CH A P T E R 7 Console Port Use and Troubleshooting

 

Use of the Console Port

Purpose of Console Port

If you lose contact with the switch and the Recovery Manager in Intel

 

Device View or Local Management over the LAN cannot contact it,

 

then the following is possible via the Console port on the front of the

 

switch.

Local Management

During normal operation (the switch is running and the Status LED is

 

green) the Console port will give access to a menu, identical to the

 

one accessible via a telnet connection to the switch. The menu allows

 

configuration of basic parameters, extensive monitoring, flash opera-

 

tions, reset of the switch etc.

Maintenance Mode

If the switch is failing for some reason (System LED goes red), and

 

cannot start correctly after a reset, this may be caused by either hard-

 

ware failure, corruption of the software, or corruption of the switch

 

configuration. To allow recovery from such a situation when the Re-

 

covery Manager of Intel Device View cannot be applied, the mainte-

 

nance mode is provided. In the following, various problems are

 

described as well as the way they are solved using maintenance mode.

 

In the next section it is explained how to start and use the maintenance

 

mode.

 

Note Loading software to the switch in Maintenance Mode

 

should only be done as a last resort, the reason being that

 

the software and configuration are already resident in the

 

flash memory is overwritten and lost.

Switch Software

The software for the switch (including a default configuration) re-

 

sides in the switch’s flash memory. A backup of the software is pro-

 

vided on the CD delivered with the switch, and the newest software

 

versions may be downloaded via the Internet. The software files may

 

be used for restoring or upgrading the switch software.

Restoring Software

The switch software may be restored/downloaded from a TFTP serv-

 

er, if the current software in flash memory has been corrupted. The

 

TFTP and BOOTP commands may both be used to accomplish this.

 

For the TFTP command an external TFTP server with the software

 

must be present on the network. For the BOOTP command a BOOTP/

 

TFTP server (also often referred to as a boot server) must be present.

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Intel 520T manual Use of the Console Port
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520T specifications

The Intel 520T is a well-regarded member of Intel's Xeon processor family, designed primarily for entry-level servers and workstations. Built on the 32nm manufacturing process, the 520T is based on the Nehalem microarchitecture, which has paved the way for improved performance and efficiency in data processing tasks.

One of the standout features of the Intel 520T is its energy efficiency. With a thermal design power (TDP) of just 35 watts, it provides an excellent balance between performance and power consumption. This characteristic makes it particularly suitable for environments where energy costs are a significant concern, such as in data centers or small business server applications.

Equipped with four physical cores and hyper-threading technology, the 520T allows for eight threads of execution, enabling it to handle multi-threaded workloads effectively. It operates at a base clock speed of 2.2 GHz and can achieve turbo boost frequencies up to 2.5 GHz under optimal conditions, ensuring that it provides the necessary performance for demanding applications.

The processor supports Intel's trusted execution technology and virtualization technology, maximizing both security and performance in virtualized environments. This capability allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a physical server, making it an excellent fit for businesses looking to optimize their assets through virtualization.

The Intel 520T also features Intel's QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) technology, which provides a high-speed connection between the processor and other components, such as memory and storage. This feature helps minimize latency and maximizes bandwidth, enhancing overall system responsiveness.

In terms of memory support, the processor can handle up to 32 GB of DDR3 RAM, providing ample capacity for demanding applications. The 520T also supports ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, which is vital for mission-critical applications that require data integrity.

Security enhancements are another noteworthy aspect of the Intel 520T. With built-in security technologies, including hardware-based random number generation, the processor helps safeguard sensitive data and contributes to more secure computing environments.

Overall, the Intel 520T stands out as a robust option for users seeking an efficient server-grade processor capable of delivering strong performance while maintaining a low power profile. Its array of features, technologies, and characteristics make it a reliable choice for various computing needs.
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