Console Server. Terminal Emulation?

[Anonymous user]

My current system consists of a 8 RS232 ---> 1 USB console server attached to a standard PC. I have 8 products that I communicate with via Hyperterminal window.
I am looking to implement RS232 ---> RJ45 conversion cables so that I can use the APC AP9301 Console Port Management Server.
However, I cannot figure out how to communicate to my units through the APC console server.

In my current setup, I simply open 8 Hyperterminal windows on my PC and select the proper port in each window.
How do I go about getting the same end result through the APC server?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

Message was edited by: ckc8302

[Anonymous user]

In my hyperterminal windows, I typically run Baud of 57600, 8 data bits, None parity, 1 stop bit, None flow control.
I need to be able to send and receive data as I have units that send a csv list of data at 1Hz and at the same time I use keyboard commands to send data to the units.

When I connected my serial-USB box to my PC, my list of available ports in the PC Device Manager grew accordingly. Therefore, I simply open hyperterminal windows and pick ports for each.
I have successfully been able to connect to a given port, but there is no terminal emulation window available through the console manager to communicate with the unit

[BillP]

what types of devices are you communicating with? switches, routers, etc?

the APC console port servers have been discontinued for a little while now so I am not sure what luck you'll have sourcing certain parts.

from the end of the user's manual (which i attached), here are the adapters we offer:

The following cables and adapters are available for purchase from APC to use with your CPS. Choose those that are appropriate for the equipment you are managing with the CPS.

h3. Cables*

Part Number - Cable Description*

AP9307 - DB9F to RJ45 crossover cable
AP9308 - DB25M to RJ45 cable
AP9309 - DB25F to RJ45 crossover cable
AP9317 - RJ45 to RJ12 CPS to Rack PDU cable

h3. Adapters*

Part Number - Adapter Description*

AP9310 - DB25F to RJ45 crossover adapter
AP9311 - DB25M to RJ45 crossover adapter
AP9313 - DB9F to RJ45 crossover adapter
AP9314 - DB9M to RJ45 crossover adapter
AP9315 - RJ45 to RJ45 Cisco/SUN adapter
AP9316 - CPS Console Port to UPS DB9 adapter

you connect one of those adapters to your device, whatever it may be and then you use a Cat 5 network cable to attach it to one of the RJ-45 connectors on the CPS. essentially, once you get the right cables, you assign an IP address to the CPS and then you can click on each of the devices via the web interface and it brings up a window within your browser that will look like the hyperterminal screen.

i am not so sure you'll necessarily be able to use the CPS though based on what you're using. i am not sure yet though.

hope that helps.

[Anonymous user]

Update ---- I have gotten connected through the Console Server and have a hyperterminal window open.

Normally when I use computer ports to access my units, I open the Hyperterminal window and then type Ctrl+e. At that point I get a "Keyboard Activated" message and I'm able to then use the keyboard to send commands to the unit (one of which activates the unit's logging function; i.e. it starts sending a set of data to the hyperterminal window every second)

However, through the console server, I cannot figure out how to send commands to the unit.
It seems like everything I type in the window must be a command that fits within the structure of the console server command list itself.....rather than the available command list of the unit on the other side of the console server.
All I want the console server to do is to provide me with a list of ports to connect to......I don't want it to attempt to manage my connection with a preset list of commands.

Is this possible?

[BillP]

are you accessing this via the web interface of the console port server or what? i want to check out the interface that you're looking at and i cant remember from memory. once you let me know how to get to the place you see, i'll check it out.

[Anonymous user]

yes. using the web interface.
You login to the web interface and you see a list of ports (port1, port2, port3, etc)
When you click on the hyperlink for a given port, a hyperterminal window is opened.
In this hyperterminal window, you see the following:

APC VCPS (hostname)
login:
password:
[Enter '^Ec?' for help]

I can successfully login but then I am seemingly relegated to using a set list of commands (which you can see using the "help" menu)
I am ultimately needing to send commands directly to the units that are plugged into each port of the CPS. I need to interact directly with the units via keyboard commands.

[BillP]

oh ok. i think that you are ssh'ing directly to the Vertical Console Port Server itself. What i did to connect to a PDU I have is in my screenshots.

view them in order - 1, 2, etc

what i did was click on applications tab for 1 in screenshot #1. what you're getting sounds like if you click on connect to AP9301 as you can see in my screenshot (which you shouldnt use). I have an PDU and UPS type device on my list. you should have options under 2. on my screenshot if you have this configured directly. once i click on them, i get the box in my screenshot #2 and i am accessing the PDU directly, like i were sitting right in front of it (after clicking through a few security prompts in IE8).

if you follow this, and it isnt working, please let me know what you have set for these devices under the Ports section under Physical Ports on the left hand side. this configuration needs to be set if you havent done it yet or may need to be adjusted if you did set it up.

hope that helps.

[Anonymous user]

My main issue is regarding what I have plugged into the console ports.
I have a proprietary product with no set command list plugged into the ports.
The product is a prototype in which i use keystroke commands in a hyperterminal window to control the unit, set configuration values, start/stop logging, set date/time, etc.
I need to be able to send anything that I wish to each port (using the keyboard) without any menus or command lists.
I need to simply use the CPS as a sort of switch. I just want to pick a port and connect directly to it without any intermediary control. (As if i had a direct cable from the PC to the unit)

[Anonymous user]

I have spent some more time with the product and you are understanding everything fine. I got into the terminal window just as you explained in words and pictures; however, as of yet I am unable to get any commands to return a response.
I will mess with some of the settings and see if I can get a response.

In the mean time, I do also have a 42 port APC CPS Part # AP9290 that I can use. However, following the same procedure with this product, I am also unable to get this type of connection to work. Is this possible with this product also?

One thing that I fear may be a problem is my cable choices. I want to make sure that my pinouts are matching properly. The cable I'm using is the APC provided DB9-RJ45 that is specified to be used with the Config port (940-0214), then I have a male-male connector (I've tried both a crossover type and a straight through type), then an APC serial cable (940-0299A). I wonder if I have a problem resulting from the combination of cables and pinout changes. Do you have any information that could help me determine that?

Thank you so much for all of your help, it has been a real challenge trying to figure this out and you have been more than helpful. Your time is well-appreciated!

[BillP]

i guess i am not understanding where the problem is. the window that you get when you choose the port you wish to connect to should accept whatever you normally send to it via the keyboard when you arent using the CPS. you should use all of the same commands, etc

it should be exactly what you describe, a switch. you choose port #1, that black box comes up like in my screenshot. for example, if you normally type to get some type of prompt then type , it should do whatever it normally does when you are connected to it.

like i said before, it seemed like you were connecting to the CPS itself via the option in the web interface and it was showing you the specific CPS commands.

i apologize if I am just not getting it 😞

[BillP]

glad to help. i am not familar with the AP9290 to be honest with you but I am under the impression it is the same as the AP93xx units, just different form factor. i dont have one to look at unfortunately, only one of the AP93xx models. i am not sure on the cables either. i have never really cabled one up to be honest with you.

is this just a standard computer with a serial port? i sort of got lost with all of your cable combinations. i cannot really give any pinouts on the cables you mentioned since they are proprietary. i am not familar with 940-0214 and then i am confused on where the NMC2 configuration cable (940-0299A) cable comes in to this.

picture? 🙂 it might make more sense if I better understand what this looks like since i am trying to picture and i just picture a bunch of cables and cant really picture how your using it.

lets not forget the settings in the interface too 🙂

dont suppose you've had any luck on your end?

[Anonymous user]

Finally, I was able to get the AP9301 to do what I was looking for. It turns out that we were both correct in one way or another.
You're thorough explanation was correct; my problem was a pinout problem. Apparently my chain of cables led to the reversal of #2 and #3 pins. Once I jumpered those two pins across to each other, things were great.

As for the AP9290, I've got a data stream coming in (using the same configuration as for the 9301) but there must be some confusion in datatypes, as I'm getting a continuous string of nonsensical characters. But I am at least getting some data coming in!

I do sincerely appreciate your assistance through this. You have been much more help than we have gotten through other channels and we finally have a data stream!

[BillP · Accepted solution]

i am so happy to hear that! you're very welcome and i wish you a happy holiday!