Minicom DX System User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Minicom Manuals
  4. Switch
  5. DX System
  6. User manual

Minicom DX System User Manual

Minicom advanced systems user guide switch dx system
Hide thumbs Also See for DX System:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

International HQ
Jerusalem, Israel
Tel: + 972 2 535 9666
minicom@minicom.com
DX System

User Guide

w w w . m i n i c o m . c o m
North American HQ
Linden, NJ, USA
Tel: + 1 908 4862100
info.usa@minicom.com
Technical support -
support@minicom.com
European HQ
Dübendorf, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 44 823 8000
info.europe@minicom.com
5UM20121 V2 6/06

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the DX System and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Related Manuals for Minicom DX System

Summary of Contents for Minicom DX System

  • Page 1: User Guide

    International HQ Jerusalem, Israel Tel: + 972 2 535 9666 minicom@minicom.com DX System User Guide w w w . m i n i c o m . c o m North American HQ Linden, NJ, USA Tel: + 1 908 4862100 info.usa@minicom.com...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    7.6 Connecting servers/devices in a cascaded system ... 23 8. Powering on the system... 23 9. Configuration wizard (non-DX cascaded system)... 23 10. Logging in... 24 11. Configuring the DX system ... 24 11.1 Auto detecting system components... 25 DX SYSTEM Table of Contents...
  • Page 3 11.2.1 Configuring individual input ports... 28 11.3 Cascaded DX Central units... 29 11.4 Cascaded Legacy switches... 32 11.4.1 Adding a Legacy switch ... 33 11.4.2 Editing a Legacy switch type... 35 11.4.3 The Cascade Inputs tab elements ... 35 11.4.4 Configuring the server ports... 37 11.4.5 Deleting a Legacy switch ...
  • Page 4 21.2 Clearing the Log... 65 21.3 Saving the Log ... 65 22. Troubleshooting - Resetting the DX Central ... 65 23. USB / SUN Combo keys... 66 24. Technical specifications... 67 25. Terminal hotkeys ... 68 26. User guide feedback... 69 DX SYSTEM...

  • Page 5: Welcome

    USER GUIDE Welcome Thank you for buying the DX system. This system is produced by Minicom Advanced Systems Limited. This document provides installation and operation instructions for Minicom’s DX system. It is intended for system administrators and network managers, and assumes that readers have a general understanding of networks, hardware and software.

  • Page 6: Introduction

    1. Introduction The DX system from Minicom is a superior solution for centralized KVM & Serial management. The DX system combines the following four major functions: · KVM switching and control · Serial control · Power management · User management The DX unifies the above functions using AIM (Advanced Integrated Management).

  • Page 7: System Components

    1.2 System components · DX Switch 432 (4 users) or 832 (8 users) · DX Users · DX User IP (has it’s own Guide) · X Remote Interface Connection cables (XRICCs) – PS/2, SUN, USB, RS232 · Remote Interface Connection cables (RICC) – PS/2 ·...

  • Page 8: Circuit Overloading

    DX SYSTEM Reduced airflow Install the equipment in a rack in such a way that the amount of airflow required for safe operation is not compromised. Leave a gap of at least 5cm/2” each side of the DX Central unit.

  • Page 9: Dx System Outline

    3. DX system outline Figure 1 illustrates the basic outline of the DX system. The figure shows DX Users and devices connected to a DX Central unit. User 1 MINICOM User Pow er DX User DX 832 Central X-RICC Computer 3.1 The DX Central...

  • Page 10: Dx User Units

    MINICOM The figure below illustrates the rear panel of the DX User unit. POWER 100-250 VAC 50/60 Hz Power connector DX SYSTEM USER Figure 3 DX 832 Central unit rear panel Power User Figure 4 DX User front panel Computer...

  • Page 11: Rack Mounting The Dx Central And User Units

    3.3 Rack mounting the DX central and User units Use the L-shaped brackets and screws provided to mount the DX units on a server rack as illustrated below. SE RVICE USER P OWE R 100- 250 V AC 50 /6 0 Hz SE RIAL 3.4 Rack mounting the XRICCs You can attach the XRICCs to a server rack or computer using the Velcro strips...

  • Page 12: Rack Mounting The Riccs

    Insert screws through bracket and into the back of the RICC 4. Connecting the DX system Connect the DX Users to the DX Central as illustrated in Figure 9 below. To connect the units: 1. Connect a KVM console to the DX User’s Console keyboard monitor and mouse ports.

  • Page 13: Connecting An Optional Local Computer To A Dx User

    4.1 Connecting an optional local computer to a DX User A user can work on the DX system just with a KVM console. There is the option to connect a computer to the DX User unit. A user can then work locally on this computer.

  • Page 14: Connecting A Ricc Or Xricc Ps/2

    DX SYSTEM DX Central USE R To Server ports CAT5 cables Up to 100M / 330ft X-RICC RS232 X-RICC USB Figure 10 DX system connections SERVER ETHERNET X-RICC PS/2 N etServe r tc210 0 SCSI PCI 33Mx32b PCI 33Mx32b PCI 33Mx32b...

  • Page 15: Connecting An Xricc Sun

    RICC / XRICC PS/2 CAT5 cable to DX Central Server port 4.5 Connecting an XRICC SUN Figure 12 illustrates the connections. To connect the XRICC SUN: 1. Connect the Screen connector to the server’s Video card. 2. Connect the Keyboard connector to the server’s Keyboard port. CAT5 cable to DX Central Server port USER GUIDE...

  • Page 16: Connecting An Xricc Usb

    1. Connect the RS232 connector to the server’s RS232 port. 2. For power connect either: A USB cable to the XRICC and the server’s USB port. A Power adapter to the XRICC. DX SYSTEM CAT5 cable to DX Central Server port Figure 13 XRICC USB...

  • Page 17: Connecting The Cat5 Cables

    4.9 Connecting the DX User to an RS232 Terminal When there are XRICC RS232s in the DX system, you can control the RS232 devices through an RS232 terminal connected to the DX User units.

  • Page 18: Connecting The Rs232 Terminal

    Connect the Power management device to the Serial port of the DX Central using the Serial cable provided with the Power management device. Connect the Power management device to each device by following the instructions in the Power management device User Guide. DX SYSTEM Cont r as t Bright CONSOLE...

  • Page 19: Connecting Legacy Kvm Switches

    3. Connect the other end of the CAT5 cable to the XRICC PS/2. The configuration process is explained at the beginning of the DX System Operating Guide. To connect devices to the KVM switch, follow the connection instructions in the User Guide of the KVM switch.

  • Page 20: Connecting With An Ethernet Crossover Cable

    The table below shows the Ethernet RJ 45 Connector pin-out. 7.2 Connecting to a network hub/switch To connect to a network hub/switch: Connect Ethernet Straight cables to the Ethernet ports of the DX Centrals units, as illustrated in Figure 17. DX SYSTEM SERVICE USER SERIAL To Server...

  • Page 21: Configuring The Primary And Slave Units

    SERVICE USE R POWER SERIAL Figure 17 Cascaded DX Central units connected to a hub/switch 7.3 Configuring the primary and slave units After connecting the cascaded DX Centrals you must configure them to be primary or slave (secondary level) units.
  • Page 22 7. Power on the DX User connected to a slave DX Central. The Configuration wizard appears as set out above. 8. Check Cascaded DX configuration and click Configuration box appears. See Figure 19. DX SYSTEM Figure 19 DX Network Configuration Figure 20 Define DX status box . The DX Network...

  • Page 23: Changing The Cascade Status

    The Configuration wizard only appears automatically the first time you connect and switch on a DX Central. When you change the cascade status of the DX system, e.g. by adding or removing an already configured DX Central, you configure the new cascade status in the same way as above, by connecting a DX User to the newly added DX Central.

  • Page 24: Connecting Servers/Devices In A Cascaded System

    DX SYSTEM 7.6 Connecting servers/devices in a cascaded system You can connect servers/devices to any available Server port on any level DX Central. 8. Powering on the system The devices and servers can be powered on at any time. Power on the DX components in the following order: 1.

  • Page 25: Logging In

    From the View menu choose DX System Configuration. The DX System Configuration window appears. See Figure 25. Note! Any change made to the DX system topology will automatically log out all other users from the system. USER GUIDE Figure 23 Login screen...

  • Page 26: Auto Detecting System Components

    11.1 Auto detecting system components The DX system can auto detect DX User units and the RICC / XRICC types of servers / devices connected to a DX Central. Once detected, the ports on the picture of the DX Central unit –...

  • Page 27: General Information About Auto Detect

    You must change this setting for other device types. To change any of the above parameters for a device: 1. Click the devices output port on the picture of the switch. The General tab of the Computer Port Configuration box appears, see Figure 46.

  • Page 28: Applying Changes

    (C) To apply the changes to all ports, click Note! A name given to a connected device will only be given to the device of the port being configured and will not be applied to all. DX SYSTEM Figure 27 RS232 Terminal settings...

  • Page 29: Configuring Individual Input Ports

    Configure the input ports to display the DX User icon. To configure the input ports: 1. On the picture of the switch in the DX System Configuration window, click an input port . The Configuration box appears see Figure 28.

  • Page 30: Cascaded Dx Central Units

    4. Terminal Type – For RS232 devices in the DX system, the DX User can control them via a terminal emulation window. To operate the RS232 devices with the DX built-in terminal software – select Internal. Where a Serial cable connects a computer to the DX User and the emulation software is installed in the computer, or when using an external Terminal –...
  • Page 31 4. General – From the drop-down menu select the lower level DX Central. 5. Input port No: – From the drop-down menu select the lower level User port the upper level Server port is connected to. For example in Figure 30 Server port 1 is connected to User port 1.
  • Page 32 Do the above for each cascaded User port. After step 1 above, you can achieve the same result by doing the following: From the toolbar click Cascade Inputs tab. Figure 34 appears. DX SYSTEM Figure 33 Cascade tab . The DX Central Properties box appears. Click the...

  • Page 33: Cascaded Legacy Switches

    Do the above for each cascaded port. Click OK. 11.4 Cascaded Legacy switches Where you have cascaded Legacy switches in the DX system, you must configure them in the DX System Configuration window. The table below explains the Toolbar buttons used for adding editing and deleting Legacy switches.

  • Page 34: Adding A Legacy Switch

    Users / Servers – Displays the maximum number of users and servers for the device selected. Description – type a description of the device. This will appear in the Description box in the DX System Configuration window when the switch is selected. See Figure 25. Adding a Legacy switch type To add a type of device that does not appear in the Type Drop-down menu: 1.
  • Page 35 2. Type a name for the Legacy switch type (This is not the same as the Name field in Figure 35. This is name of the switch type that will appear in the Type drop- down menu in Figure 35).

  • Page 36: Editing A Legacy Switch Type

    2. Change the number of input/output ports (see Figure 37), check or uncheck Typematic as necessary and click Note! From the DX System Configuration window you can edit a Legacy switch type by selecting it from the list of switches and from the Toolbar pressing 11.4.3 The Cascade Inputs tab elements Configure the cascaded input ports of the Legacy switch.
  • Page 37 Figure 39 Cascade Inputs box Left Port No. A row appears for each input port of the Legacy switch. Name – From the Drop-down list select the DX Central to which the switch is cascaded 1 level up. Right Port No – Select the Server port number of the 1 level up DX Central to which the switch is connected.

  • Page 38: Configuring The Server Ports

    General – Select the cascaded Legacy switch from the Drop-down list. Input Port No – Select the input port number of the Legacy switch that connects to the DX Central. Save changes. 11.4.4 Configuring the server ports Configure the server ports of cascaded Legacy switches. You must give each server an identifying name and select the appropriate XRICC type and keyboard mode.
  • Page 39 · U3 for IBM AIX Hotkey - When configuring the output ports of a Legacy switch you must define the hotkey to access the server. See the switch’s User guide for the correct hotkey. To input the hotkey: 1. Click...

  • Page 40: Deleting A Legacy Switch

    Note! For hotkeys that require a key to be continually pressed see the Typematic paragraph on page 34. 11.4.5 Deleting a Legacy switch To delete a Legacy switch: Select the desired switch from the list in the DX Configuration window. Click . Or click 11.5 Configuring a Power management device When a Power management device is connected to the DX Central Serial port you must configure it in the DX Configuration window.

  • Page 41: Adding A New Power Profile

    USER GUIDE 11.5.1 Adding a new Power profile To add new Power profile: Click . The Add New Power Profile box appears, see Figure 45. The information you need to type should be in the Power device instructions. Figure 45 Add New Power Profile box The Add New Power profile box elements Power Profile Name - Give the profile a name.

  • Page 42: Configuring The Connected Servers

    Power Device – Select the Power device from the drop-down menu. Drop-down menus for the Power switch No and Socket No appear. Power switch No – When there is more than 1 cascaded Power device, type the cascade level of the device that this output port connects to.

  • Page 43: Other Settings To Configure

    USER GUIDE Figure 47 Dual Power devices 3. Save changes. 11.6 Other settings to configure From the Tools menu click Settings, the Settings window appears. See Figure 48. Important! Some of the elements in this window must be configured BEFORE using the DX system.

  • Page 44: Admin (User Name) Settings

    To choose a hotkey select one of the options from the drop-down men. Hotkey to AIM – Once you have logged into the DX system and you are switched to a device you can invoke the DX Management (AIM) screen by pressing Shift, Shift.

  • Page 45: Ip/Cascade Settings

    When related to the Server, the device can be connected to any DX Central Server port, without the need to reconfigure the port. When related to the Port, the DX system will only recognize the device when connected to the original Server port it was connected to. Connecting to any other DX Central Server port requires the new port to be configured.

  • Page 46: Extensions

    These permissions can be altered by an Administrator. All this is explained in more detail below. To create/edit Users and Groups: From the View menu choose Users and Groups. The Users and Groups window appears. See Figure 49. DX SYSTEM...

  • Page 47: Access Rights

    Groups By default there are 3 Groups in the Groups column. Each Group has specific access rights that cannot be altered. The 3 default Groups are: Group Administrators Power Users Users To display the members of a group, select the Group. All group members appear in the Group Members section.

  • Page 48: Toolbar Buttons

    Toolbar buttons. 12.2 Creating Groups An Administrator can create Groups and give them tailor-made access permissions. To create a Group: Press . The Add New Group box appears. See Figure 50. DX SYSTEM Button Function Add User Add Group Delete...

  • Page 49: General Information Tab Elements

    12.2.1 General information tab elements Group name – Edit the Group name here. Description – type a description of the group. Timeout –After this period of inaction a Group member is forced out of the system and must re-login. You can type a different Timeout period. Private connection –...

  • Page 50: Defining The Same Access Rights For All Devices

    An Administrator can create users. A new user can be added to an existing Group or a new Group can be created for the new user. To create a User: Press . The Add New User box appears. See Figure 53. DX SYSTEM Figure 52 Properties box . The...
  • Page 51 USER GUIDE Figure 53 Add New User box User Name – Type a name for the User (case sensitive). This name appears below the User’s icon in the Users and Groups window. Full Name - Type the User’s full name. Description –...

  • Page 52: Editing The User Box

    In the Servers window the Administrator or User can create folders into which devices can be inserted. The User can only view and insert devices that he has rights of access to. The Administrator defines the rights of access – explained above. DX SYSTEM Figure 54 Details view...

  • Page 53: The Servers Window

    13.1 The Servers window From the View menu select Servers/Devices, the Servers window appears. See Figure 55. 13.1.1 Device Icon appearance The table below explains the color-coding of the icons in the Servers window. Icon Grey Blue Blue Green Green * You can select any device even a grey device to e.g.

  • Page 54: Creating A New Folder

    To create a folder: From the Edit menu, choose Add Folder Click . A new folder appears. Type a name for the new folder and press Enter. DX SYSTEM Function Connect to server/devices Connect to local PC Power on (Blue)

  • Page 55: Saving Changes

    13.3 Saving changes To save any changes made in any window: From the File menu click Save changes. Click 13.4 Deleting and renaming folders To delete a folder: 1. Highlight the desired folder. 2. From the Edit menu choose Delete Folder or press Delete. The folder deletes. To rename a folder: 1.

  • Page 56: Accessing Devices

    DX SYSTEM From the View menu choose Icons, List or Details. Figure 56 shows the Details view. In List view, view up to 100 devices without the need for scrolling. In Detailed view, you see the device name, Direct hotkey (discussed on page 43), port number, XRICC type etc.

  • Page 57: Power On/Off, Reboot

    USER GUIDE 13.8 Power on/off, reboot The power options are available to Administrators and to Users with Power management rights. To perform these power functions: 1. Select the desired device. 2. Select the desired function from the Toolbar buttons or the Action menu. 14.

  • Page 58: Adjusting The Picture Quality

    3. Use the keyboard Up, Down and Left, Right Arrow keys to adjust the picture. 4. When the picture is satisfactory, press Esc. The Servers window reappears. 5. Apply the changes to the tuned computer or to all the servers connected to the device. DX SYSTEM arrows to change the order of the servers...

  • Page 59: Connect - Private

    - explained on page 43. 19. Updating the DX Central To update the firmware, the DX system must be connected and switched on. You update the DX Central firmware using the DX Central Update program which is located on the Minicom Flash USB key. To obtain the latest firmware, go to www.minicom.com...

  • Page 60: Running The Dx Central Update

    IP address and click OK. The DX Central Update Utility box appears see Figure 60. 3. Click Next. The Update Options screen appears. See Figure 61. DX SYSTEM . There are 2 Update options: Figure 59 DX Central IP address...

  • Page 61: Dx Central Update

    4. Check Update DX and click Next. 5. Locate the V2 upgrade file and click Open. The firmware upgrades. Once the DX Central firmware is upgraded to V2, all future updates are done using the DX Central Update program. 19.2.2 DX Central Update All updates for DX Central with V2 firmware are done through DX Central Update.

  • Page 62: Updating The Dx User And Xriccs/Riccs

    From the DX AIM you can update the firmware for the: · DX User unit · XRICCs – PS/2, SUN and USB · RICC PS/2 To obtain the latest firmware for your system go to the Support section. DX SYSTEM Figure 64 DXC update utility options www.minicom.com and look in...
  • Page 63 Warning! Never switch off any User unit or computer connected to the system during the updating process. 1. Download the latest firmware to your hard disk and unzip it to the Minicom Flash USB key. 2. From the DX GUI, select Tools/Update. The Update window appears see Figure 3.

  • Page 64: Ddc Buttons

    To view the log: Select View/Activity Log. The Log window appears see Figure 67. DX SYSTEM Figure 66 Open File box . The firmware updates.

  • Page 65: Configuring Log Traps

    USER GUIDE Figure 67 Log window 21.1 Configuring Log Traps By default event logging is disabled. An Administrator can configure which log traps to send to the SNMP Manager as follows: 1. Click . The Log Settings window appears see Figure 68. Figure 68 Log Settings 2.

  • Page 66: Clearing The Log

    3. Save the file. The Log is saved in Tab – delimited format. You can read it using any ASCII text editor 22. Troubleshooting - Resetting the DX Central If you need to reset the DX Central, press the Reset button on the rear panel. The XRICCs are unaffected by this reset. DX SYSTEM...

  • Page 67: Usb / Sun Combo Keys

    23. USB / SUN Combo keys The connected PS/2 keyboard does not have a special SUN keypad to perform special functions in the SUN Operating System environment. So when a XRICC USB or SUN is connected to a SUN computer, the XRICC emulates these SUN keys using a set of key combinations called Combo keys.

  • Page 68: Technical Specifications

    Rack Mountable Dimensions 43.2x27x4cm / 17X11X1.6” Power supply 100 – 250 VAC 50/60 Hz input rating DX SYSTEM System Novell, LINUX, Windows, UNIX SUN, MAC and other major operating systems 1600 X1200 @75Hz 200m/660ft CAT5, CAT6, CAT7 0° to 40°C/32° to 104°F -40°C to 40°C/-40°F to 104°F...

  • Page 69: Terminal Hotkeys

    RICCS Server to DX Central Distance Cables/Connectors Rack mountable Power supply Dimensions 24x91x41mm / 0.94x3.58x1.61” 25. Terminal hotkeys USER GUIDE RICC PS/2 XRICC for DX PS/2 10m/33ft System - RJ45 Video – HDD15 K/M - MiniDin6 From Keyboard 26x91x45mm / 1.05x3.58x1.77” Hotkey Ctrl + A, F Send break...

  • Page 70: User Guide Feedback

    DX SYSTEM 26. User guide feedback Your feedback is very important to help us improve our documentation. Please email any comments to: ug.comments@minicom.com Please include the following information: Guide name, part number and version number (as appears on the front cover).
  • Page 71 Germany Kiel Tel: + 49 431 668 7933 info.germany@minicom.com USER GUIDE Regional Offices France Vincennes Tel: + 33 1 49 57 00 00 info.france@minicom.com www.minicom.com Italy Rome Tel: + 39 06 8209 7902 info.italy@minicom.com...
  • Page 72 DX SYSTEM...

This manual is also suitable for:

Dx userDx 432Dx 832

Table of Contents