S8300 Console Access on G700

[pjmyers]

We are trying to get access to the Redhat Linux Console in Single user mode on the S8300. Our instructions say to do the following:

1. User serial cable/DB9 (aka null modem, or cross-connect C5 cable) connect from a laptop PC to the Avaya Services Port.

2. Configure serial port for 9600 bits per second, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, hardware flow control, vt100 emulation, and telnet terminal id vt100.

3. If the configuration in step 2 doesn't work, user F1 to enter BIOS configuration on the server and set console redirect to 9600 baud.

We are unable to access the console mode, we would like to boot up on Redhat Linux Rescue DVD and use the DD command to backup the Hard Drive, so while installing
Patches, we can restore in case of problems.

 

[Mitch672]

you are confused.

The C700 CONSOLE port is serial and can be accessed with a null modem cable, that is only to administer the G700/P330, it has nothing to do with the S8300 processor.

The S8300 has a SERVICE LAN port on the front of it, you set your PC to 192.11.13.5/31 and connect to 192.11.13.6 with a LAN crossover cable.

I would use the maintanance web browser and make a backup of the XLN (Translations), and the CMM/IA770 (Audix), on an FTP server (perhaps running on the serice laptop you just connected), there is no point in using DD, it would not help you and it is not done that way.



Mitch

AVAYA Certified Expert

 

[pjmyers]

Confused is not the word for it

I agree that would backup the data, but if we mess up the O/S with patching and want to recover, how do we reload the O/S.

I've seen a couple of places where it says, just load the orginally Disk and it will re-install and others that say you can access the S8300 Console via USB Modem when the system is in Down.

I guess what we are trying to figure out as Redhat Admin's and not knowning much about the S8300/G700 hardware, is
how can we connect to Console when the system isn't in multi-user mode.

We have used the method you describe above to connect when system is up and running.

Thanks for your expertise.

 

[Mitch672]

What is normally done is, you connect a USB CD-ROM to one of the S8300's USB ports, you then put in the CD of the CM load you have (the ISO images are available on support.avaya.com), then you "boot" the S8300 with the CD loaded, and then ping the 192.11.13.6 IP, when you get a response, you then telnet to this address, and you are presented with a menu to reload the image.

Of course you will also need to download the patches, and have access to RFA to retrieve the license & passord files for the switch, or your Business Partner could get them for you. Once that part has been done, you then copy your XLN and AUDIX backups to the /var/home/ftp/pub directory, and in the "maint web browser" you can restore each of those backups... There are a few other tricks, such as performing a "reset system 4" to get the XLN loaded, etc.

The loading process is documented in some PDF's onsupport.avaya.com as well. Normally, you would call your Business Partner for some assistance, if you really get yourself into a situation.



Mitch

AVAYA Certified Expert

 

[pjmyers]

Excellent information, that is what we wanted to know. Just one more question, do you know if we can get console access via usb modem so we can watch system while boot or when in single user mode ?

 

[Mitch672]

not that I know of. There is probably a debug serial port on the actual S8300 processor card, but it may only be on a header used for factory testing (may even just be a JTAG port), it is not brought out to the front panel. Basicly no one does what you are asking about... It either boots, or it doesn't. If it doesn't, you reload it


Mitch

AVAYA Certified Expert

 

[pjmyers]

Thanks for all your help, we really appreciate the info.