Cyclades AlterPath ACS Manual

AlterPath™ACS
Installation, Administration, and User’s
Guide
Software Version 2.6.0
Cyclades Corporation
3541 Gateway Boulevard
Fremont, CA 94538 USA
1.888.CYCLADES (292.5233)
1.510.771.6100
1.510.771.6200 (fax)
http://www.cyclades.com
Release Date: November 2005
Part Number: PAC0379

© 2005 Cyclades Corporation, all rights reserved
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
The following are registered or registration-pending trademarks of Cyclades Corporation in
the United States and other countries: Cyclades and AlterPath.
All trademarks, trade names, logos and service marks referenced herein, even when not
specifically marked as such, belong to their respective companies and are not to be considered
unprotected by law.

Contents
Before You Begin ......................................................1
Audience .............................................................................................. 1
Document Organization ....................................................................... 2
Related Documents .............................................................................. 4
Typographic and Other Conventions ................................................... 4
Additional Resources ........................................................................... 5
Cyclades Technical Support ............................................................. 5
Cyclades Technical Training ............................................................ 5
Cyclades firmware Upgrades ........................................................... 5
Chapter 1: Introduction.............................................7
Overview .............................................................................................. 8
Product Models and Configurations ..................................................... 8
Connectors on the AlterPath ACS ...................................................... 10
Accessing ACS and Connected Devices ............................................ 10
Web Manager ..................................................................................... 11
Prerequisites for Using the Web Manager ......................................... 11
Types of Users .................................................................................... 12
Security .............................................................................................. 12
Authentication .................................................................................... 14
VPN .................................................................................................... 16
Packet Filtering on ACS ..................................................................... 16
Structure of IP Filtering .................................................................. 16
Chain ........................................................................................... 17

Contents
iv
Rule ............................................................................................. 17
Add Rule and Edit Rule Options .................................................... 18
SNMP ................................................................................................. 23
Notifications, Alarms, and Data Buffering ........................................ 24
Syslog Servers ................................................................................ 24
Prerequisites for Logging to Syslog Servers ............................... 24
Administering Users of Connected Devices ...................................... 25
Planning Access to Connected Devices ......................................... 25
Configuring Access to Connected Devices .................................... 25
ACS and Power Management ............................................................ 26
Configuring Power Management ................................................... 27
Configuring Ports for Power Management by Authorized Users 28
Configuring Ports for Power Management Using the CLI ......... 28
Options for Managing Power ......................................................... 28
Power Management Through the Web Manager ........................ 28
Power Management from the ACS Command Line ................... 29
Chapter 2: Installation and Configuration.............31
Shipping Box Contents ...................................................................... 32
Important Pre-installation Requirements ........................................... 38
Java Plug-In Requirement for Serial Port Access .......................... 38
Basic Installation Procedures ............................................................. 39
Mounting the ACS .......................................................................... 40
Making an Ethernet Connection ..................................................... 41
Connecting Servers and Other Devices to ACS ............................. 41
Making a Direct Connection to Configure the Network Parameters.
......................................................................................................... 42
Powering on the ACS and the Connected Devices ........................ 43
Configuring the Network Parameters ............................................. 43
Performing Basic Network Configuration Using the wiz Command
...................................................................................................... 44
Selecting A Security Profile Using the Web Manager ............... 48
Adding Users and Configuring Ports Using the Web Manager ..... 49
Enabling Ports and Assigning Users. .......................................... 49
Other Methods of Accessing the Web Manager ................................ 49

AlterPath ACS Installation, Administration, and User’s Guide v
Installing PCMCIA Cards .................................................................. 51
Connecting AlterPath PM IPDUs ...................................................... 52
Chapter 3: Web Manager for Regular Users..........55
Using the Web Manager ..................................................................... 55
Features of Regular User Forms ........................................................ 57
Connect .............................................................................................. 58
Connect to ACS .............................................................................. 59
Connect to Serial Ports ................................................................... 60
Port Access Requirements .......................................................... 60
Connection Protocols for Serial Ports ............................................ 60
TCP Port Numbers for Serial Ports ............................................. 61
IPDU Power Mgmt. ........................................................................... 62
Outlets Manager ............................................................................. 63
View IPDUs Info ............................................................................ 65
IPDU Multi-Outlet Ctrl ...................................................................... 66
Security .............................................................................................. 69
Chapter 4: Web Manager for Administrators ........71
Cyclades Web Manager ..................................................................... 72
Prerequisites for Using the Web Manager ...................................... 72
Common Tasks for ACS Administrators ........................................... 73
Common Features of Administrator Forms ....................................... 74
Buttons and ACS Information ........................................................ 74
Logging Into the Web Manager ......................................................... 76
Overview of Administrative Modes ................................................... 79
Wizard Mode .................................................................................. 80
Expert Mode ................................................................................... 80
Chapter 5: Configuring ACS in Wizard Mode........83
Step 1: Security Profile ................................................................... 83
Pre-defined Security Profiles ...................................................... 83
Default Security Profile .............................................................. 84

Contents
vi
Custom Security Profile .............................................................. 84
Serial Port Settings and Security Profiles ................................... 87
Step 2: Network Settings ................................................................ 91
Step 3: Port Profile ......................................................................... 94
Step 4: Access ................................................................................. 97
Step 5: Data Buffering .................................................................. 102
Step 6: System Log ....................................................................... 107
Chapter 6: Configuring the ACS in Expert Mode 111
Overview of Menus and Forms ........................................................ 111
Mapping of the Expert Mode Menus and Forms ............................. 113
Description of Forms in Expert Mode ............................................. 114
Chapter 7: Applications Menu & Forms...............121
Applications ..................................................................................... 122
Connect ......................................................................................... 122
IPDU Power Mgmt. ...................................................................... 126
Outlets Manager ........................................................................ 127
View IPDUs Info ...................................................................... 130
Users Manager .......................................................................... 133
Configuration ............................................................................ 135
Software Upgrade [for the AlterPath PM] ................................ 137
IPDU Multi-Outlet Ctrl ................................................................ 139
Prerequisites for Multi-Outlet Control ...................................... 141
Power Management Icons ......................................................... 141
IPMI Power Management ............................................................. 145
Terminal Profile Menu ................................................................. 152
Chapter 8: Network Menu & Forms......................157
Network ............................................................................................ 158
Host Settings ................................................................................. 158
Syslog ........................................................................................... 164
PCMCIA Management ................................................................. 165

AlterPath ACS Installation, Administration, and User’s Guide vii
Configuring a Modem PCMCIA Card ...................................... 168
Configuring an ISDN PCMCIA Card ....................................... 171
Configuring a GSM PCMCIA Card ......................................... 173
Configuring an Ethernet PCMCIA Card ................................... 176
Configuring a PCMCIA Compact Flash Card or a PCMCIA Hard
Disk Drive ................................................................................. 177
Configuring a Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card ........................... 178
Configuring a CDMA PCMCIA Card ...................................... 180
Ejecting a PCMCIA Card ......................................................... 183
VPN Connections ......................................................................... 183
SNMP ........................................................................................... 188
Services ......................................................................................... 193
Firewall Configuration ................................................................. 194
Host Table .................................................................................... 210
Static Routes ................................................................................. 211
Chapter 9: Security Menu & Forms......................217
Users and Groups ......................................................................... 218
Adding a User ........................................................................... 219
Adding a Group ......................................................................... 220
Active Ports Sessions ................................................................... 222
Authentication .............................................................................. 224
Configuring Authentication for ACS Logins ............................ 225
Configuring Authentication Servers for Logins to ACS
and Connected Devices ............................................................. 226
Group Authorization on TACACS+ ......................................... 230
Security Profiles ........................................................................... 236
Pre-defined Security Profiles ................................................... 237
Default Security Profile ............................................................ 237
Custom Security Profile ............................................................ 237
Serial Port Settings and Security Profiles ................................. 240
Security Certificates ..................................................................... 246
Certificate for HTTP Security ................................................... 246
User Configured Digital Certificate .......................................... 246
X.509 Certificate on SSH ......................................................... 246

Contents
viii
Chapter 10: Ports Menu & Forms.........................247
Physical Ports ............................................................................... 249
General ...................................................................................... 251
Connection Profiles ................................................................... 252
Console Access Server (CAS) Profile Connection Protocols ... 253
Terminal Server (TS) Profile Connection Protocols ................. 253
Bidirectional Telnet Protocol .................................................... 255
Modem and Power Management Connection Protocols ........... 256
Access ....................................................................................... 269
Authentication Methods and Fallback Mechanism ................... 271
Data Buffering .......................................................................... 274
Multi User ................................................................................. 279
Power Management .................................................................. 282
Other ......................................................................................... 287
Virtual Ports .................................................................................. 292
Ports Status ................................................................................... 298
Ports Statistics .............................................................................. 299
Chapter 11: Administration Menu & Forms.........301
System Information ...................................................................... 302
Notifications ................................................................................. 305
Email Notifications Entry ......................................................... 307
Pager Notifications Entry .......................................................... 310
SNMP Trap Notifications Entry ............................................... 312
Serial Ports Alarm Notification ................................................ 314
Time/Date ..................................................................................... 315
Setting Time and Date with NTP .............................................. 316
Boot Configuration ....................................................................... 317
Backup Configuration .................................................................. 320
Upgrade Firmware ........................................................................ 323
Reboot ........................................................................................... 326
Online Help .................................................................................. 327
Appendix A: Technical Specifications.................329

AlterPath ACS Installation, Administration, and User’s Guide ix
Appendix B: Safety, Regulatory, and Compliance In-
formation ................................................................331
Safety Guidelines for Rack-Mounting the ACS ............................... 331
Safety Precautions for Operating the AlterPath ACS ...................... 332
NEBS Certification .......................................................................... 334
Working inside the AlterPath ACS .................................................. 334
Replacing the Battery ....................................................................... 335
FCC Warning Statement .................................................................. 335
Notice About FCC Compliance for all AlterPath ACS Models ...... 336
Canadian DOC Notice ...................................................................... 336
Aviso de Precaución S-Mark Argentina .......................................... 336
Trabajar dentro del AlterPath ACS .................................................. 337
Batería .............................................................................................. 338
Glossary .................................................................339
Index .......................................................................357

Contents
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