Conference csc32::consolemanager

45.0. "configuration questions/concerns" by TROOA::GREENALL () Wed Dec 09 1992 04:00

	I have spend the last few days reviewing what I could find about about
Polycentre console manager, and have a few questions and concerns that someone
might be able to address.  First off though, here is the configuration I'm 
looking at.

	We currently have in place monitoring of vax consoles in a datacentre
using VCS.  This is the usual installation of vcs, using 3 vms4000's with dual
ethernet controlers to isolate the consoles from the general lan.  This setup
is working quite well for us.  We are considering using CM because of the 32
console limit in VCS, and we could free up alot of hardware being used for VCS
by putting in one decsystem instead. One other thing to note is that we are
monitoring other systems out on the general lan, therefore VCS is using lat
connections out both ethernet controlers.  The machines out on the general lan
are systems which do not need the security of the hidden segment behind the VCS
machines. (ie. workstations)

	The idea then, is to replace these VCS machines with a DECsystem, and
retain much of the same funcationality.

	Problem one occured to me, because I believe that LAT is not supported
under 4.3 using 2 ethernet controllers.  Therefore, we would not be able to
monitor consoles out both ethernet controlers .  ( Can someone verify this for
me ?)

	It then occured to me that we might be able to get around this problem,
as the terminal servers in the hidden segment are DS300s capable of supporting
TELNET.  We could then use lat onto one ethernet controler, and TELNET onto the
other.  This would work, but we would not be able to send BREAKS to any system
hooked up by TELNET.  This is a severe restriction because these are going to
be "lights out" datacentres.  In its current form, telnet is not an option.


	Am I analyzing this problem correctly, and if so, can anyone offer a
solution to the above problem?  We really want to use CM, but this problem
really has me stumped.  Is their security on telnet that lat doesn't have that
would make the security behind a VCS hidden ethernet segment moot?
 

	Its kinda important that we get an answer to this one fast, as the
opertunity to get the hardware to convert to CM has unexpectantly shown up, but
I must get this issue solved before ordering.

Thanks

Richard

    

Richard,
	thanks for the interest. You have correctlty stated the problem. 
I am happy to say there is an answer on it's way. In the early stages of 
this project we contacted the DECserver people about the TELNET Break
restriction and I am happy to say they have taken the feedback on board
and are putting the functionality in the next release for the DS700 and
DS90TL. I am due to ghet the FT kit this week ( 9th Decmeber ) so we can
validate our TELNET break code. The version of the DS700/90TL software
should be shipping in the same timeframe as the customer release of 
Console Manager.

Cheers Simon.....

    
    Thanks.. but I'll get shot if I now go and tell my manager that we will
    now have to replace all our DS300s with DS700s.  Any chance of the
    DS300s gaining this functionality as well?
    

This will not be done as the DS300 did not have the memory space to fit 
any extra functionality, hence it will not be in the DS300. 

Cheers simon....

    
    Are their any plans to get lat functionality out two ethernet ports
    then?  if not then I'm really going to take a bath on this one )-:
    
    

>>    Are their any plans to get lat functionality out two ethernet ports
>>    then?  if not then I'm really going to take a bath on this one )-:
    
  Well, I guess this is really a question you should be asking the
  ULTRIX/LAT folks, you may want to try this same question in the
  NOTED::ULTRIX conference.

Cheers,
Phil