Managing Remote Presence

Managing the Virtual KVM

KVM Console

The KVM console is an interface accessible from the CIMC that emulates a direct keyboard, video, and mouse connection to the server. The KVM console allows you to connect to the server from a remote location. Instead of using CD/DVD 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. You can map any of the following to a virtual drive:

  • CD/DVD on your computer

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

  • USB flash drive on your computer

You can use the KVM console to install an operating system or hypervisor on the server and to do the following:

  • Access the BIOS setup menu by pressing F2 during bootup.

  • Access the BIOS Boot menu by pressing F6 during bootup.

  • Access the CIMC Configuration Utility by pressing F8 during bootup.

Configuring the Virtual KVM

Before you begin

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

Procedure

  Command or Action Purpose

Step 1

Server# scope kvm

Enters KVM command mode.

Step 2

Server /kvm # set enabled {yes | no}

Enables or disables the virtual KVM.

Step 3

Server /kvm # set kvm-port port

Specifies the port used for KVM communications.

Step 4

Server /kvm # set local-video {yes | no}

If local video is yes, the KVM session is also displayed on any monitor attached to the server.

Step 5

Server /kvm # set max-sessions sessions

Specifies the maximum number of concurrent KVM sessions allowed. The value of the sessions argument is an integer between 1 and 4.

Step 6

Server /kvm # commit

Commits the transaction to the system configuration.

Step 7

Server /kvm # show [detail]

(Optional) Displays the virtual KVM configuration.

Example

This example configures the virtual KVM and displays the configuration:

Server# scope kvm
Server /kvm # set enabled yes
Server /kvm *# set kvm-port 2068
Server /kvm *# set max-sessions 4
Server /kvm *# set local-video yes
Server /kvm *# commit
Server /kvm # show detail
KVM Settings:
    Max Sessions: 4
    Local Video: yes
    Active Sessions: 0
    Enabled: yes
    KVM Port: 2068

Server /kvm #

What to do next

Launch the virtual KVM from the GUI.

Enabling the Virtual KVM

Before you begin

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

Procedure

  Command or Action Purpose

Step 1

Server# scope kvm

Enters KVM command mode.

Step 2

Server /kvm # set enabled yes

Enables the virtual KVM.

Step 3

Server /kvm # commit

Commits the transaction to the system configuration.

Step 4

Server /kvm # show [detail]

(Optional) Displays the virtual KVM configuration.

Example

This example enables the virtual KVM:

Server# scope kvm
Server /kvm # set enabled yes
Server /kvm *# commit
Server /kvm # show
Local Video        Active Sessions    Enabled       VM Port 
------------------ ---------------- --------------- -------  
yes                 0                 yes           2068     

Server /kvm #

Disabling the Virtual KVM

Before you begin

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

Procedure

  Command or Action Purpose

Step 1

Server# scope kvm

Enters KVM command mode.

Step 2

Server /kvm # set enabled no

Disables the virtual KVM.

Note

 

Disabling the virtual KVM disables access to the virtual media feature, but does not detach the virtual media devices if virtual media is enabled.

Step 3

Server /kvm # commit

Commits the transaction to the system configuration.

Step 4

Server /kvm # show [detail]

(Optional) Displays the virtual KVM configuration.

Example

This example disables the virtual KVM:

Server# scope kvm
Server /kvm # set enabled no
Server /kvm *# commit
Server /kvm # show
Local Video      Active Sessions   Enabled   KVM Port 
---------------- ---------------   -------   -------- 
yes              0                 no        2068     

Server /kvm #

Managing Serial over LAN

Serial over LAN

Serial over LAN (SoL) is a mechanism that enables the input and output of the serial port of a managed system tobe redirected via an SSH session over IP. SoL provides a means of reaching the host console via the CIMC.

Guidelines and Restrictions for Serial over LAN

For redirection to SoL, the server console must have the following configuration:

  • Console redirection to serial port A

  • No flow control

  • Baud rate the same as configured for SoL

  • VT-100 terminal type

  • Legacy OS redirection disabled

The SoL session displays line-oriented information, such as boot messages, and character-oriented screen menus, such as BIOS setup menus. If the server boots an operating system or application with a bitmap-oriented display, such as Windows, the SoL session does not display. If the server boots a command-line-oriented operating system (OS), such as Linux, you may need to perform additional configuration of the OS in order to properly display in an SoL session.

In the SoL session, your keystrokes are transmitted to the console except for the function key F2. To send an F2 to the console, press the Escape key, then press 2.

Configuring Serial Over LAN

Before you begin

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

Procedure

  Command or Action Purpose

Step 1

Server # scope sol

Enters SoL command mode.

Step 2

Server /sol # set enabled {yes | no}

Enables or disables SoL on the server.

Step 3

Server /sol # set baud-rate {9600 | 19200 | 38400 | 57600 | 115200}

Sets the serial baud rate the system uses for SoL communication.

Note

 

The baud rate must match the baud rate configured in the server serial console.

Step 4

Server /sol # commit

Commits the transaction to the system configuration.

Step 5

Server /sol # show [detail]

(Optional) Displays the SoL settings.

Example

This example configures SoL:

Server# scope sol
Server /sol # set enabled yes
Server /sol *# set baud-rate 115200
Server /sol *# commit
Server /sol # show
Enabled     Baud Rate(bps)  	Com Port 	SOL SSH Port
-------     --------------- 	-------- 	-------------
yes         115200          	com0     	2400

Server /sol #

Launching Serial over LAN

Procedure

Command or Action Purpose

Server# connect host

Opens an SoL connection to the redirected server console port. You can enter this command in any command mode.

What to do next

Press the Ctrl and X keys to disconnect from SoL and return to the CLI session.


Note

When you enable SoL, the output from the serial port is redirected; therefore, when you try to session into the host from Cisco IOS CLI, you will not see any output.