Tiering Multiple Console Switches; Figure 2.4: Console Switch Configuration With A Tiered Switch - IBM 09N4290 User Manual

2. Locate the port set labeled A on the back of the console switch. Connect these peripheral
devices to their respective ports.
3. Repeat these steps for the local port set labeled B (2x16 only).
4. Bundle and label the cables for easy identification.

Tiering Multiple Console Switches

You can tier multiple console switches to enable one or two users to connect to up to 256 servers.
In a tiered system, each ARI port on the main console switch will connect to the Analog Console
Interface (ACI) port on each tiered console switch. Each tiered switch can then be connected to up
to 8 servers on the 1x8 console switch and up to 16 servers on the 2x16 console switch. The
example in Figure 2.4 shows one console switch tiered under the main switch, enabling the
connection of up to 15 primary servers and 16 secondary servers. In this configuration, you could
tier 16 console switches under the main switch, enabling the connection of up to 256 servers. Only
one level of tiering is supported in this type of configuration, which means that you cannot tier
additional earlier-model switches or another console switch. In this configuration, the tiered local
port On-screen Configuration and Activity Reporting (OSCAR) interface is disabled when the
main console switch is tiered below another console switch.
Local User A
Tiered (secondary)
Console Switch

Figure 2.4: Console Switch Configuration with a Tiered Switch

Local User B
(2x16 only)
Console Switch
ACI Port
ARI Ports
Primary Servers
Chapter 2: Installation 13