Managing Remote Presence

This chapter includes the following sections:

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 .

Before you begin

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

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 3

In the Remote Management pane, click the Serial over LAN tab.

Step 4

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

Name Description

Enabled check box

If checked, Serial over LAN (SoL) is enabled on the 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.

Note

 

This field is available only on some E-Series servers. If it is not available, the server always uses COM port 0 for 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 5

Click Save Changes.

Configuring Virtual Media

Before you begin

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

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 3

In the Remote Management pane, click the Virtual Media tab.

Step 4

In the Virtual Media Properties area, update the following properties:

Name Description

Enabled check box

If checked, virtual media is enabled.

Note

 

If you clear this check box, all virtual media devices are automatically detached from the host.

Active Sessions field

The number of virtual media sessions that are currently running.

Enable Virtual Media Encryption check box

If checked, all virtual media communications are encrypted.

Step 5

Click Save Changes.

Creating a Cisco IMC Mapped vMedia Volume

Before you begin

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

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 3

In the Remote Management tab, click the Virtual Media tab

Step 4

In the Current Mappings area, click Add New Mapping.

Step 5

In the Add New Mapping dialog box, update the following fields:

Name Description

Volume field

The identity of the image mounted for mapping.

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, tries to verify reachability to the end server by pinging the server.

Remote Share field

The URL of the image to be mapped. The format depends on the selected Mount Type:

  • NFS—Use serverip:/share.

  • CIFS—Use //serverip/share.

  • WWW(HTTP/HTTPS)—Use http[s]://serverip/share.

Remote File 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

  • nolock

  • noexec

  • soft

  • port=VALUE

  • timeo=VALUE

  • retry=VALUE

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

  • 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. Based on the configuration of CIFS share, the VALUES can 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 on 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 on 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.

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

  • noauto

    Note

     

    Before mounting the virtual media, 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 6

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

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the Compute menu, select a server.

Step 3

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 4

In the Remote Management tab, click the Virtual Media tab

Step 5

Select a row from the Current Mappings table.

Step 6

Click Properties and review the following information:

Name Description

Add New Mapping button

Opens a dialog box that 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.

Last Mapping Status

The status of the last mapping attempted.

Volume column

The identity of the image.

Mount Type drop-down list

The type of mapping.

Remote Share field

The URL of the image.

Remote File field

The exact file location of the image.

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— displays a text string with the reason why the mapping is stale.

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

Removing a Cisco IMC-Mapped vMedia Volume

Before you begin

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

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the Compute menu, select a server.

Step 3

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 4

In the Remote Management tab, click the Virtual Media tab

Step 5

Select a row from the Current Mappings table.

Step 6

Click Unmap.

KVM Console

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

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. 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 KVM console to install an OS on the server.

Launching KVM Console

You can launch the KVM console from either the Home page or from the Remote Management area.

Procedure

Step 1

To launch the console from Home page, in the Navigation pane, click the Chassis menu.

Step 2

In the Chassis menu, click Summary.

Step 3

From the tool bar, click Launch KVM and select Java based KVM or HTML based KVM.

Step 4

Alternatively, in the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 5

In the Compute menu, select a server.

Step 6

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 7

In the Remote Management pane, click the Virtual KVM tab.

Step 8

In the Virtual KVM tab, click Launch Java based KVM console or Launch HTML based KVM console.

Step 9

Click the URL link displayed in the pop-up window (HTML based KVM console only) to load the client application. You need to click the link every time you launch the KVM console.

Virtual KVM Console (HTML Based)

The KVM console is an interface accessible from 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.

File Menu

Menu Item Description

Capture to File button

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

Exit button

Closes the KVM console.

View Menu

Menu Item Description

Keyboard

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

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.

Macros Menu

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

Menu Item Description

Server Macros menu

Displays the server side macros downloaded from the Cisco IMC, if any. If no server side macros have been downloaded, then the menu item is disabled.

Static Macros menu

Displays a predefined set of macros.

User Defined Macros menu

Displays the user-defined macros that have been created.

Manage button

Opens the Configure User Defined Macros dialog box, which allows you to create and manage macros.

System-defined macros cannot be deleted.

Tools Menu

Menu Item Description

Session Options

Opens the Session Options dialog box that lets you specify:

  • Scaling—Specify whether or not you want to maintain the aspect ratio of the screen. Check or uncheck the Maintain Aspect Ratio checkbox (checked by default).

  • The mouse acceleration to use on the target system. The default is Absolute positioning (Windows, Newer Linux & MAC OS X). Other options are:

    • Relative Positioning, no acceleration

    • Relative Positioning (RHEL, Older Linux)

Session User List

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

Chat

Opens the Chat box to communicate with other users.

Power Menu

Menu Item Description

Power On System button

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 button

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 (warm boot)button

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 (cold boot) button

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.

Virtual Media Menu

Name Description

Activate Virtual Devices

Activates a vMedia session that allows you to attach a drive or image file from your local computer or network.

Map CD/DVD

You can map a CD or a DVD image from your local machine and map the drive to the image.

Note

 

This option is available when you click Activate Virtual Devices.

Map Removable Disk

You can map a removable disk image from your local machine and map the drive to the image.

Note

 

This option is available when you click Activate Virtual Devices.

Map Floppy Disk

You can map a floppy disk image from your local machine and map the drive to the image.

Note

 

This option is available when you click Activate Virtual Devices.

Help Menu

Name Description

Help Topics

Clicking this option brings you back to this window.

About KVM Viewer

Displays the version number of the KVM viewer.

Settings

The Settings icon is located on the top right hand corner of the HTML KVM viewer window.

Name Description

Logged in as:

Displays your user role ID.

Host Name

Displays the host name.

Log Out

Allows you to log out of the KVM viewer.

Comparison Between Java Based KVM and HTML5 Based KVM

The following table lists the differences between Java based KVM and HTML5 based KVM.

Menu Option Action Available in Java Based KVM Available in HTML5 Based KVM

File

Open

Yes

NA

Capture to file

Yes

Yes

Paste Text from Clipboard

Yes

No

Paste Text from File

Yes

No

Exit

Yes

Yes

View

Refresh

Yes

Yes

Fit

Yes

No

Video-Scaling

Yes

No

Full-Screen

Yes

Yes

Mini-Mod

Yes

No

Keyboard

NA

Yes

Macros

Server Macros

Yes

Yes

Static Macros

Yes

Yes

User Defined Macros

Yes

Yes

Manage

Yes

Yes

Tool

Session Option

Yes

Yes

Single Cursor

Yes

No

Stats

Yes

No

Session User List

Yes

Yes

Chat

Yes

Yes

Recorder/Playback Controls

Yes

No

Export Video

Yes

No

Power

Power On

Yes

Yes

Power OFF

Yes

Yes

Reset System

Yes

Yes

Power Cycle system

Yes

Yes

Virtual Media

Create Image

Yes

No

Activate Virtual Devices

Yes

Yes

Physical Device Mapping

Yes

No

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

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the Compute menu, select a server.

Step 3

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 4

In the Remote Management pane, click the Virtual KVM tab.

Step 5

On the Virtual KVM tab, complete the following fields:

Name Description

Enabled check box

If checked, the virtual KVM is enabled.

Note

 

The virtual media viewer is accessed through the KVM. If you disable the KVM console, also disables access to all virtual media devices attached to the host.

Max Sessions drop-down list

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

Active Sessions field

The number of KVM sessions running on the server.

Remote Port field

The port used for KVM communication.

Enable Video Encryption check box

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

Enable Local Server Video check box

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

Step 6

Click Save Changes.

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

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the Compute menu, select a server.

Step 3

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 4

In the Remote Management pane, click the Virtual KVM tab.

Step 5

On the Virtual KVM tab, check the Enabled check box.

Step 6

Click Save Changes.

Disabling the Virtual KVM

Before you begin

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

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the Compute menu, select a server.

Step 3

In the work pane, click the Remote Management tab.

Step 4

In the Remote Management pane, click the Virtual KVM tab.

Step 5

On the Virtual KVM tab, uncheck the Enabled check box.

Step 6

Click Save Changes.

Host Image Mapping

The Host Image Mapping feature allows you to download, map, unmap, or delete a host image. Download a host image, such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, or VMware from a remote FTP or HTTP server onto the CIMC internal repository, and then map the image onto the virtual drive of a USB controller in the E-Series Server or NCE. After you map the image, set the boot order to make the virtual drive, in which the image is mounted, as the first boot device, and then reboot the server. The host image must have .iso or .img as the file extension.

The Host Image Mapping feature also allows you to download and mount a diagnostics image. The diagnostics image must have .diag as the file extension.

Mapping the Host Image

Before you begin

  • Log in to CIMC as a user with admin privileges.

  • Obtain the host image file from the appropriate third party.


Note

The VMware vSphere Hypervisor requires a customized image. To download the customized image, see Downloading the Customized VMware vSphere Hypervisor Image.


Note

If you start an image update while an update is already in process, both updates will fail.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the work pane, click the Host Image Mapping tab.

Step 3

From the Host Image Mapping page, click Add Image.

The Add New Mapping dialog box opens. Complete the following fields:
Name Description

Server Type drop-down list

The type of remote server on which the image is located. This can be one of the following:

  • FTP

  • FTPS

  • HTTP

  • HTTPS

Note

 

Depending on the remote server that you select, the fields that display change.

Server IP Address field

The IP address of the remote FTP or HTTP server.

File Path field

The path and filename of the remote FTP or HTTP server.

The path and filename can contain up to 80 characters.

  • If you are installing a host image, that image must have .iso or .img as the file extension.

  • If you are installing a diagnostics image, that image must have .diag as the file extension.

Username field

The username of the remote server.

The username can contain 1 to 20 characters.

Note

 

If the username is not configured, enter anonymous for the username and any character(s) for the password.

Password field

The password for the username.

The password can contain 1 to 20 characters.

Note

 

If the username is not configured, enter anonymous for the username and any character(s) for the password.

Step 4

Click Download.

The Host Image Mapping page opens. You can view the status of the image download in the Host Image Mapping Status area. After the image is downloaded and processed successfully, refresh the page. After the page refreshes, the new image displays in the Image Information area.

Step 5

From the Image Information area, select the image to map, and then click Map Selected Image.

The image is mapped and mounted on the virtual drive of a USB controller. The virtual drive can be one of the following:

  • HDD—Hard disk drive

  • FDD—Floppy disk drive

  • CD/DVD—Bootable CD-ROM or DVD drive

Step 6

Set the boot order to make the virtual drive in which the image is mounted as the first boot device.

Tip

 

To determine in which virtual drive the image is mounted, see the Host Image Update Status area in the Host Image Mapping page.

Step 7

Reboot the server.

Step 8

If the image contains an answer file, the operating system or hypervisor installation is automated and the image is installed. Otherwise, the installation wizard is displayed. Follow the wizard steps to install the image.

Step 9

If disk drives are not displayed after you install the operating system or hypervisor, you must install drivers. See the appropriate operating system or hypervisor documentation for instructions on how to install drivers.

What to do next

  • After the installation is complete, reset the virtual media boot order to its original setting.

Unmapping the Host Image

Before you begin

Log in to CIMC as a user with admin privileges.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the work pane, click the Host Image Mapping tab.

Step 3

In the work pane, click the Host Image Mapping tab.

Step 4

Click Unmap Image.

The mapped image is unmounted from the virtual drive of the USB controller.

Deleting the Host Image

Before you begin

Log in to CIMC as a user with admin privileges.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click the Compute menu.

Step 2

In the work pane, click the Host Image Mapping tab.

Step 3

From the Current Mappings Information area, select the image to delete.

Step 4

Click Delete Selected Image.

The image is removed from the SD card.