Avocent CCM Installation and maintenance instructions

Installer/User Guide
For Technical Support:
Avocent Corporation
4991 Corporate Drive
Huntsville, Alabama 35805-6201 USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
590-434-501E
Avocent International Ltd.
Avocent House, Shannon Free Zone
Shannon, County Clare, Ireland
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Avocent Asia Pacific
Singapore Branch Office
100 Tras Street, #15-01
Amara Corporate Tower
Singapore 079027
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Avocent Germany
Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße 2-4
D-33803 Steinhagen
Germany
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.avocent.com/support
CCM
Avocent Canada
20 Mural Street, Unit 5
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4B 1K3 Canada
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

USA Notification
Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant
to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to
cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Canadian Notification
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out
in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux
appareils numériques de la classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le
Ministère des Communications du Canada.
Japanese Approvals
European Union
Warning: This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment, this product may cause radio interference in
which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.
Taiwanese Notification

CCM
Installer/User Guide
Avocent, the Avocent logo, The Power of Being There, DSView and
AVWorks are registered trademarks of Avocent Corporation or its
affiliates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
© 2006 Avocent Corporation. All rights reserved. 590-434-501E
avocent.book Page i Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

Instructions
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
avocent.book Page ii Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

iii
Table of Contents
List of Figures .................................................................................................................ix
List of Tables ................................................................................................................... xi
Chapter 1: Product Overview.......................................................................................... 1
Features and Benefits ........................................................................................................................ 1
Safety Precautions ............................................................................................................................. 4
Rack mount safety considerations .............................................................................................. 4
Chapter 2: Installation and Configuration ..................................................................... 5
Hardware Overview........................................................................................................................... 5
CCM850 and 1650 appliance hardware ....................................................................................5
CCM485x appliance hardware................................................................................................... 6
Installing the CCM Appliance ........................................................................................................... 7
Configuring the CCM Appliance ....................................................................................................... 8
Configuring the network address settings .................................................................................. 8
Initial CCM appliance login.....................................................................................................10
Rebooting and Reinitializing the CCM Appliance........................................................................... 11
Rebooting.................................................................................................................................. 11
Reinitializing............................................................................................................................. 11
Configuring the Appliance for AV Operation or DS Operation ...................................................... 12
Chapter 3: Operations ................................................................................................... 13
Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 13
Configuring Global Settings ............................................................................................................ 13
Updating the Appliance Clock......................................................................................................... 14
Configuring Port Settings ................................................................................................................ 15
Physical port settings................................................................................................................ 15
Port access................................................................................................................................ 17
Managing groups...................................................................................................................... 18
Virtual port settings .................................................................................................................. 19
Displaying port settings............................................................................................................ 20
Connecting to Serial Devices........................................................................................................... 21
Connecting to devices using Telnet .......................................................................................... 21
TABLE OF CONTENTS
avocent.book Page iii Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

iv CCM Installer/User Guide
Connecting to devices from the console port............................................................................ 22
Configuring and using dial-in connections .............................................................................. 23
Using PPP ................................................................................................................................ 23
Using SSH................................................................................................................................. 24
Enabling plain text Telnet and SSH connections...................................................................... 27
Session sharing and preemption...............................................................................................27
CLI Mode ......................................................................................................................................... 30
Ending Device Sessions ................................................................................................................... 31
Session time-out........................................................................................................................ 31
Managing User Accounts................................................................................................................. 32
Access levels and rights............................................................................................................ 33
Using Authentication Methods......................................................................................................... 34
Console port session and connection authentication ............................................................... 36
Authentication summary ........................................................................................................... 38
Using security lock-out............................................................................................................. 40
Managing Port History .................................................................................................................... 40
Using the local history buffer ................................................................................................... 41
NFS history files ....................................................................................................................... 43
Managing the CCM Appliance Using SNMP .................................................................................. 46
Chapter 4: Using CCM Appliance Commands ............................................................ 51
Accessing the CLI ............................................................................................................................ 51
Entering Commands ........................................................................................................................ 51
When commands take effect...................................................................................................... 52
Understanding Conventions ............................................................................................................ 52
Command syntax....................................................................................................................... 52
Syntax conventions.................................................................................................................... 54
Command Summary......................................................................................................................... 55
Chapter 5: CCM Appliance Commands ....................................................................... 61
Connect Command........................................................................................................................... 61
Disconnect Command ...................................................................................................................... 62
Group Commands ............................................................................................................................ 63
Group Add command................................................................................................................ 63
Group Delete command............................................................................................................64
avocent.book Page iv Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

Table of Contents v
Group Set command ................................................................................................................. 64
Help Command ................................................................................................................................ 65
IPMI Command................................................................................................................................ 65
NFS Command................................................................................................................................. 66
NTP Command................................................................................................................................. 67
Port Commands ............................................................................................................................... 68
Port Add command ................................................................................................................... 69
Port Alert Add command ..........................................................................................................70
Port Alert Copy command ........................................................................................................ 71
Port Alert Delete command ...................................................................................................... 71
Port Break command ................................................................................................................ 72
Port Delete command ............................................................................................................... 72
Port History command.............................................................................................................. 73
Port Logout command .............................................................................................................. 73
Port NFS command................................................................................................................... 73
Port Refresh command ............................................................................................................. 75
Port Set command..................................................................................................................... 75
Port Set In/Out command .........................................................................................................79
Quit Command................................................................................................................................. 80
Resume Command............................................................................................................................ 80
Server Commands ............................................................................................................................ 81
Server CLI command ................................................................................................................ 81
Server Flash command ............................................................................................................. 83
Server Init command................................................................................................................. 84
Server LDAP Auth command.................................................................................................... 85
Server LDAP Primary|Secondary command ............................................................................ 85
Server LDAP Query command ................................................................................................. 86
Server LDAP Search command ................................................................................................87
Server Ping command............................................................................................................... 87
Server PPP command............................................................................................................... 88
Server RADIUS command ........................................................................................................ 89
Server Reboot command ...........................................................................................................90
Server Security command .........................................................................................................90
Server Set command ................................................................................................................. 92
Server Share command ............................................................................................................. 92
avocent.book Page v Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

vi CCM Installer/User Guide
Server SNMP command............................................................................................................ 93
Server SNMP Community command ........................................................................................ 93
Server SNMP Manager command ............................................................................................ 94
Server SNMP Trap command ................................................................................................... 94
Server SNMP Trap Destination command ............................................................................... 95
Server SSH command ............................................................................................................... 96
Show Commands.............................................................................................................................. 97
Show Group command..............................................................................................................97
Show NFS command................................................................................................................. 98
Show NTP command................................................................................................................. 98
Show Port command................................................................................................................. 99
Show Port In/Out command.................................................................................................... 103
Show Server command............................................................................................................ 104
Show Server CLI command .................................................................................................... 105
Show Server LDAP command................................................................................................. 105
Show Server PPP command ................................................................................................... 106
Show Server RADIUS command............................................................................................. 106
Show Server Security command.............................................................................................. 106
Show Server SNMP command ................................................................................................ 107
Show User command .............................................................................................................. 107
SPC Command............................................................................................................................... 109
SPC Socket Command ................................................................................................................... 110
User Commands............................................................................................................................. 111
User Add command................................................................................................................. 112
User Delete command.............................................................................................................113
User Logout command............................................................................................................ 113
User Set command .................................................................................................................. 114
User Unlock command ........................................................................................................... 116
Appendices................................................................................................................... 117
Appendix A: Technical Specifications ........................................................................................... 117
Appendix B: Device Cabling.......................................................................................................... 119
Appendix C: Supported Traps........................................................................................................ 125
Appendix D: NFS Error Codes and Port Status ............................................................................ 131
Appendix E: Using the BMU ......................................................................................................... 138
avocent.book Page vi Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

Table of Contents vii
Appendix F: Ports Used................................................................................................................. 147
Appendix G: Technical Support..................................................................................................... 148
Index.............................................................................................................................. 149
avocent.book Page vii Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

viii CCM Installer/User Guide
avocent.book Page viii Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

ix
List of Figures
Figure 2.1: CCM1650 Appliance Front Panel .................................................................................. 5
Figure 2.2: CCM1650 Appliance Back Panel ................................................................................... 6
Figure 2.3: CCM485x Appliance Front Panel ..................................................................................6
Figure 2.4: CCM485x Appliance Back Panel ................................................................................... 7
Figure B.1: CAT 5 and CAT 6 Cable Adaptor Pin Assignments ................................................... 121
Figure B.2: Reversing Cable Adaptor Pin Assignments................................................................ 123
Figure B.3: 8-wire RJ-45 Reversing Cable ................................................................................... 124
LIST OF FIGURES
avocent.book Page ix Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

xCCM Installer/User Guide
avocent.book Page x Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

xi
List of Tables
Table 2.1: CCM485x Appliance LAN LED Values............................................................................ 7
Table 3.1: Appliance Feature Reference ......................................................................................... 14
Table 3.2: Default Physical Port Settings ......................................................................................15
Table 3.3: Default Virtual Port Settings.......................................................................................... 19
Table 3.4: SSH Authentication Methods.......................................................................................... 25
Table 3.5: Access Rights .................................................................................................................. 33
Table 3.6: Port History Mode Commands....................................................................................... 41
Table 3.7: Substitution Strings in NFS Filename Specification ...................................................... 44
Table 4.1: Line Editing Operations for VT100 Compatible Devices .............................................. 51
Table 4.2: Line Editing Operations for ASCII TTY Devices ........................................................... 52
Table 4.3: Command Syntax Types in Example Command ............................................................. 52
Table 4.4: CCM Appliance Command Summary.............................................................................55
Table 5.1: Connect Command Parameters...................................................................................... 61
Table 5.2: Group Command Summary ...........................................................................................63
Table 5.3: Group Add Command Parameters .................................................................................63
Table 5.4: Group Delete Command Parameter............................................................................... 64
Table 5.5: Group Set Command Parameters................................................................................... 64
Table 5.6: Help Command Parameter............................................................................................. 65
Table 5.7: IPMI Command Parameter ............................................................................................ 66
Table 5.8: NFS Command Parameters............................................................................................ 66
Table 5.9: NTP Command Parameters............................................................................................67
Table 5.10: Port Command Summary ............................................................................................ 68
Table 5.11: Port Add Command Parameters ..................................................................................69
Table 5.12: Port Alert Add Command Parameters ......................................................................... 71
Table 5.13: Port Alert Copy Command Parameters ....................................................................... 71
Table 5.14: Port Alert Delete Command Parameter....................................................................... 72
LIST OF TABLES
avocent.book Page xi Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

xii CCM Installer/User Guide
Table 5.15: Port Delete Command Parameter................................................................................72
Table 5.16: Port Logout Command Parameter ............................................................................... 73
Table 5.17: Port NFS Command Parameters.................................................................................. 74
Table 5.18: Port Refresh Command Parameter .............................................................................. 75
Table 5.19: Port Set Command Parameters .................................................................................... 76
Table 5.20: Port Set In/Out Command Parameters ........................................................................ 80
Table 5.21: Server Command Summary .......................................................................................... 81
Table 5.22: Server CLI Command Parameters ...............................................................................82
Table 5.23: Server Flash Command Parameters ............................................................................ 84
Table 5.24: Server Init Command Parameter ................................................................................. 84
Table 5.25: Server LDAP Auth Command Parameter .................................................................... 85
Table 5.26: Server LDAP Primary|Secondary Command Parameters ........................................... 85
Table 5.27: Server LDAP Query Command Parameters ................................................................ 86
Table 5.28: Server LDAP Search Command Parameters ............................................................... 87
Table 5.29: Ping Command Parameter........................................................................................... 88
Table 5.30: Server PPP Command Parameters .............................................................................. 88
Table 5.31: Server RADIUS Command Parameters ....................................................................... 89
Table 5.32: Server Security Command Parameters ........................................................................ 91
Table 5.33: Server Set Command Parameters................................................................................. 92
Table 5.34: Server Share Command Parameter..............................................................................92
Table 5.35: Server SNMP Command Parameter............................................................................. 93
Table 5.36: Server SNMP Community Command Parameters........................................................ 93
Table 5.37: Server SNMP Manager Command Parameters ........................................................... 94
Table 5.38: Server SNMP Trap Command Parameter....................................................................95
Table 5.39: Server SNMP Trap Destination Command Parameters............................................... 96
Table 5.40: Server SSH Command Parameters............................................................................... 96
Table 5.41: Show Command Summary............................................................................................ 97
Table 5.42: Show Group Command Parameter .............................................................................. 97
avocent.book Page xii Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

List of Tables xiii
Table 5.43: Show NFS Command Display Fields ........................................................................... 98
Table 5.44: Show NTP Command Display Fields ........................................................................... 99
Table 5.45: Show Port Command Parameter.................................................................................. 99
Table 5.46: Show Port Command Display Fields for a Physical Port with TD=Console ............ 100
Table 5.47: Show Port Command Display Fields for a Virtual Port ............................................ 101
Table 5.48: Show Port Command Display Fields for TD=SPC.................................................... 103
Table 5.49: Show Server Command Display Fields ...................................................................... 104
Table 5.50: Show Server CLI Command Display Fields............................................................... 105
Table 5.51: Show Server Security Command Display Fields ........................................................ 106
Table 5.52: Show Server SNMP Command Display Fields........................................................... 107
Table 5.53: Show User Command Parameter ............................................................................... 108
Table 5.54: Show User Command Display Fields......................................................................... 108
Table 5.55: Show User All Command Display Fields ................................................................... 109
Table 5.56: SPC Command Parameters........................................................................................110
Table 5.57: SPC Socket Command Parameters ............................................................................ 110
Table 5.58: User Command Summary........................................................................................... 111
Table 5.59: User Add Command Parameters................................................................................112
Table 5.60: User Delete Command Parameter .............................................................................113
Table 5.61: User Logout Command Parameter ............................................................................114
Table 5.62: User Set Command Parameters ................................................................................. 114
Table 5.63: User Unlock Command Parameter ............................................................................ 116
Table A.1: CCM Appliance Technical Specifications ................................................................... 117
Table B.1: Port Pin Assignments................................................................................................... 119
Table B.2: Adaptors for Use with CAT 5 and CAT 6 Cable.......................................................... 119
Table B.3: Reversing Adaptors and Cables .................................................................................. 122
Table C.1: CCM Appliance Enterprise Traps ............................................................................... 125
Table D.1: NFS Error Codes......................................................................................................... 131
Table D.2: NFS Port Status Values ...............................................................................................137
Table E.1: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Command Summary ............................................................ 138
avocent.book Page xiii Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

List of Tables xiv
Table E.2: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Alert Command Parameters................................................ 140
Table E.3: BMU Help Command Parameter................................................................................. 140
Table E.4: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Identify Command Parameters............................................ 140
Table E.5: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Pet Command Parameters .................................................. 141
Table E.6: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Power Command Parameters ............................................. 142
Table E.7: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Sel Command Parameters ................................................... 143
Table E.8: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Sensor Command Parameters ............................................. 143
Table E.9: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Sol Command Parameters................................................... 144
Table E.10: IPMI Shortcut and BMU Sysinfo Command Parameters .......................................... 145
Table E.11: IPMI Shortcut and BMU User Command Parameters .............................................. 146
Table F.1: Ports Used by CCM Appliance .................................................................................... 147
avocent.book Page xiv Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

1
CHAPTER
1Product Overview
Features and Benefits
Overview
The CCM console management appliance provides non-blocked access and control for devices
(also called target devices) such as serial-managed Linux (or other UNIX) servers, routers, power
management devices and firewalls. This includes Avocent SPC power control devices that provide
advanced power management.
• The CCM850 appliance has 8 serial ports. A single 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port provides net-
work connectivity on each appliance. Two CCM850 appliances may be mounted in 1U of ver-
tical space in a standard 19 inch rack.
• The CCM1650 appliance has 16 serial ports. A single 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port provides net-
work connectivity on each appliance. Two CCM1650 appliances may be mounted in 1U of
vertical space in a standard 19 inch rack.
• The CCM485x appliance has 48 serial ports. A single 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet port pro-
vides network connectivity on each CCM appliance. One CCM485x appliance may be
mounted in 1U of vertical space in a standard 19 inch rack.
Each appliance has a console port that uses a Command Line Interface (CLI) for configuration,
management and optionally, connection to other ports.
In addition to the physical serial ports, you may configure and use up to 16 virtual serial ports on
each CCM appliance. Once a virtual port is established, it functions in a similar manner as a
physical port, except there is no need for physical cabling. A virtual port is accessed through the
Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) on a target device. The CCM appliance acts as an
Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) management console that allows users to
retrieve BMC-based status, statistics, logs and tracking information. If a target device experiences a
system failure, CCM appliance users may issue BMC Management Utility (BMU) commands to
virtual serial ports to determine the cause of the failure and reboot the device if necessary, even
when the device’s operating system and keyboard are not available.
AV or DS operation
The CCM appliance supports two separate Flash application images: one for AV operation and one
for DS operation.
avocent.book Page 1 Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

2CCM Installer/User Guide
AV operation - CCM appliances are Flash loaded at the factory with an image that supports
standalone operation and the Avocent AVWorks®cross-platform management application. The
AVWorks software is bundled with the CCM appliance and may be used to simplify installation,
configuration and subsequent session launching. When using this image, user authentication
requires user accounts to be maintained within the CCM appliance or within external authentication
servers which it can access.
DS operation - CCM appliances may be Flash loaded with an image that supports standalone
operation and the DSView®3 management software. When using this image, user authentication
includes user accounts maintained within the DSView 3 software server or within external
authentication servers which it can access. The CCM may be configured with other authentication
methods, if desired.
See Configuring the Appliance for AV Operation or DS Operation on page 12 for
more information.
NOTE: Hereafter, the phrase AV operation or DS operation will be used to identify features and commands that
are supported only when the CCM appliance is Flashed with an application image that supports that operation.
Whether the appliance is Flashed for AV or DS operation, you may perform most of the operations
that are described in this manual. This manual describes how to manage a CCM appliance by
entering commands using the CLI.
• The AVWorks Installer/User Guide describes how to manage a CCM appliance using the
AVWorks software graphic interface.
• The DSView Installer/User Guide describes how to manage a CCM appliance using the
DSView 3 software graphic interface.
NOTE: DSView 2 software is not supported on the CCM850, 1650 or 485x appliances. References to DSView
software and DS operation always refer to DSView 3 management software.
Serial device access options for physical ports
The CCM appliance and its attached devices are accessible over in-band, LAN-based connections
using Telnet and SSH (Secure Shell) client software. The CCM appliance and its attached devices
are also accessible over out-of-band, serial-based connections using the CCM appliance’s console
port. Out-of-band connectivity includes: terminal access (using supported terminal types such as
VT100), terminal emulation programs (such as HyperTerminal) and IP-based clients such as SSH
and Telnet. The console port offers modem handling, including a PPP (Point to Point Protocol)
communications interface that will accept a third party application that connects to the
CCM appliance.
• The AVWorks software offers a built-in enhanced Telnet client and an SSH client application
• The DSView 3 software offers a built-in enhanced Telnet/SSH client applet
• Third party Telnet clients and third party SSH clients may be used during standalone operation
• When the CCM appliance is Flashed for AV operation, third party Telnet and third party SSH
clients may be configured and used from within the AVWorks software
avocent.book Page 2 Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

Chapter 1: Product Overview 3
When session sharing is enabled, the CCM appliance supports multiple concurrent sessions.
Preemption criteria is based upon configured user access levels (for AV operation) or configured
preemption levels (for DS operation).
Device access using virtual ports
Target devices with onboard BMCs may be configured through their Basic Input/Out System
(BIOS) to redirect serial console data from the local COM port to the serial interface on the BMC.
The BMC is further configurable for transferring this serial information to remote clients using the
Remote Management Control Protocol (RMCP). Transfer of RMCP messages between the BMC
and the RMCP client is called Serial over LAN (SoL). The CCM appliance contains an RMCP
client that supports a proprietary version of the IPMI 1.5 SoL protocol.
The CCM appliance serves as a gateway, allowing RMCP serial data to securely traverse non-
secure networks to remote clients over SSH sessions. Administrators may use its BMU interface to
monitor target device status, obtain information or reboot the device. See Using the BMU on
page 138.
The features that are available for physical ports, such as share mode, offline buffering of history
data and port alerts are also supported for virtual ports.
One SoL connection per BMC is allowed; up to four IPMI connections may be established to
each BMC.
User authentication and data security
The CCM user database supports up to 64 user accounts, which include usernames, passwords and/
or keys, plus specifications of access rights/levels to CCM appliance ports and commands. User
definitions may be changed at any time.
You may choose to have user access authenticated using the following methods.
• Locally at the CCM user database
• At a RADIUS (Remote Access Dial-In User Service) server
• At an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server
• Through the DSView 3 software internal authentication service or external authentication
servers configured in the DSView 3 software (for DS operation)
Data security may be enhanced using industry-standard SSH encryption.
Extensive command set
The CCM appliance offers a wide range of commands that allow administrators to easily configure,
control and display information about the CCM appliance operating environment, including its
ports, user accounts and active sessions. The serial CLI is always available on the unit’s console
port, and may be easily accessed during a session with an attached serial device.
The user interface also offers descriptive error message data and built-in command help
information. On-board Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) support allows administrators to
upload new functionality to CCM appliances in the field.
avocent.book Page 3 Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM

4CCM Installer/User Guide
Port history
Each CCM physical and virtual port has a buffer that holds the most recent 64K bytes of online and
offline serial data. A separate history command mode lets you navigate within a port’s current
history file and conduct tailored searches.
You may also configure the appliance to write serial port data to a file on an NFS (Network File
System) server, thus preventing data loss due to overflow of the history buffer.
Safety Precautions
To avoid potential device problems, if the building has 3-phase AC power, ensure that a computer
and its monitor (if used) are on the same phase. For best results, they should be on the same circuit.
To avoid potentially fatal shock hazard and possible damage to equipment, please observe the
following precautions:
• Do not use a 2-wire extension cord in any product configuration containing this appliance.
• Test AC outlets at the computer and monitor (if used) for proper polarity and grounding.
• Use only with grounded outlets at both the computer and monitor. When using a backup Unin-
terruptible Power Supply (UPS), power the computer, the monitor and the CCM appliance off
the supply.
NOTE: The AC inlet is the main disconnect.
Rack mount safety considerations
• Elevated Ambient Temperature: If installed in a closed rack assembly, the operation tempera-
ture of the rack environment may be greater than room ambient. Use care not to exceed the
rated maximum ambient temperature of the unit.
• Reduced Airflow: Installation of the equipment in a rack should be such that the amount of air-
flow required for safe operation of the equipment is not compromised.
• Mechanical Loading: Mounting of the equipment in the rack should be such that a hazardous
condition is not achieved due to uneven mechanical loading.
• Circuit Overloading: Consideration should be given to the connection of the equipment to the
supply circuit and the effect that overloading of circuits might have on overcurrent protection
and supply wiring. Consider equipment nameplate ratings for maximum current.
• Reliable Earthing: Reliable earthing of rack mounted equipment should be maintained. Pay
particular attention to supply connections other than direct connections to the branch circuit
(for example, use of power strips).
avocent.book Page 4 Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:33 PM