NEC Express5800/320Ma User manual

NEC Solutions (America), Inc.
NR561
Express5800/320Ma:
Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide

Manual Name: Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide
Part Number: NR561
Express5800/320Ma Software Release Number: 4.1.0
Publication Date: January 2006
NEC Solutions (America), Inc.
10850 Gold Center Drive, Suite 200
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
© 2006 NEC Solutions (America), Inc. All rights reserved.
Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
UNLESS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN A WRITTEN AGREEMENT SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF NEC, NEC MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, INCLUDING WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PURPOSE. NEC assumes no responsibility or obligation of any kind for any errors contained herein or in connection with
the furnishing, performance, or use of this document.
Software described in NEC (a) is the property of NEC and/or its licensees, (b) is furnished only under license, and (c) may
be copied or used only as expressly permitted under the terms of the license.
NEC documentation describes all supported features of the user interfaces and the application programming interfaces
(API) developed by NEC and/or its licensees. Any undocumented features of these interfaces are intended solely for use
by NEC personnel and are subject to change without warning.
This document is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be copied, reproduced, or
translated, either mechanically or electronically, without the prior written consent of NEC Solutions (America), Inc.
The NEC Solutions (America), Inc. logo, Express5800/320Ma, and the Express5800/320Ma logo, are trademarks of NEC
Solutions (America), Inc. ActiveService Network is a trademark of Stratus Technologies Bermuda, Ltd. All other
trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

Contents iii
Contents
Preface vii
1. Introduction to VTMs and the VTM Console 1-1
Overview of the VTM and VTM Console 1-1
VTM System Operation and Configuration 1-2
What You Can Do Using the VTM Console 1-3
Parts of the VTM Console Interface 1-3
Description of the VTM Console Tabs 1-5
What You Can Do on the Manage Tab 1-5
What You Can Do on the Card Info Tab 1-6
What You Can Do on the Server Info Tab 1-6
What You Can Do on the SSL Tab 1-6
What You Can Do on the Troubleshoot Server Tab 1-7
Express5800/320Ma Documentation 1-7
2. Connecting to a VTM Console 2-1
Prerequisites for Using the VTM Console 2-1
Installing the JRE and Setting the Browser Options 2-2
Overview of How to Use the VTM Console 2-3
Connecting to a VTM Console Session 2-3
Logging On to the VTM Console 2-4
Logging Out of the VTM Console 2-6
Troubleshooting Connections to a VTM 2-6
Problem: Security for Internet Is Set to High 2-6
Problem: LAN Settings in the Browser Are Using a
Proxy Server 2-7
3. Reviving a System That Is Not Responding 3-1
When the System Fails to Start 3-1
Restoring the Default BIOS Setup Options 3-2
Restarting a System with Faulty Hardware 3-2

Contents
iv Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide
When the System Is No Longer Responding 3-2
Performing a Non-Maskable Interrupt 3-3
Resetting the Operating System 3-4
Powering Off the System from the Manage Tab 3-5
Forcing the System to Power Off 3-6
Powering On the System 3-6
Viewing the System Configuration 3-7
Viewing the System Event Log 3-8
Understanding a State-Sensitive Recovery 3-9
Understanding a Fault-Resilient Boot 3-9
4. Using AVR 4-1
Using Advanced Video Redirection 4-1
Starting and Ending an AVR Session 4-2
Logging On to the Host from an AVR Session 4-2
Managing AVR Sessions 4-3
Setting Monitor Controls in an AVR Session 4-3
Setting Video Capture Parameters in an AVR Session 4-4
Setting Languages for an AVR Session 4-6
Setting AVR to Use Typing Mode 4-6
Using the Virtual Keyboard 4-7
Sending Special Key Sequences in an AVR Session 4-7
Using SSL for Keyboard Entries in an AVR Session 4-8
Restoring Mouse Behavior 4-8
Hiding the Client Computer’s Cursor in an AVR Session 4-9
Using AVR in View-Only Mode 4-9
Troubleshooting AVR Sessions 4-10
Configuring and Connecting Remote Storage Devices 4-10
Configuring a CD-ROM or Floppy Disk Drive as a
Remote Storage Device 4-11
Configuring a Local ISO Image File as a Remote
Storage Device 4-12
Connecting a Configured Local Storage Device to the Host 4-13
Disconnecting a Device from the Host 4-14
Removing a Configured Device 4-15
Opening a Configured Device 4-15
The iSCSI Server Target Configuration Dialog Box 4-16
Viewing a Snapshot of the Last Screen Before an ASR Event 4-16
5. Viewing the VTM Configuration 5-1
Viewing VTM Information 5-1
Viewing the Status of the Connection to the System 5-2

Contents
Contents v
Viewing the Network Settings 5-2
Rebooting the VTM 5-3
6. Configuring SSL for VTM Access 6-1
Overview of SSL 6-1
Setting the VTM to Use a Standard Login 6-2
Setting the VTM to Use SSL 6-2
Requesting a Signed Server Certificate 6-3
Uploading a Signed Server Certificate 6-4
Viewing the Server Certificate 6-5
Configuring an Expiration Notification 6-5
Appendix A. POST and Online Diagnostic Codes A-1
POST Codes A-1
Base POST Routine Codes A-1
Server BIOS POST Codes A-15
BIOS Boot Block POST Codes A-17
Online Diagnostic Test Codes A-19
CPU Diagnostic Test Codes A-19
I2C Bus Diagnostic Test Codes A-21
Primary I/O Element Diagnostic Test Codes A-22
Secondary I/O Element Diagnostic Test Codes A-29
Glossary Glossary-1
Index Index-1

Contents
vi Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide

Preface vii
Preface
Purpose of This Manual
The Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide documents how to
use the Virtual Technician Module (VTM) console, a Web-based interface used to
remotely monitor Express5800/320Ma systems and diagnose system problems.
Audience
This manual is intended for Express5800/320Ma system administrators, especially
those who troubleshoot an Express5800/320Ma system from a remote location.
Notation Conventions
This document uses the notation conventions described in this section.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
Warnings, cautions, and notes provide special information and have the following
meanings:
WARNING
!
A warning indicates a situation where failure to take
or avoid a specified action could cause bodily harm or
loss of life.
CAUTION
!
A caution indicates a situation where failure to take or
avoid a specified action could damage a hardware device,
program, system, or data.
NOTE
A note provides important information about the operation
of a system.
Typographical Conventions
The following typographical conventions are used in Express5800/320Ma documents:

Preface
viii Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide
•The bold font emphasizes words in text or indicates text that you type, the name of
a screen object, or the name of a programming element. For example:
Before handling or replacing the clock card, make sure that you are properly
grounded by using a grounded wrist strap.
In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab.
Call the RegisterDeviceNotification function.
•The italic font introduces new terms and indicates programming and command-line
arguments that the user defines. For example:
Many hardware components are customer-replaceable units (CRUs), which
can be replaced on-site by system administrators with minimal training or tools.
copy filename1 filename2
Pass a pointer for the NotificationFilter parameter
•The monospace font indicates sample program code and output, including
message text. For example:
#include <iostream.h>
The operation completed successfully.

Preface
Preface ix
Getting Help
If you have a technical question about Express5800/320Ma hardware or software, try
these online resources first:
•Online support from NEC Technical Support. You can find the latest technical
information about an Express5800/320Ma through online product support at the
NEC Technical Support Web site:
http://support.necsam.com/servers/
•Online product support for Microsoft®products. Your primary source for
support is the computer manufacturer who provided your software, or an
authorized Microsoft Support Provider. You can also find the latest technical
information about Microsoft Windows®and other Microsoft products through online
product support at the Microsoft Help and Support Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/
If you are unable to resolve your questions with the help available at these online sites,
and the Express5800/320Ma system is covered by a service agreement, please
contact NEC Technical Support (866-269-1239).
Notices
•All regulatory notices are provided in the site planning guide for your system.
•Although this guide documents modem functionality, modems are not available for
all systems. Ask your sales representative about modem availability.
•ActiveService Network (ASN) is not currently available but may be ordered in the
future.

Preface
xExpress5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide

Introduction to VTMs and the VTM Console 1-1
Chapter 1
Introduction to VTMs and the VTM
Console1-
The following topics introduce the Virtual Technician Module (VTM) and VTM console:
•“Overview of the VTM and VTM Console”
•“VTM System Operation and Configuration”
•“What You Can Do Using the VTM Console”
•“Parts of the VTM Console Interface”
•“Description of the VTM Console Tabs”
•“Express5800/320Ma Documentation”
Overview of the VTM and VTM Console
The Virtual Technician Module (VTM) is an adapter with firmware, which is an add-on
part of an Express5800/320Ma system. The firmware on the VTM enables authorized
system administrators to manage and diagnose the system from the local system or,
more typically, from a remote system.
You can use the VTM regardless of the state of the host system because the VTM runs
on standby power and has its own network connection, CPU, memory, and operating
system.
The VTM console is the Web-based interface used to monitor the Express5800/320Ma
system and to manage and diagnose system problems. The VTM console runs on a
Web browser through an HTTP server on the VTM, and provides authenticated and
secure access to the Express5800/320Ma system from any location.
System administrators typically use ftServer Management Console (ftSMC), a snap-in
to Microsoft Management Console (MMC), to manage and monitor an
Express5800/320Ma system. However, if the host system is inaccessible from ftSMC
because of network or system problems, administrators can log on to the VTM console
to troubleshoot the problem and attempt to restore the system. For more information
about ftSMC, see the online Help for ftSMC.

VTM System Operation and Configuration
1-2 Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide
Related Topics
•“VTM System Operation and Configuration”
•“What You Can Do Using the VTM Console”
•“Parts of the VTM Console Interface”
VTM System Operation and Configuration
The Express5800/320Ma system provides two VTMs for redundancy in case problems
occur with one of the VTMs or I/O subsystems. One VTM is the primary, or the active
VTM. The other VTM is secondary, and operates in standby mode, monitors the
primary VTM, and takes over operation if the primary VTM becomes unavailable.
The VTM console indicates the status and state of the VTMs at the bottom left of every
Web page. The VTM console displays the status as Primary or Secondary to indicate
whether the VTM you have logged in to is the active or standby VTM. The VTM console
also displays the state as Duplexed when both VTMs are working properly, or
Simplexed if only one of the VTMs is working. If the primary VTM fails, the secondary
VTM becomes active.
Before you use the VTMs to troubleshoot a system, verify that:
•The VTMs are connected to the network or that a modem is connected to the VTM
COM port on the system.
•IP addresses are assigned to the VTMs, if your network does not use DHCP to
assign IP addresses.
•You know the user ID and password for the VTM account.
For information about connecting phone and Ethernet lines to the VTMs and
configuring the user ID, see the Express5800/320Ma ActiveService Network
Configuration Guide. For information about the user ID and password, see “Logging On
to the VTM Console” on page 2-4.
Related Topics
•“Overview of the VTM and VTM Console”
•“Parts of the VTM Console Interface”
•“Overview of How to Use the VTM Console”

What You Can Do Using the VTM Console
Introduction to VTMs and the VTM Console 1-3
What You Can Do Using the VTM Console
Use the VTM console to manage and diagnose the system in which the VTMs are
installed. You can dial in to the VTM console through a modem or, if the VTMs are
connected to a network, you can connect to the VTM over your intranet.
If you have a service contract with NEC Solutions (America), Inc. or an authorized
service representative, set up an ActiveService Network (ASN) account to enable your
system to send alerts (call-home alarm messages) to the NEC Technical Support when
unusual events occur on the system. You can also enable NEC Technical Support or
your authorized service representative to access the system through a connection to
the ASN.
Use the VTM console to troubleshoot the system by performing the following tasks:
•View the system event log to obtain state information about the host system and
the VTMs
•From the client computer running the VTM console, mount a storage device or
image on the host
•Revive the system if it is not responding
•Power on the system
•Monitor the state of the VTMs by checking the status bar
•Control the server’s keyboard, video and mouse remotely using Advanced Video
Redirection (AVR)
Related Topics
•“Overview of the VTM and VTM Console”
•“Parts of the VTM Console Interface”
•“Description of the VTM Console Tabs”
•“Overview of How to Use the VTM Console”
Parts of the VTM Console Interface
The VTM console interface consists of tabs, a status bar, and a To Peer button that you
use to configure, view, or manage the Express5800/320Ma system and the VTM.
VTM Console Tabs
Figure 1-1 shows the tabs that appear at the top of each VTM console Web page. For
a list of tasks that you can perform on each tab, see “Description of the VTM Console
Tabs” on page 1-5.

Parts of the VTM Console Interface
1-4 Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide
Figure 1-1. Tabs on the VTM Console
Status Bar
A status bar (see Figure 1-2) at the bottom of each Web page displays the following
connection information about the VTM and Express5800/320Ma system:
•VTM you are logged in to (Primary or Secondary) and whether one or both
VTMs are operating (Simplexed or Duplexed, respectively)
•Whether the server is powered on or off
•Number of users connected and ID of the users who are logged in
Figure 1-2. VTM Console Status Bar
The Manage page also displays a To Pe e r bu t t o n , so that you can switch to the primary
VTM.
To Peer Button
At the time you connect to a VTM, it could be the primary or secondary VTM. You can
identify whether the VTM you are about to log on to is primary or secondary by looking
at the status bar, which displays either Primary or Secondary. For access to all the
features of the VTM console, log on to the primary VTM. The To Peer button, shown in
Figure 1-3, enables you to switch between the primary and secondary VTMs.
To switch to the other VTM, click To Peer before logging in to the VTM console.
Typically, you switch to the primary VTM so that you can use Advanced Video
Redirection (AVR) and remote storage.
Figure 1-3. To Peer Button
Related Topic
•“Description of the VTM Console Tabs”

Description of the VTM Console Tabs
Introduction to VTMs and the VTM Console 1-5
Description of the VTM Console Tabs
Each tab on the VTM console enables you to perform different tasks.
•“What You Can Do on the Manage Tab”
•“What You Can Do on the Card Info Tab”
•“What You Can Do on the Server Info Tab”
•“What You Can Do on the SSL Tab”
•“What You Can Do on the Troubleshoot Server Tab”
What You Can Do on the Manage Tab
Use the Manage tab on the primary VTM to configure and use Advanced Video
Redirection (AVR) and remote storage. AVR enables you to control the video,
keyboard, and mouse of the Express5800/320Ma system remotely. Remote storage
enables you to connect up to three storage devices or image files from a remote
management PC to the host system.
Use the Manage tab on the primary or secondary VTM to view the system event log,
view a snapshot of the last screen when an asynchronous server restart (ASR) event
occurs, reboot the operating system when it is not responding, or power the system on
and off.
To switch to the other VTM, click To Peer. Typically, you switch to the primary VTM so
that you can use Advanced Video Redirection (AVR) and remote storage.
Use the Manage tab to:
•Start and end an AVR session
•Configure remote storage
•View a snapshot of the last screen before an ASR event
•Power off the system or force a system shutdown
•Power on the system
•View the system event log

Description of the VTM Console Tabs
1-6 Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide
What You Can Do on the Card Info Tab
The Card Info tab displays network settings, connection status, VTM serial number,
software revision, and other information about the VTM.
Use the Card Info tab to:
•View VTM information
•View the status of the connection between the VTM and the system
•View the network settings
What You Can Do on the Server Info Tab
The Server Info tab displays information about the Express5800/320Ma system that
has been set on the host using the ftServer Management Console (ftSMC).
Use the Server Info tab to view the server configuration.
What You Can Do on the SSL Tab
The SSL tab enables you to generate and upload a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) server
certificate and certificate authority (CA) certificate to ensure secure transmission over
the Internet. You can also set the VTM console to connect through an SSL Web server
or a non-SSL Web server.
Use the SSL tab to:
•Set the VTM to allow a standard login
•Set the VTM to use an SSL login
•Request a signed server certificate
•Upload a signed server certificate
•View the server certificate
•Display an expiration notification

Express5800/320Ma Documentation
Introduction to VTMs and the VTM Console 1-7
What You Can Do on the Troubleshoot Server Tab
The Troubleshoot Server tab provides procedures to perform the following tasks:
•Work around problems that caused the system to fail to start.
•Attempt to revive the system when the operating system is no longer responding.
Each procedure represents progressively more severe methods for reviving the
system.
Use the Troubleshoot Server tab to:
•Restart the system with faulty hardware
•Restore the default BIOS setup options on the system
•Perform a non-maskable interrupt (NMI) on the system
•Perform a hard reset of the system
•Force a shut down of the system
Express5800/320Ma Documentation
See the site planning guide for your system for a list of documents pertaining to your
system.
Related Topics
•VTM Online Documentation
•VTM Console Help System
VTM Online Documentation
This document is available at the following locations:
•From the VTM console as a Help system
•In the Express5800/320Ma Help and Manuals folder on the system desktop, which
also contains all other documents for the specific model of Express5800/320Ma
system on which the Help system is installed
You can view the documents in the Help system or open them in PDF format for
viewing or printing.
•On the World Wide Web at:
http://support.necsam.com/servers/

Express5800/320Ma Documentation
1-8 Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide
VTM Console Help System
The online Help system for the VTM console provides this document in a format that
you can view online in a browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x and
Netscape®Navigator®6.x, or later versions.
To display the online Help from the VTM console, click Help.
Use the Contents tab to view a list of the topics in the Help. Use the Index tab to look
up keywords to find information. Use the Search tab to find information that contains a
specific word.

Connecting to a VTM Console 2-1
Chapter 2
Connecting to a VTM Console2-
The following topics explain how to connect to the VTMs and the VTM console:
•“Prerequisites for Using the VTM Console”
•“Installing the JRE and Setting the Browser Options”
•“Overview of How to Use the VTM Console”
•“Connecting to a VTM Console Session”
•“Logging On to the VTM Console”
•“Logging Out of the VTM Console”
•“Troubleshooting Connections to a VTM”
Prerequisites for Using the VTM Console
Before using the VTM console, make sure that:
•You know the user ID and password for logging in to the VTM console. By default,
these are both set to ADMIN, but they can be changed in the ftServer Management
Console (ftSMC). For more information, see the online Help for ftSMC.
•An ActiveService Network (ASN) account has been created to enable the NEC
Technical Support to diagnose Express5800/320Ma system problems remotely
through the VTM console. This account is listed in ftSMC as the SMM ASN Hub ID.
Access to the ASN requires a service contract with NEC Solutions (America), Inc.
or an authorized service representative, and is implemented across a modem or
over the Internet. For instructions in setting up your ASN account, see the
Express5800/320Ma ActiveService Network Configuration Guide.
•You have installed the Java™ 2 Runtime Environment (JRE) and set the browser
options.
Related Topics
•“Overview of How to Use the VTM Console”
•“Connecting to a VTM Console Session”
•“Logging On to the VTM Console”

Installing the JRE and Setting the Browser Options
2-2 Express5800/320Ma: Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide
Installing the JRE and Setting the Browser Options
Before logging in to the VTM console, install the Java 2 Runtime Environment (JRE) on
the computer that will run the VTM console, and then set certain Internet browser
options.
NOTE
The JRE is installed by a remote installation of ftServer
management software from the Express5800/320Ma
ExpressBuilder CD (1 of 2).
To install the JRE and set the browser options
1. In a Web browser, download and install the Java 2 Runtime Environment, Standard
Edition 1.4.2_05.
2. In your computer’s Control Panel, double-click Internet Options, and then click
the Advanced tab.
3. In the Internet Properties dialog box, select the check boxes as shown in
Figure 2-1.
Figure 2-1. Internet Options to Set for Using the VTM Console
4. Click OK to apply the settings. You must restart the system for these settings to
take effect.
Related Topic
•“Prerequisites for Using the VTM Console”