Cyclades AlterPath KVM 16 User manual

AlterPath KVM
Manual
A reference guide for users and systems administrators
of Cyclades AlterPath KVM
Product Version 1.1.0
Document Revision 3
This document contains proprietary information of Cyclades and is not to be disclosed
or used except in accordance with applicable contracts or agreements.
©Cyclades Corporation, 2004

We believe the information in this manual is accurate and reliable. However, we assume no
responsibility, financial or otherwise, for any consequences of the use of this product or manual.
This manual is published by Cyclades Corporation, which reserves the right to make improvements
or changes in the products described in this manual as well as to revise this publication at any time
and without notice to any person of such revision or change. All brand and product names
mentioned in this publication are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Cyclades AlterPath KVM, AlterPath KVM Terminator, and AlterPath KVM RP are registered
trademarks of Cyclades Corporation.
Microsoft, Windows 95, 98, XP, ME, NT, and 2K are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
UNIX is a trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
For the latest manual revisions, please refer to Cyclades website on:
http://www.cyclades.com/support/downloads.php
All rights reserved. This document may not, in whole or part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced,
translated, or converted to any electronic or machine-readable form without the prior written
consent of Cyclades Corporation, 41829 Albrae Street, Fremont, CA 94538, USA.
Telephone [phone]. Fax [phone]. www.cyclades.com.

Table of Contents
AlterPath KVM Manual I
Before You Begin
Audience i
Document Organization i
Typographical Conventions ii
Naming Conventions ii
Symbols iii
Chapter 1: Introduction
Connectivity and Capacity 1-1
Product Components 1-2
KVM Terminator 1-3
Overview of AlterPath KVM 1-3
KVM Product Features 1-4
Cat-5-Based Cabling 1-4
Server-Based Authentication 1-4
Local User Authentication 1-5
User Access Lists Per Port 1-5
Cascading Support with Centralized
Port Management 1-5
Flexibility and Scalability 1-5
On-Screen Display Capability 1-5
Mouse Support 1-5
Multi-User 1-6
Fan Monitoring 1-6
Event Logging Capabilities 1-6
The Linux Advantage 1-6
Rack Space Convenience 1-6
Setup Diagram 1-7

Table of Contents
II AlterPath KVM Manual
Chapter 2: KVM Installation
Product Installation Checklist 2-1
Port Connections 2-3
Rack Mounting the KVM 2-3
Installing AlterPath KVM 2-4
Booting Messages 2-6
Cascading AlterPath KVM 2-7
Connecting a Secondary KVM
to a Primary KVM 2-8
Mouse Settings 2-8
Windows XP / Windows 2003 2-8
Windows 2000 / ME 2-9
Windows 95 / 98 / NT 2-9
Linux with Graphical Desktop 2-9
Safety Considerations When Rack Mounting 2-10
Activity LEDs on the KVM Ports 2-11
LED Functions 2-11
LED Status Definitions 2-12
Chapter 3: KVM OSD Configuration
OSD and Web Configuration 3-1
Configuring the KVM through the OSD 3-2
Basic Navigation Keys 3-2
Default Key Sequences 3-2
KVM User Interface Overview 3-4
Logging In 3-5
OSD Guidelines 3-5
Saving Your Configuration 3-5
KVM Main Menu 3-6
Configuration Menu 3-7
General Configuration: Windows Summary 3-8
Authentication Type 3-8
Syslog Facility 3-9
Escape Sequence 3-10

Table of Contents
AlterPath KVM Manual III
Sun Keyboard 3-10
Network Configuration 3-11
DHCP 3-11
IP Address 3-11
Netmask 3-12
Gateway 3-12
DNS Server 3-13
Domain 3-13
Hostname 3-14
Date/Time 3-14
Enabling the NTP Server 3-15
User Station Configuration 3-17
Idle Timeout 3-17
Screen Saver Time 3-18
Cycle Time 3-18
Keyboard Type 3-19
Power Management 3-20
Mouse/Keyboard Sync 3-21
Video Configuration 3-21
Switch Next 3-22
Switch Previous 3-22
Port Info 3-23
KVM Ports 3-23
Selecting a KVM Port to Configure 3-23
Activating a Port 3-24
Server Name 3-25
Power Outlet 3-26
Configuring a Server Connected to a Slave 3-26
Users and Groups 3-27
Configuring Users 3-28
Adding a User 3-28
Changing the User, Admin, or
Root Password 3-30
Deleting a User 3-32

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IV AlterPath KVM Manual
Local Groups 3-33
Adding a Group 3-33
Adding a User to a Group 3-35
Deleting a User from a Group 3-36
Deleting a Group 3-38
User Access Lists Menu 3-39
Generic User 3-39
Adding a User to the User Access List 3-40
Edit User/Group 3-42
Deleting a User from the User Access List 3-44
Cascade Devices 3-45
Cascade Devices Menu 3-45
Adding a Secondary Device 3-45
Syslog 3-48
Save/Load Config 3-49
Saving Your Configuration 3-49
Loading Your Configuration 3-50
Saving your Configuration to
an FTP Server 3-51
Loading Configuration from an FTP Server 3-53
System Info Menu 3-55
System Info Window 3-56
Reboot 3-57
Chapter 4: KVM Web Configuration
Overview 4-1
Types of Users 4-2
Root User 4-2
Admin User 4-2
Generic User 4-2
Changing the Password 4-3
Hierarchy of Permissions 4-3

Table of Contents
AlterPath KVM Manual V
Logging In 4-4
Direct Access to a Port 4-5
KVM Web Management Interface 4-6
Wizard Mode 4-6
Expert Mode 4-7
Button Functions 4-8
Saving Your Configuration 4-8
Configuring in Wizard Mode 4-9
Step 1: Network Settings 4-9
Step 2: Access 4-11
Step 3: System Log 4-14
Configuring in Expert Mode 4-15
Table of Menu and Forms 4-16
Access 4-18
Power Management 4-18
Power Management > Outlets Manager 4-19
Power Management > View IPDUs Info 4-21
Power Management > Users Manager 4-22
Power Management > Configuration 4-24
Power Management > Software Upgrade 4-25
Configuration 4-26
KVM 4-26
Default Key Sequences 4-27
Configuring the TCP Viewer Ports Address 4-31
Devices 4-32
Users & Groups 4-37
Security 4-41
Network 4-42
Network > Host Settings 4-43
Network > Syslog 4-45
Network > Services 4-46
Network > IP Filtering 4-47
Network > VPN 4-55

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VI AlterPath KVM Manual
Network > SNMP 4-59
Network > Host Table 4-63
Network > Static Routes 4-64
AUX Port 4-66
System 4-68
System > Date/Time 4-68
System > Boot 4-69
Information 4-71
General 4-71
Port Status 4-74
Management 4-74
Backup Configuration 4-75
Firmware Update 4-76
Microcode Update 4-77
Microcode Reset 4-78
Active Sessions 4-79
Reboot 4-80
Chapter 5: KVM Operation
Basic Navigation Keys 5-1
Default Key Sequences 5-2
Changing the Root Password 5-3
Logging In 5-4
Connecting to a Server 5-5
Using the Search Box 5-6
Successful / Unsuccessful Connection 5-6
Cycling Between Servers 5-7
Cycle by Server 5-7
Cycle by Key Sequence 5-8
Remote Operation 5-9
Operating through the Remote Unit (RP) 5-9
Finishing your Session 5-10
Method 1: Exiting through the Main Menu 5-10
Method 2: Exiting by using the

Table of Contents
AlterPath KVM Manual VII
escape sequence 5-10
Method 3: Exiting by Idle Timeout 5-11
OSD Screen Saver 5-11
Operating through the Remote Unit (RP) 5-11
Adjusting Screen Brightness and Contrast 5-12
Automatic (Video) Control Adjustment 5-12
Manual (Brightness/Contrast) Control 5-13
Sharing Server Connection 5-13
Synchronizing Your Keyboard and Mouse 5-15
Establishing a Power Control Session 5-16
Logging Events 5-16
KVM Web Operation 5-17
Connecting to a Server 5-17
Power Management 5-18
Access > Power management >
Outlets Manager 5-18
Appendix A: Technical Specifications
Appendix B: KVM Remote Authentication
Glossary

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VIII AlterPath KVM Manual
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Before You Begin
AlterPath KVM Manual i
Welcome to the AlterPath KVM Manual! This manual is designed to help you
install, configure, and operate your AlterPath KVM switch.
For simplicity, the document also refers to the Alterpath KVM unit as KVM.
Audience
This manual is intended for System administrators and regular users of the
AlterPath KVM. At a minimum, the regular user must understand the basics
of using a graphical user interface such as Microsoft Windows.
Document Organization
The document is organized as follows:
1: Introduction Defines and explains the overall product
features and uses of the KVM.
2: KVM Installation Explains the procedure for installing and
setting up the KVM.
3: KVM OSD Configuration Explains the procedures for configuring the
KVM switch, its devices, interfaces,
connections, and users using the on-screen
display (OSD).
4: KVM Web Configuration Explains the procedures for configuring the
KVM switch, its devices, interfaces,
connections, and users using the web
management interface.
5: KVM Operation Presents the procedures for connecting to a
port and other operations related to using the
web user interface.
Appendix A: Technical Specifications
Appendix B KVM Remote Authentication

Before You Begin
ii AlterPath KVM Manual
Glossary This is a glossary of terms and acronyms
used in the manual.
Typographical Conventions
Screen Labels Words that appears on the screen are typed in
boldface.
Examples: The Configuration window; the
Password field.
Hypertext Links With the exception of headings and the Table of
Contents (which are already linked), all under-
lined words are hypertext links.
Screen Levels Screen levels are indicated by the “greater than”
symbol (>), starting from parent to child to
grandchild and so forth.
Example: Main Menu > Configure > User
Configuration
Important words Certain words are italicized for emphasis.
Naming Conventions
Forms The user input screens of the web management
interface is referred to as forms.
Window The KVM online-screen display (OSD) uses for
its graphical user interface (GUI) similarly sized
windows designed to provide users a means to
enter commands to the system.
Window Names Some windows do not have titles or unique titles.
While a name used to refer to a window may not
appear on the window itself, the assigned name
are designed to describe the purpose of the
window, and to better distinguish every window.

Before You Begin
AlterPath KVM Manual iii
KVM Short name for the AlterPath KVM.
Select To select is the same as to click your mouse.
Symbols
The manual uses three symbols to indicate the following:
This icon indicates a reference to another section, chapter, or docu-
ment.
This icon indicates a note or comment.
This icon indicates a warning.

Before You Begin
iv AlterPath KVM Manual
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Chapter 1
Introduction
AlterPath KVM Manua 1-1
Cyclades AlterPath™ KVM is a family of CAT5-based keyboard-video-
mouse switches designed to provide you an easy and secure way to manage
remote servers from a desktop unit. KVM provides you full access and
control of GUI-based servers (e.g., Windows NT or Windows Server 2003)
through a dedicated channel or over the network.
For simplicity, AlterPath KVM is also referred to in the
manual as KVM.
The flexibility of CAT5 cabling (supporting distances of up to 500 feet
between the switch and the managed servers) enables KVM to use any data
center’s existing cabling infrastructure and provide for an easy installation.
The security features of KVM allow integration with existing security
infrastructure such as RADIUS, TACACS+, LDAP, and Kerberos. Token-
based strong authentication methods such as SecurID are also supported. As a
backup, the KVM provides local authentication should any of the
authentication servers fail.
The AlterPath KVM supports cascading, a feature which allows you to
connect other KVM switches as secondary units connected to a primary
KVM. Cascading allows data center managers to centralize port management
and expand their coverage as the data center grows.
Connectivity and Capacity
KVM supports two concurrent users: one remote and one local.
Through cascading, AlterPath KVM allows you to control up to 1024
computers. For one primary AlterPath KVM 16, you can connect up to eight
secondary KVM units; and for one AlterPath KVM32, up to 16 secondary
KVM units. Two connections are used for each secondary-to-primary
configuration to allow two simultaneous users. One CAT-5 cable between a
primary port to a secondary USER 2 port and another CAT-5 cable between a
primary port and a USER 1 port through a terminator.

1: Introduction
1-2 AlterPath KVM Manual
Product Components
AlterPath KVM family comprises four product components:
• AlterPath KVM 16 - model that comes with 16 KVM ports.
• AlterPath KVM 32 - model that comes with 32 KVM ports.
• AlterPath KVM RP - allows a remote user to connect to the KVM.
• AlterPath KVM Terminator - interfaces the console keyboard, video and
mouse to the KVM.
Figure 1.1 - AlterPath KVM: Front View
Figure 1.2 - AlterPath KVM 32: Back View
Figure 1.3 - AlterPath KVM Product Suite
(From bottom: KVM, front; KVM32, back; KVM RP; KVM Terminator.)

1: Introduction
AlterPath KVM Manual 1-3
KVM Terminator
The AlterPath KVM terminator interfaces directly with the server through the
video, mouse, and keyboard ports. It behaves as though it were a real
keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
The KVM terminator comes in three models to support the following:
• PC mini DIN
•PCUSB
• Sun USB
Overview of AlterPath KVM
The AlterPath KVM operates by using the keyboard, video, and mouse as the
low-level access interfaces to the managed servers, which allows you to
access server information that is otherwise inaccessible through in-band net-
work interfaces.
For example, BIOS access, POST, and boot messages are inaccessible
through in-band network management tools. In some cases, the in-band
network interfaces are not available even after the system boot is completed
(e.g., after a Windows Safe Mode boot) which makes the KVM the only way
to manage remote GUI-based servers.
The KVM offers advanced options to meet the most demanding user
requirements. Cascading support, CAT5-based cabling for up to 500 feet of
distance and integration with other server management devices such as the
AlterPath PM IPDUs make the AlterPath™ KVM a powerful addition to any
data center.

1: Introduction
1-4 AlterPath KVM Manual
KVM Product Features
AlterPath KVM provides enterprise solutions that meet the needs of today’s
data center. The most notable features of AlterPath KVM are:
• CAT5-based cabling
• Server-Based Authentication
• Local User Authentication
• User Access List Per Port
• Cascading Support with Centralized Port Management
• Flexibility and Scalability
• Online Screen Display
• Mouse Support
• Multi-User
• Event Logging
• Fan Monitoring
• Rack Space Savings
Cat-5-Based Cabling
CAT-5-based cabling allows for a clean cabling setup and access to servers
located far away from the AlterPath KVM switch. CAT-5 cabling allows you
to use existing cabling infrastructure in the data center. Setup is quick and
simple. The KVM supports distances up to 500 feet between the switch and
the managed servers, which makes even the most remote server in the data
center reachable by the AlterPath KVM.
Server-Based Authentication
The AlterPath KVM’s support for existing security infrastructure and token-
based strong authentication methods allows it to provide a high level of
security and adapt to your current security policies and infrastructure.
For example, in large data centers with hundreds of KVM switches that
support user authentication using locally-stored passwords, each time a new
user is created or removed, the system administrator has to manually
reconfigure each device. Security is compromised if he forgets or
misconfigures any device. With server-based authentication, the administrator
updates a single centralized database and all access devices consult that
database using a server-based authentication method such as Radius or LDAP.

1: Introduction
AlterPath KVM Manual 1-5
Local User Authentication
AlterPath KVM also supports local backup user authentication, allowing the
system to fall back to local authentication mode in case your server-based
authentication engine is unreachable. This ensures continuous, secured access
to your servers even if the network or the authentication server is down.
User Access Lists Per Port
This feature allows you to define which users have access to which servers,
which provides greater control and peace of mind.
Cascading Support with Centralized Port Management
You can have multiple AlterPath KVM switches cascaded to provide higher
port density, yet they will behave as one single, larger, KVM switch. This
means that you can configure the entire KVM switch chain from a single
point (the primary unit). Once it is ready, the configuration is broadcasted to
all the units in the chain, which simplifies the configuration process.
User authentication and access follows the same approach, which means you
authenticate only once and choose the server you want to access from a single
list, and the AlterPath KVM chain will automatically connect you to the
proper server.
Flexibility and Scalability
Cascading support with centralized port management allows the AlterPath
KVM to increase the number of managed servers without losing the initial
investment, or the advantage of a centralized configuration and access
interface. As the data center grows, managers and system administrators have
greater control, and greater ability to expand their coverage.
On-Screen Display Capability
You can use the on-screen display to control your AlterPath KVM easily.
From the OSD, you can perform tasks such as navigating through the servers,
cycling servers, and more.
Mouse Support
AlterPath KVM supports the popular PS/2 mouse interface, as well as USB
mouse and keyboard.

1: Introduction
1-6 AlterPath KVM Manual
Multi-User
KVM supports two concurrent users; one local and one remote. The remote
user may be placed up to 500 feet away from the KVM unit. The KVM RP
enables the remote operator to select the local keyboard, video, and mouse
console between a local station and a server from the AlterPath KVM.
Fan Monitoring
The KVM is designed with a circuit that senses and monitors the fan speed. If
configured, when the fan stops, an alarm message is sent to the syslog server
and the OSD screen.
Event Logging Capabilities
The AlterPath KVM provides event logging capabilities that allows your
organization to audit its usage and identify who accessed which KVM ports at
what time and date. This helps your organization track how server issues are
being handled by system administrators and analyze problem-solving policies
for future improvement.
The Linux Advantage
Instead of using proprietary software technologies, KVM leverages on Open
Source software (Linux), which gives users the freedom to customize its
operation, to modify or add features.
Rack Space Convenience
Available in 16 and 32-port models that fit in 1U of rack space, KVM helps
maximize server availability with scalability and security. Using KVM for
server management decreases network maintenance costs while increasing
efficiency and productivity.