use them.

  • NFS—Network File System.

  • CIFS—Common Internet File System.

  • WWW(HTTP/HTTPS)—HTTP-based or HTTPS-based system.

    Note

     

    Before mounting the virtual media, Cisco IMC tries to verify reachability to the end server by pinging the server.

File Location field

The name and location of the .iso or .img file in the remote share.

Mount Options field

Industry-standard mount options entered in a comma separated list. The options vary depending on the selected Mount Type.

If you are using NFS, leave the field blank or enter one or more of the following:

  • ro

  • rw

    Note

     

    The folder, which is shared, should have write permissions to use read-write option. Read-write option is available only for .img files.

  • nolock

  • noexec

  • soft

  • port=VALUE

  • timeo=VALUE

  • retry=VALUE

  • rsize=VALUE

  • wsize=VALUE

  • vers=VALUE

If you are using CIFS, leave the field blank or enter one or more of the following:

  • ro

  • rw

    Note

     

    The folder, which is shared, should have write permissions to use read-write option. Read-write option is available only for .img files.

  • soft

  • nounix

  • noserverino

  • guest

  • username=VALUE—ignored if guest is entered.

  • password=VALUE—ignored if guest is entered.

  • sec=VALUE

    The protocol to use for authentication when communicating with the remote server. Depending on the configuration of CIFS share, VALUE could be one of the following:

    • None—No authentication is used

    • Ntlm—NT LAN Manager (NTLM) security protocol. Use this option only with Windows 2008 R2 and Windows 2012 R2.

    • Ntlmi—NTLMi security protocol. Use this option only when you enable Digital Signing in the CIFS Windows server.

    • Ntlmssp—NT LAN Manager Security Support Provider (NTLMSSP) protocol. Use this option only with Windows 2008 R2 and Windows 2012 R2.

    • Ntlmsspi—NTLMSSPi protocol. Use this option only when you enable Digital Signing in the CIFS Windows server.

    • Ntlmv2—NTLMv2 security protocol. Use this option only with Samba Linux.

    • Ntlmv2i—NTLMv2i security protocol. Use this option only with Samba Linux.

  • vers=VALUE

    Note

     

    The format of the VALUE should be x.x

If you are using WWW(HTTP/HTTPS), leave the field blank or enter the following:

  • noauto

    Note

     

    Before mounting the virtual media, Cisco IMC tries to verify reachability to the end server by pinging the server.

  • username=VALUE

  • password=VALUE

User Name field

The username for the specified Mount Type, if required.

Password field

The password for the selected username, if required.

Step 5

Click Save.

Viewing Cisco IMC-Mapped vMedia Volume Properties

Before you begin

You must log in with admin privileges to perform this task.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Virtual Media Mapping area, select a row from the mapping table.

Step 4

Click Properties and review the following information:

Table 3. Virtual Media Mapping
Name Description

Add New Mapping button

Allows you to add a new image.

Properties button

Opens a dialog box that allows you to view or change the properties for the selected image.

Unmap button

Unmaps the mounted vMedia.

Remap button

Remaps the saved mapping.

Delete button

Deletes the saved mapping.

Volume column

The identity of the image.

Protocol column

Image protocol.

Status field

The current status of the map. This can be one of the following:

  • OK—The mapping is successful.

  • In Progress—The mapping is in progress.

  • Stale—Cisco IMC displays a text string with the reason why the mapping is stale.

  • Error—Cisco IMC displays a text string with the reason for the error.

Mapping Status

The status of the last mapping attempted.

Removing a Cisco IMC-Mapped vMedia Volume

Before you begin

You must log in with admin privileges to perform this task.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Virtual Media Mapping area, select a row from the mapping table.

Step 4

In the Virtual Media Mapping area, click Unmap.

When you are prompted to save the mapping, click Save.

Remapping an Existing Cisco IMC vMedia Image

Before you begin

You must log in with admin privileges to perform this task.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Virtual Media Mapping area, select a row from the mapping table.

Step 4

Click Remap.

Deleting a Cisco IMC vMedia Image

Before you begin

You must log in with admin privileges to perform this task.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Virtual Media Mapping area, select a row from the mapping table.

Step 4

Click Delete.

Virtual KVM Console

The vKVM console is an interface accessible from Cisco IMC that emulates a direct keyboard, video, and mouse (vKVM) connection to the server. The vKVM console allows you to connect to the server from a remote location.

Here are a few major advantages of using Cisco KVM Console:

  • The Cisco KVM console provides connection to KVM, SOL, and vMedia whereas the Avocent KVM provides connection only to KVM and vMedia.

  • In the KVM Console, the vMedia connection is established at the KVM Launch Manager and is available for all users.

  • The KVM console offers you an advanced character replacement options for the unsupported characters while pasting text from the guest to the host.

  • The KVM console provides you an ability to store the vMedia mappings on CIMC.

Instead of using CD/DVD or floppy drives physically connected to the server, the vKVM 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 a virtual drive:

  • CD/DVD or floppy drive on your computer

  • Disk image files (ISO or IMG files) on your computer

  • USB flash drive on your computer

  • CD/DVD or floppy drive on the network

  • Disk image files (ISO or IMG files) on the network

  • USB flash drive on the network

You can use the vKVM console to install an OS on the server.

Launching KVM Console

You can launch the KVM console from either the Dashboard App or Actions.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Dashboard.

Step 2

From the KVM Console, click the Launch KVM button.

Step 3

Alternatively, you can launch KVM Console from any page from Actions > System > Launch KVM.

Virtual KVM Console - Cisco UCS C-Series M6 and Later Servers

The vKVM console is an interface accessible from Cisco IMC that emulates a direct keyboard, video, and mouse (vKVM) 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 vKVM session.

Console Menu

Menu Item

Description

KVM

Selects KVM (Keyboard Video and Mouse) as the active console.

SOL

Selects SOL (Serial Over LAN) as the active console.

Note

 

SOL is not visible if SOL is inactive, instead Activate SOL is visible.

Activate SOL

Allows you to login to SOL session using user name and password.

Note

 

Activate SOL option is visible only when SOL session is not active for any reason.

File Menu

Menu Item

Description

Paste Clipboard Text

Opens the Paste Clipboard Text dialog box that allows you to paste content.

Paste Clipboard Text dialog box

Paste Clipboard Text dialog box has the following options:

  • Settings button—Opens the Settings dialog box. See Table 1 for more information.

  • Enter Text to Paste field

  • Send button—Sends the text.

Capture to File

Opens the Save dialog box that allows you to save the current screen as a PNG image.

Table 4. Settings dialog box

Name

Description

When an unsupported character is found in pasted text: drop-down list

Allows you to select an action when an unsupported character is found in pasted text:

  • Ignore all unsupported characters—Ignores all the unsupported characters in the text.

  • Cancel the paste operation—Cancels the send operation.

  • Replace the character(s) with a mapped value—If the character is not mapped, opens the Unsupported Character dialog box.

  • Ask what to do with character—Opens the Unsupported Character dialog box.

Character Mapping button

Character Mapping button—Opens the sub-menu to edit/delete character mappings. Character mappings replace the unsupported character with a user-defined string (no character length).

Keyboard drop-down list

Layout of the keyboard being used to paste characters. This should be the same as the keyboard layout of the host.

Save button

Saves the configuration.

Note

 

This option is enabled only when the setting is updated.
Table 5. Unsupported Character dialog box

Option

Description

Character context

Group of 11 characters where the unsupported character is found. Five characters before and five characters after the unsupported character. However, more characters from before or after the unsupported character are pulled if enough characters after or before are not available to make 11 characters.

Choose what to do with the unsupported character drop-down list

Allows you to select one of the following actions:

  • Ignore the character(s)—Provides additional options to determine unsupported character(s) to ignore.

  • Cancel the paste operation—Cancels the operation.

    Replace the character(s)—Provides additional options to determine what to replace the unsupported character(s) with.

Replacement field

Note

 

This option is visible only for Replace the character(s) option.

Enter a replacement character.

Store a mapping of this replacement to the unsupported character check box

Note

 

This option is visible only for Replace the character(s) option.

Allows you to save the character mapping.

Repeat this action for all unsupported_character characters check box

Repeats the selected action for all instances of the unsupported character being evaluated.

Repeat this action for all unsupported characters check box

Note

 

This option is not visible only for Cancel the paste operation option.

Allows you to save the same action for the same unsupported character.

View Menu

Menu Item

Description

Refresh

Updates the console display with the current video output of the server.

Note

 

This option is supported only in KVM console.

Video Quality

You can select one of the following from the sub-menu:

  • High

  • Medium

  • Low

  • Ultra Low

Note

 

This option is supported only in KVM console.

Clear SOL Console

Clears the Cisco SOL terminal.

Note

 

This option is supported only in SOL console.

Full Screen

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

Macro menu


Note

Macro menu is supported only in KVM console.

Menu Item

Description

Static Macros

Displays a predefined set of macros sub-menu.

User Defined Macros

Displays a user defined set of macros sub-menu.

Manage

Opens the Manage Macros dialog box, which allows you to add, delete, edit macros; restore the predefined set of macros; and assign hotkey to a macro.

To create a new macro, click Macros > Manager Macros > Create New Macro

Opens the Create New Macro dialog box.

  • Enter keystrokes for new user defined macro—Enter the desired key(s).

  • Special Characters drop-down list—Select the desired special character and click Add.

  • Create button—Save the new macro.

To restore predefined set of macros, click Macros > Manager Macros > Restore Static Macros.

Tools Menu

Menu Item

Description

Stats

Opens the Stats dialog box:

KVM Stats:

  • Total Bytes Rec—Total bytes received.

  • Total Bytes Sent—Total bytes sent.

  • Rx Bandwidth—Received bandwidth measured in the number of KBs per second.

  • Tx Bandwidth—Transmitted bandwidth measured in the number of KBs per second.

  • Frame Rate—Frame rate measured in the number of frames per second.

  • Video Tile Rate—Video tiles rendered per second.

When vMedia is activated, the vKVM-Mapped vMedia Stats area displays the following:

  • Total Bytes Rec—Total bytes received.

  • Total Bytes Sent—Total bytes sent.

  • Device—The type of local device.

  • Mapped File—The type of local device or image file to which the host server device is mapped.

  • Duration—The elapsed time of the device to map.

  • Read Bytes—The number of bytes read from the vKVM media.

  • Write Bytes—The number of bytes written to the vKVM media.

  • Owner—The user who mapped the media to the browser.

CIMC-Mapped vMedia Stats area displays the following:

  • Device—The type of local device.

  • Mapped File—The type of local device or image file to which the host server device is mapped.

  • Device Status—Possible device status:

    • device mount in progress

    • device mounted

    • device eject in progress

    • ejected from host

    Following are the error status

    • mount failed

    • unmount failed

    • connection timed out

    • file server rejected connection

    • file server rejected credentials

    • file server path not found

    • file not found

    • file(s) still in use

    • open file as read only failed

    • open file as read/write failed

    • file input/output failed

    • HTTP server did not return content length

    • HTTP server does not support range request

    • invalid parameters

    • invalid device usage

    • invalid device type
Session User List

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

The same can be accessed from the Session User List icon on top.

Keyboard

Displays the virtual keyboard for the vKVM console, which you can use to input data.

Note

 

This option is supported only in SOL console.

USB Reset

Provides you an option to reset keyboard, mouse, and virtual media.

Note

 

Resetting any USB connection affects all the input to the server including virtual media, keyboard, and mouse.

Power Menu

Menu Item Description

Power On System

Powers on the system.

This option is disabled when the system is powered on and it is enabled when the system is not powered.

Power Off System

Powers off the system from the virtual console session.

This option is enabled when the system is powered on and disabled when the system is not powered on.

Reset System

Reboots the system without powering it off.

This option is enabled when the system is powered on and disabled when the system is not powered on.

Power Cycle System

Turns off system and then back on.

This option is enabled when the system is powered on and disabled when the system is not powered on.

Boot Device Menu

Name Description

No Override

Enables the host to boot to the first device configured.

Boot Device list

A list of boot devices that the server uses to boot from only for the next server boot, without disrupting the currently configured boot order. Once the server boots from the one time boot device, all its future reboots occur from the previously configured boot order. A maximum of 15 devices are displayed on the vKVM console.

Virtual Media Menu

Name Description

Create Image

Allows you to create an ISO image. Drag and drop files or folders in the Create Image dialog box; these files or folders are converted to an ISO image. You can use the Download ISO Image button to save the ISO image to your local machine.

Note

 

Create Image option is not available in Safari browser.

Activate vMedia

Allows you to login to vMedia session using user name and password.

Note

 

Activate vMedia option is visible only when vMedia session is not active for any reason.

If Activate vMedia otion is visible, other vMedia options are not displayed.

vKVM-Mapped vDVD

Opens the Map Virtual Media - CD/DVD dialog box, which allows you to select an ISO image from your local computer and map the drive.

Note

 

Virtual Media is not available for read-only users.

vKVM-Mapped vHDD

Opens the Map Virtual Media - Removable Disk dialog box, which allows you to select an ISO image from your local computer and map the drive.

Note

 

Virtual Media is not available for read-only users.

vKVM-Mapped vFDD

Opens the Map Virtual Media - Floppy Disk dialog box, which allows you to select an ISO image from your local computer and map the drive.

Note

 

Virtual Media is not available for read-only users.

CIMC-Mapped vDVD

Opens the Map Virtual Media - CD/DVD dialog box, which allows you to select an ISO image from your local computer and map the drive. It also allows you to save, edit, and delete mappings.

For more information on mount options, see Table 3.

Note

 

Virtual Media is not available for read-only users.

CIMC-Mapped vHDD

Opens the Map Virtual Media - CD/DVD dialog box, which allows you to select an ISO image from your local computer and map the drive. It also allows you to save, edit, and delete mappings.

For more information on mount options, see Table 3.

Note

 

Virtual Media is not available for read-only users.
Table 6. Add New Mapping Dialog Box

Name

Description

Name field

User defined name of the virtual media.

NFS button

Network File System based mapping.

CIFS button

Common Internet File System based mapping.

HTTP/S

HTTP-based or HTTPS-based mapping.

File Location field

Location of the .iso file in the following format:

  • <IP Address or DNS Name>[:Port]/.iso file path

Username field

Note

 

Available only for CIFS and HTTP/S based mappings.

The username, if any.

Password field

Note

 

Available only for CIFS and HTTP/S based mappings.

The password for the selected username, if any.

Mount Options field

Note

 

Available only for CIFS and NFS based mappings.

The selected mount options.

  • NFS—For NFS, either leave the field blank or enter one or more of the following:

    • wsize=VALUE

    • vers=VALUE

    • timeo=VALUE

    • retrans=VALUE

    • retry=VALUE

    • rsize=VALUE

  • For CIFS, either leave the field blank or enter one or more of the following:

    • nounix

    • noserverino

    • sec=VALUE

    • vers=VALUE

Auto-remap check box

Cisco IMC automatically remaps the device when the host system ejects the media.

Stored vMedia button

Opens an additional area on the right to select stored vMedia from the respective list.

Save button

Saves the vMedia.

Map Drive button

Saves and maps the mounted vMedia.

CD/DVD panel

Provides a list of stored vMedia. If you are mapping using CIMC-Mapped vDVD option, then you can also edit or delete any vMedia from this list.

Removable Disk panel

Provides a list of stored vMedia. If you are mapping using CIMC-Mapped vHDD option, then you can also edit or delete any vMedia from this list.

Chat Menu

Menu Item

Description

Chat

Opens the Chat box to communicate with other users.

Help Icon

Name Description

Take a Site Tour

Provides a quick interactive tour of the new console.

Help Topics

Clicking this option brings you back to this window.

About

Displays the version number of the Cisco vKVM console.

Language Icon

Shows a drop-down list of the supported languages. You can select desired language from the list.

Profile Menu Icon

The Profile Menu icon is located on the top right hand corner of the console.

Name Description

Role

Displays your user role name.

Server

Displays the host name or IP address.

Settings

Opens the Settings dialog box:

  • Maintain Aspect Ratio toggle—Maintains the aspect ratio of the viewer window.

  • Mouse Mode

    • Absolute Positioning—Cursor position in the view mirrors the local machine cursor position.

    • Relative Positioning—Cursor position in the view is calculated relative to the previous position.

  • Video Inactivity Timeout drop-down list—Allows you to select preset time period or inactivity on the console after which the console video times out.

  • Number of terminal scrollback lines field—Allows you to configure the number of lines which can be scrolled for Cisco SOL terminal.

  • Theme—Allows you to toggle between dark and light theme.

  • Save button—Saves the settings for all users.

Sign Out

Signs out and closes the vKVM console.

Configuring the Virtual KVM

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to configure the virtual KVM.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Properties area, update the following:

Table 7. Properties Area

Name

Description

Enable Virtual KVM toggle button

Allows you to enable or disable virtual KVM.

Max Sessions drop-down list

The maximum number of concurrent vKVM sessions allowed. You can select any number between 1 and 4.

Remote Port field

The port used for vKVM communication.

Active Sessions

The number of vKVM sessions running on the server.

Enable Virtual Media toggle button

If checked, the server encrypts all video information sent through the vKVM.

Enable Local Server Video toggle button

If checked, the vKVM session is also displayed on any monitor attached to the server.

Lower Power USB Enabled toggle button

If checked, low power USB is enabled.

If the low power USB is enabled, after mapping the ISO and rebooting the host, the virtual drives appear on the boot selection menu.

But, while mapping an ISO to a server that has a UCS VIC P81E card and the NIC is in Cisco Card mode, this option must be disabled for the virtual drives to appear on the boot selection menu.

Active Virtual Media Sessions

Displays the active virtual media sessions.

Enabling the Virtual KVM

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to enable the virtual KVM.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Properties area, check the Enabled Virtual KVM check box.

Disabling the Virtual KVM

Before you begin

You must log in as a user with admin privileges to enable the virtual KVM.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Compute.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Remote Management menu.

Step 3

In the Properties area, uncheck the Enabled Virtual KVM check box.