topic Re: Serial console access to SNS-3595 for quick CIMC configuration? in Network Access Control

Serial console access to SNS-3595 for quick CIMC configuration?

Arne Bier — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 05:12:03 GMT

Is it possible to configure a SNS-3595 via a serial console cable to configure the initial CIMC config via CLI?

If so, what is the baud rate, XON/XOFF etc. - and is this using with a standard blue (null modem) Cisco rolled cable?

I worked on UCS C series servers many moons ago and I struggled to connect my Cisco rolled/rollover console cable to a UCS server. It may have been that the CIMC comes with that port disabled at factory. Not sure

I have not had the pleasure of working with SNS-3595 yet (I have been lucky to only deal with VM installs).

But I have a customer with 6 servers and I was wondering if anyone out there has been able to perform such a CIMC prep using the serial console.

I like the UCS CIMC command line interface. It saves me having to faff around with USB keyboards and VGA monitor cables etc. I can also copy and paste all the commands I need into the CLI. And once that initial config is done I will of course manage the CIMC via the Ethernet management port etc.

thanks in advance

Arne

Re: Serial console access to SNS-3595 for quick CIMC configuration?

Nidhi — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 05:58:19 GMT

Hi Arne,

From our CLI guide- https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/ise/2-4/cli_guide/b_ise_CLIReferenceGuide_24/b_ise_CLIReferenceGuide_24_chapter_00.html

If you need to configure Cisco ISE locally without connecting to a wired Local Area Network (LAN), you can connect a system to the console port in the Cisco ISE device by using a null-modem cable. The serial console connector (port) provides access to the Cisco ISE CLI locally by connecting a terminal to the console port. The terminal is a system running terminal-emulation software or an ASCII terminal. The console port (EIA/TIA-232 asynchronous) requires only a null-modem cable.

To connect a system running terminal-emulation software to the console port, use a DB-9 female to DB-9 female null-modem cable.
To connect an ASCII terminal to the console port, use a DB-9 female to DB-25 male straight-through cable with a DB-25 female to DB-25 female gender changer.

The default parameters for the console port are 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no hardware flow control. "

Thanks,

Nidhi

Re: Serial console access to SNS-3595 for quick CIMC configuration?

Arne Bier — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 06:12:35 GMT

Hi @Nidhi - oh ok. So the RJ-45 console port on the chassis ties to the operating system, and not to the CIMC.

When I read the SNS-3595 install guide I was confused

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/ise/2-0-1/install_guide/b_ise_InstallationGuide201/b_ise_InstallationGuide201_chapter_01.html#id_11053

I was hoping to access the CIMC in the most simple manner possible (i.e. not needing a keyboard or monitor). I suppose I could connect the servers to a VLAN that has DHCP and then monitor the DHCP server to see what IP's it hands out. And then perhaps ssh to that IP.

thanks

Re: Serial console access to SNS-3595 for quick CIMC configuration?

Damien Miller — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 17:30:27 GMT

I carry around a USB KVM with me if i'm going in to a DC.
https://www.startech.com/Server-Management/KVM-Switches/USB-Crash-Cart-Adapter~NOTECONS02

Re: Serial console access to SNS-3595 for quick CIMC configuration?

Arne Bier — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 09:32:01 GMT

very fancy - you can send me one as a Christmas gift 😉 I don't work much with servers to warrant buying such a device. Much rather prefer vSphere 🙂

Re: Serial console access to SNS-3595 for quick CIMC configuration?

hslai — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 15:14:19 GMT

This might work -- Smart Access: Serial

Re: Serial console access to SNS-3595 for quick CIMC configuration?

Arne Bier — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 22:38:01 GMT

Thanks @hslai - next time I am in front of a server I will try this. If anyone else beats me to it then please report back 🙂