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Conference csc32::consolemanager

Title:POLYCENTER Console Manager
Notice:Kits, Scans, Docs on CSC32:: as PCM$KITS:,PCM$DOCS:, PCM$SCANS:
Moderator:CSC32::BUTTERWORTH
Created:Thu Aug 06 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1541
Total number of notes:6564

104.0. "CXY08 async card supported on Open VMS?" by KETJE::STEUKERS () Tue Oct 26 1993 18:57

Hi,




I found the following problem on VCS. Since VCS will have to migrate to CM once,
I ask the question here already about the CXY08 support.




In the SSA of VCS 1.4 I read the asynch interface CXY08 is a supported line
card. However it works fine as long as You have a running VCS system.
The VCS system is a MV4000-300 with 4 VCS clients connected using the BREAK
facility for HALT, another 3 have CTRL-P .

When the MV4000-300 gets shut and finally switched off this causes a HALT to he
generated on the "BREAK signal" defined systems. I did not test any further on
the CTRL-P defined ones, because the customer was already unhappy enough!
Two of the VCS client systems are HSC's wich do not allow to choose between
BREAK or CTRL-P .

I read the same kind of problem with the older type of terminal servers somhere
in the VCS conference. If an equipment not really supports 100% a VCS (CM?)
implementation, then please don't mentions it in the list. 

STEUKERS Erik.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
104.1CSC32::BUTTERWORTHThu Nov 04 1993 20:5115
    Erik,
      This problem has been around since the original version of VCS
    running on microvax II platforms. The DHV11 async controller does the
    same thing. It is not a question of support but rather of awareness
    that this condition exists. The same thing will happen if you have a
    VTxxx being used for the console terminal and you power-cycle the VT
    with the break enable switch set to enable as VT terminals generate a
    break on power up. The difference in the VCS system is the potential is
    there to halt several systems at once since they are all connected to
    the VCS engine. Your customer can purchase A-B switches or some such so
    that they can failover to local terminals if they have a need to
    shut-down or power off the VCS.
    
    Regs,
      Dan
104.2KETJE::STEUKERSTue Nov 09 1993 16:1420
	Dan,

	Thanks for the clear explanation.
	Maybe it is worth to mention this in the SSA document so that customers
	are aware of the issue.

	In my case the customer is not happy with the CXY08 solution.
	In the presales phase we showed him the diffrence between the CXY08
	solution (outband control) and the terminal server solution (inband
	control), not knowing the CXY08 BREAK behaviour.

	They chose the CXY08 solution, because of the security (no console
	traffic on their ethernet. But they also want to leave the VAX
	consoles permantly enabled to allow shutdown of their cluster
	and a VCS script that generates a STABACKIT of their systemdisk.
	During the weekend they want to do this from home, while there is
	no one there to enable the consoles. We'll have to switch to the 
	terminalserver solution.

	Erik.
104.3CSC32::BUTTERWORTHTue Nov 23 1993 19:1215
    Erik,
      Believe it or not the same thing could happen with some of the
    terminal servers. I know that DS200's and DS300's can cause a halt to
    occurr on Microvaxen if the server is power cycled. The signaling that
    causes this is somewhat more complicated. Mike raspuzzi, the LAT driver
    engineer, did some digging and posted a real good explantion about the
    servers. Personally I would have the customer install a small
    UPS for the VCS. This is the best solution as it is desireable to have
    the VCS system survive brownouts so that it can record all the console
    dialog from systems attempting a warm restart or cold start after
    powerfail. 
    
    
    Regs,
      Dan
104.4What's an UPS ?BACHUS::WILLEMSGThu Dec 09 1993 09:439
    
    
    Hi Dan,
    
    What do you mean with UPS ?
    
    Rgds,
    
    Geert
104.5(U)ninteruptable (P)ower (S)upplyOPG::PHILIPAnd through the square window...Thu Dec 09 1993 14:3210
Geert,

  Dan means an Uninteruptable Power Supply, basically a set of batteries 
which give you 15-20 minutes of power so that you can survive brief power 
loss, or alternatively enough to give you time to orderly shut down your 
system.

Cheers,
Phil