Abstract; Introduction - HP 16-port SCS Installation Instructions Manual

Abstract

This paper describes the best methods to properly deploy an HP IP consoling solution to maximize
server management at minimum cost. Keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) consoles, console switches, and
adapters can be combined to work together to address such data center problems as space
constraints, management of heterogeneous systems, remote access needs, unpleasant working
environments, and cable clutter.

Introduction

Managing an enterprise system can become an important challenge as the number of servers
increases. Hewlett-Packard offers a variety of solutions for managing a server system through one or
more consoles. HP components (Figure 1) provide the building blocks for constructing a management
system of any size up to a multi-tiered infrastructure involving thousands of servers:
x HP TFT7600 Rackmount Keyboard and Monitor (RKM)
x HP IP Console Switch with Virtual Media (2x1x16 and 4x1x16 models available)
x HP Server Console Switch with Virtual Media
x Interface adapters for keyboards/video monitors/mice (KVMs) and CAT5e cabling
Figure 1.
HP KVM and serial consoling components
HP IP Console Switch
HP TFT7600 RKM
with Virtual Media and
IP Console Viewer
HP Server Console Switch
with Virtual Media
PS/2, USB, Virtual Media
Interface Adapters
CAT5e cable
HP solutions offer various methods of server access, including local/remote access with KVM
components (PS/2, USB, video) and local/remote access with network or serial devices using
terminal emulation. From a single console, system administrators can perform a variety of server
management functions including shutdown/power up, status, and firmware/software management.
Virtual media capability allows administrators to map an external drive or image to an attached
server to facilitate software installations or upgrades. These solutions are backwards-compatible with
earlier HP consoling components, with certain limitations that are discussed later in this document.