Connecting System Console - Silicon Graphics Origin 3900 User Manual

1: Operation Procedures

Connecting System Console

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The system console enables you to perform the following activities:
• Monitor your server by reading the server's status and error message information
generated and displayed by the L1 and L2 controllers.
• Enter L1 and L2 controller commands to monitor or change particular server
functions. You can, for example, monitor the speed of fans for a particular brick. See
your SGI L1 and L2 Controller Software User's Guide for descriptions of these
commands.
• Power on or power off individual bricks or all bricks (except for the storage
modules) in your server.
If you connect a console that contains SGIconsole software, you can perform the
functions listed above, manage multiple systems from one console, and have boundary
scan capabilities. Boundary scan capabilities enable an SGI system support engineer
(SSE) to test the interconnections of your server.
To connect a system console, follow these steps:
1. If your server has multiple L2 controllers, connect each L2 controller (via its
Ethernet port) to an Ethernet hub.
2. Connect your console to the Ethernet hub or to the Console port of an L2 controller
as shown in Figure 1-1. The connection of the system console to the Console port
requires a special cable that you can purchase from SGI. This configuration also
requires terminal emulator software (not available from SGI).
Note: You can also use SGIconsole to monitor your server. SGIconsole connects to
multiple L2 controllers via an Ethernet hub. For instructions on how to connect
SGIconsole to your server, see your SGIconsole Hardware Connectivity Guide.
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