Managing Your Remote Console Switch
Once you have installed a new Remote Console Switch, you have the ability to view and configure unit parameters, determine who has access and control rights, view and control currently active video sessions and execute a variety of control functions such as rebooting and upgrading your Remote Console Switch. This is accomplished through the Management Panel (MP). The MP has three tabs: Settings, Status, and Tools.
NOTE: The Dell Remote Console Switch Software can be used to manage Avocent® A1000R and A2000R Remote Console Switches. Therefore, all procedures outlined in this document refer to both Remote Console Switch and Avocent Remote Console Switches. Exceptions are noted where applicable.
To access the MP:
1 Click the Remote Console Switches tab in the Explorer.
2 Double-click a Remote Console Switch from the Unit Selector pane.
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Select a Remote Console Switch from the Unit Selector pane, and then click the Manage Remote Console Switch task button.
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Right-click a Remote Console Switch in the Unit Selector pane. A pop-up menu appears. Select Manage Remote Console Switch.
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Click a Remote Console Switch in the Unit Selector pane and press <Enter>. A password prompt appears.
3 Type your username and password and click OK. The MP dialog box appears.
Figure 4-1. Management Panel Dialog Box
Viewing and Configuring Remote Console Switch Parameters
The Settings tab allows you to display an expandable list of categories covering a wide range of parameters for your Remote Console Switch. When a category is selected from the list, the parameters associated with the category will first be read from the unit, the database or both. You will then be able to modify those parameters and send the changes securely back to the Remote Console Switch.
Changing Global Network and Session Parameters
The Global category allows you to view the product type, serial number, and language setting for the Remote Console Switch. If you select the Network sub-category, you will be able to change the network settings including the IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway and LAN speed. The Network panel also allows you to enable or disable DHCP for connections on which DHCP is supported.
The Sessions sub-category allows you to apply controls to your video sessions.
By enabling the Video session timeout option, you allow the Remote Console Switch to close an inactive video session after a specified number of minutes. The Video session preemption time out option allows you to specify the time (5 - 120 seconds) for which a preemption warning message appears before a video session is preempted. For more information about preemption, see Preemption. If this option is not enabled, preemption occurs without warning.
The Encryption Levels option allows you to specify the type of encryption to be used for video, keyboard, and mouse sessions. You can select multiple methods when a new client connection is requested. The Remote Console Switch negotiates for the highest enabled encryption method.
The Connection Sharing options indicate which sharing options are enabled. Enable Share Mode, Automatic Sharing, Exclusive Connections, and Stealth Connections all appear checked when the particular option is enabled. Automatic Sharing, Exclusive Connections and Stealth Connections are enabled only when Enabled Share Mode is selected. For more information, see Connection Sharing.
The Input Control Timeout option controls the time period allowed for between inputs from an active session before another session gains control. The values range from 1 to 50 tenths of a second and the option is only available if Share Mode is selected.
NOTE: Changes you make to session parameters affect future connection requests only, and not existing connections.
Figure 4-2. Global Sessions Dialog Box - 2161DS-2 Console Switch
NOTE: Preemption timeout, Video Encryption or Connection Sharing settings cannot be configured for Avocent A1000R and A2000R Remote Console Switches.
When you select the Users category for the first time, the MP will retrieve and display a list of usernames and current access levels from the Remote Console Switch. You can add, modify or delete users in this listing. You can assign three access levels: User, Administrator, and Remote Console Switch Administrator. The User access level allows you to assign individual server access rights to a user.
Users can become locked out by the Security Lock-out feature if they try to enter an invalid password five consecutive times. You can configure Security Lock-out settings as well as unlock any user through the Users category.
Operations |
Remote Console Switch Administrator |
Administrator |
User |
---|---|---|---|
All |
Equal and lesser |
No |
|
Configure network & global settings (security mode, time-out, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)) |
Yes |
No |
No |
Reboot |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Administer User Accounts |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Monitor server status |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Target Device Access |
Yes |
Yes |
Assigned by Admin |
NOTE: Preemptions listed in Table 4-1 only apply to Remote Clients. They do not apply to users accessing the server locally.
Figure 4-3. Users Dialog Box
1 Click the Users category in the left column of the MP.
2 Click the Add button on the right side of the window to add a new user. The Add User dialog box appears.
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Select a user and click the Modify button to modify a current user. The Modify User dialog box appears.
Figure 4-4. Add User Dialog Box
3 Type the username and password you wish to assign to the user and then verify the password by typing it in the Verify Password field.
4 Select the appropriate access level you wish for this user from the drop-down list. If you select the User option, the Access Rights button becomes active.
a Click the Access Rights button to select individual servers for that user. The User Access Rights dialog box appears.
Figure 4-5. User Access Rights Dialog Box
b Select a server in the left column for which this user should have access rights. Click Add.
c Select a server in the right column from which you wish to remove the user’s access rights. Click the Remove button.
d Repeat steps a and b until the right column represents the appropriate server access for this user, and then click OK.
5 Click OK to save the settings and return to the main MP window.
1 Select the Users category in the left column in the MP.
2 Select one user from the list and click the Modify button. The Modify User dialog appears.
3 Type the password for that user in the Password box and then repeat the password in the Verify Password box. The password must be between 5 and 16 characters long and contain both alpha and numeric characters of both upper and lower case.
4 Click OK to return to the MP.
5 Click Apply or OK to send the updated password to the appliance.
1 Click the Users category in the left column of the MP and then select the user(s) you wish to delete.
2 Click the Delete button on the right side of the MP Users window. A confirmation window appears.
3 Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
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Click No to exit the window without deleting the user.