Re: Thin Console

[Evan Harris <spanner@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Rob

The LAN Console/PC Anywhere-Remote Dekstop-Your remote access method 
of choice does work. I've helped set it up for a  customer here, but 
it is not the easiest beast in the world to get under control. The 
scenario that worked best was creating a couple of configurations and 
then allowing multiple uses to access them via VPN then remote 
desktop. Setting up one for every user's device is something of a 
pain, as ideally you need a DST Console device defined for each user 
in addition to the standard QCONSOLE. There can be only one console 
connection at a time but you can do something akin to the "take over 
console connection" function that comes with the HMC if I remember rightly.

It is very easy to render the consoles inoperable so you need to be 
discipline about how you set things up and you need to configure at 
least one back door for the inevitable problems. If you forget the 
access password the connection won't work. DST password - same deal. 
And if the connection gets totally hosed even resetting the password 
and then trying a system 21 can be problematic as the DST console 
device could be unusable. Then you are into Manual mode-21-65-66 type 
territory to reset the comms line from the front panel. Using the 
same console description from multiple PCs introduces an issue where 
the security token sent to the console when the initial connection is 
made can end up mismatched. If you think about the worst aspects of 
the DST password changes that came in with V5R1 and add the 
requirements for the device password and access password then you 
will have some inkling of how flaky it can be if you don't pay 
attention to detail. There is some IP addressing/networking stuff to 
take care of as well.

That being said it does work, although I felt the documentation for 
this option was pitiful. If you do a fair amount of initial work to 
set it up and make sure you have the config nailed then it is a 
reasonable replacement for a twinax console for a machine that can't use a HMC.

regards
Evan Harris


At 05:31 a.m. 8/03/2007, you wrote:

> Don't know, might work.  I just mentioned PC Anywhere because I've been
> around long enough that people, ahem, of my experience, are somewhat
> familiar with the name.  I suppose I should use some windows moniker now,
> what would that be?
>
> Does OC-Lan allow multiple people to load up OC-Lan and any of them be the
> console?  Or do you still need some PC Anywhere genre of program to take
> control of the controlling terminal?  Or is the theory that you put OC-Lan
> on you Laptop (and maybe a local backup) and if you need to take console
> operations you can do it anywhere via VLAN?
>
> Rob Berendt
> --
> Group Dekko Services, LLC
> Dept 01.073
> PO Box 2000
> Dock 108
> 6928N 400E
> Kendallville, IN 46755
> http://www.dekko.com