Frequently Asked Questions

1x8 and 2x16 Console Switches

Q.What computer platforms do the IBM 1x8 or 2x16 Console Switches support?

A.The switch cables available with the console switch support PS/2 and USB server environments. Using the On-Screen Configuration and Activity Reporting (OSCAR®) graphical user interface in conjunction with these cables enables you to switch easily across platforms.

Q.What kind of security features are available on IBM 1x8 or 2x16 Console Switch?

A.The OSCAR interface enables you to protect the system with a screen saver password. After a user-defined time, the screen saver mode engages, and access is prohibited until the appropriate password is entered to reactivate the system.

Q.What video resolutions does the IBM 1x8 or 2x16 Console Switch support?

A.The console switch provides optimal resolutions for analog VGA, SVGA, and XGA video. You can achieve resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 with a 3-m (9.8-ft) cable. See the Console Switch Installation and user guide for a more detailed list of support video resolutions and refresh rates.

Q.How many servers can I connect to an IBM Console Switch?

A.The 1x8 console switch supports up to 8 directly attached servers and the 2x16 console switch supports up to 16 directly attached servers. Each model can conveniently scale to support additional servers. You can expand the system by tiering with console switches and legacy-model console switches. This extra tier of units enables you to attach up to 256 servers in one system.

Q.What is the ACI port used for?

A.The Analog Console Interface (ACI) port on each console switch is used to tier multiple switches together.

Detail: 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 legacy switches or another console switch. In this configuration, the tiered local port OSCAR interface is disabled when the main console switch is tiered below another console switch.

Q. What will I receive in the box with each Console Switch?

A. You will receive:

•Console switch

•Power cord

•Rack mounting hardware (includes rack mounting brackets)

•Documentation CD

•Quick Installation Guide

•1U filler panel

Q.Will I need any additional items in order to use my Console Switch?

A.Yes, you will need one IBM 3-meter Console Switch Cable (PS/2 or USB) per attached server.

Q.What legacy model switches with the Console Switch support?

A.The Console Switch will support the NetBAY™ 1x4 Console Switch (09N4290) and the NetBAY 2x8 Console Switch (09N4291).

Q.How do I update the firmware in the Console Switch?

A.You can upgrade the firmware of the console switch by using a special update utility. This utility automatically configures the port communications settings to enable direct downloading from a connected server through the serial port of the console switch. For more detail on firmware upgrades see Appendix A of the Console Switch Installation and users Guide.

Last updated October 2005