Acer ARMC_2- User Manual

Technical Support Please contact your local Acer Authorized Reseller for technical support. Disclaimer This manual describes the operation of the Acer ARMC/2 card. Although efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained here, Acer expressly disclaims liability for any err...

Optional Components The following component does not come with your ARMC/2 card. You must order this component separately. • Power cable FCC Class B Statement This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmf...

Chapter 1 Introduction Features Feature Description Key Feature • 100% out-of-band • 100% operating system independent Soft Processor • provides out-of-band connectivity • plugs into a mission critical server • half-sized PCI form factor plugs into any PCI slot Remote Client • industry standard Inte...

Features, Continued Feature Description Communication • 10/100 megabit Ethernet LAN • TCP/IP • DHCP enabled • SNMP • web-based interface USB Device Controller for Mouse/Keyboard • USB 1.1 device controller USB Device Controller for CD-ROM • USB 2.0 device controller USB Device Controller for FDD • U...

Chapter 2 Installing Your ARMC/2 Card Before You Start Avoid Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) can damage the ARMC/2 card and other system components. Keep your ARMC/2 card in its anti-static bag until it is to be installed. Avoid contact with any component or connector o...

Step 1 Unpack the ARMC/2 Card (and check jumper settings) ARMC/2 Card Layout ARMC/2 MAC Address Your ARMC/2 card has a unique MAC address. The MAC address is the only way to distinguish one ARMC/2 card from another when you run programs such as Remote Recovery Application (RRA) and ARMC2RMseek Locat...

Step 1 Unpack the ARMC/2 Card (and check jumper settings), Continued Check the following jumpers: Jumper Setting JP4 Confirm that pins one and two are open. JP5 Confirm that pins one and two are open. JP6 Confirm that pins one and two are open. JP7 Confirm that pins one and two are open. JP8 Confirm...

Step 1 Unpack the ARMC/2 Card (and check jumper settings), Continued JP12 Diagnostic and Recovery Mode Jumper This jumper is primarily used to recover a failed flash attempt. By shorting pins one and two, you can place your ARMC/2 card into Diagnostics Mode . By shorting pins two and three, you can ...

Step 2 Plug in the ARMC/2 Card into the Host System and Attach Internal Cables, Continued J5 IPMB (Intelligent Platform Management Bus) If your motherboard has an IPMB connector, you can connect a cable from J5 on the ARMC/2 card to the IPMB connector on your motherboard. Pin Description 1 Positive ...

Step 2 Plug in the ARMC/2 Card into the Host System and Attach Internal Cables, Continued J9 ARMC/2 Feature Connector This feature connector is primarily used for operating the host system’s motherboard power and reset switch. It can also be used to gather I2C bus information from the motherboard. P...

Step 2 Plug in the ARMC/2 Card into the Host System and Attach Internal Cables, Continued JP4 and JP5 Chassis/Motherboard Power Switch JP4 and JP5 can be used in place of the ARMC/2 Universal Cable to power on, power off, and power cycle the motherboard. Connect a two pin cable from the motherboard’...

Step 4 Confirm the Motherboard’s BIOS Settings Power on the motherboard and enter the BIOS. Using the following table, confirm that your motherboard’s BIOS settings are correct. BIOS Section Setting Boot Options> Removable Devices Virtual Floppy or USB Boot Device Boot Options> ATAPI CDROM Vir...

Step 5 Install the Operating System and ARMC/2 Drivers, Continued Installing Virtual Floppy Drivers on Microsoft® Windows Operating Systems Microsoft® Windows 2000/2003 operating systems need an .INF for the AMI Virtual Floppy device exposed by the ARMC/2 card. Note: This installation procedure need...

Step 5 Install the Operating System and ARMC/2 Drivers, Continued Installing Virtual Floppy Drivers on Microsoft® Windows Operating Systems, Continued Step Action 2 The Hardware Update Wizard begins to search for the drives on the ARMC/2 CD. Note: Do NOT use the default file that the Microsoft® Wind...

Step 6 Install the Acer ARMC/2 Windows Software Components Acer ARMC/2 Windows Software Components is a collection of ARMC/2 host-side and remote access components. These programs are briefly explained in the following table: Program Description ARMC2ConfigApp The ARMC2ConfigApp program allows you t...

Step 6 Install the Acer ARMC/2 Windows Software Components, Continued Follow the steps outlined in the following table to install the Acer ARMC/2 Windows Software Components : Step Description 1 Insert your ARMC/2 CD into the host system. The host system is the system that has the ARMC/2 card instal...

Step 6 Install the Acer ARMC/2 Windows Software Components, Continued Step Description 6 The Install Program window opens. Left click the Install button. 7 The Installation Progress window opens. Cont’d ARMC/2 User’s Guide 18

Step 6 Install the Acer ARMC/2 Windows Software Components, Continued Step Description 8 The installation is complete. Left click the Finish button. 9 Repeat steps 1 through 8 on a local network computer that you want to use to access the host system. Step 7 Setup Your Client Internet Browser You mu...

Step 7 Setup Your Client Internet Browser, Continued Step Description 3 The Settings window opens. Left click the Every visit to the page button or Automatically button. Left click the OK button to apply the change and to go back to the Internet Options window. Note: Other settings can cause old dat...

Step 7 Setup Your Client Internet Browser, Continued Step Description 7 You are prompted with a Warning window. Left click the Yes button to accept the changes to the Internet zone and to go back to the Internet Options window. 8 Left click the Apply button and then the OK button to make the changes...

Step 8 Connect to the ARMC/2 from a Client System In order to connect to the ARMC/2 card, you must access the ARMC/2 from another system on the same network. This document refers to this other system as the client system. To do this, you must know the ARMC/2 card’s IP address. If you have installed ...

Step 8 Connect to the ARMC/2 from a Client System, Continued Step Description 3 Type in your Network Name. In this example, Your Network Name is the Network Name. Next, you must enter a range of IP addresses that you want to search. In this example, the ARMC/2 card’s IP address is between 172.16.2.2...

Step 8 Connect to the ARMC/2 from a Client System, Continued Step Description 7 In this example, the ARMC/2 card’s IP address is 172.16.2.243. Double left click on the IP address to start managing the ARMC/2 card and write down its IP address. Left click on the Finish button after ARMC2RMseek Locato...

Step 9 Load the ARMC/2 SDR and Soft Processor (SP) File for Your Server Board Model, Continued Step Description 3 Insert the ARMC/2 and browse to it. Select the SDR>G520> directory. . Note: You can create your own SDR and Soft Processor (SP) Files using the Platform Management Configuration Pr...

Step 9 Load the ARMC/2 SDR and Soft Processor (SP) File for Your Server Board Model, Continued Step Description 5 Left click the Upload button. 6 Once the SDR and Soft Processor (SP) File is uploaded, you are prompted with verification that the SDR and Soft Processor (SP) File uploaded. 7 Select the...

Chapter 3 Locating Your ARMC/2 Card Overview The Acer ARMC family of server and system remote management cards can be accessed from anywhere on your Intranet through an Internet browser. This is a great way to maintain your critical server when you are nowhere near it. This chapter explains how to l...

Locating Your ARMC/2 Card, Continued Step Description 6 If the IP range is correct, ARMC2RMseek Locator will locate the ARMC/2 card. It will list all ARMC/2 cards it has discovered. Note: If more than one ARMC/2 card is found, you can distinguish them by the ARMC/2 card’s name. The ARMC/2 card’s nam...

IP Address Range, Continued If the IP range is correct, ARMC2RMseek Locator locates all ARMC/2 cards. It lists all ARMC/2 cards it has discovered. Left click on the Finish button after ARMC2RMseek Locator discovers all ARMC/2 cards. Usage Once the program has been installed and setup, you can access...

Chapter 4 Using Your ARMC/2 ARMC/2 GUI Overview The ARMC/2 has a user-friendly Graphics User Interface (GUI) called the ARMC/2 GUI . It is designed to be easy to use. It has a low learning curve because it uses a standard Internet browser. You can expect to be up and running in less than five minute...

ARMC/2 GUI Explained After you successfully log into your ARMC/2, you are greeted with the ARMC/2 GUI . Session Information Menu Bar Quick Launch Icons Menu Bar There is a menu bar located at the top of the ARMC/2 GUI . It lists the following groups: • Manage Group • Configure Group • View Group You...

Manage Group You can left click on the Manage menu item from the menu bar. The following table gives you a brief description of each menu item. Each menu item is explained in more detail further in this section. Function Description Remote Console This menu item allows you to start a Remote Console ...

Redirection The most powerful feature of your ARMC/2 is the ability to redirect the host system’s console. To redirect the host system’s console is the ability to manage your host system as if it were physically in front of you, but not. Setting up Internet Explorer You must first setup your Interne...

Redirection, Continued Setting up Internet Explorer, Continued Step Description 3 The Settings window opens. Left click the Every visit to the page button or Automatically button. Left click the OK button to apply the change and to go back to the Internet Options window. Note: Other settings can cau...

Redirection, Continued Staring Redirection Follow the steps in the table below to begin Console Redirection : Step Description 1 Left click the Manage menu item from the ARMC/2 menu bar. Left click the Remote Console menu item from the drop down menu. Left click the Remote Console mode that you want...

Redirection, Continued Staring Redirection, Continued Step Description 3 The Authentication window opens. Type your Username and Password and click the Login button. 4 The Console Redirection window opens. Cont’d Chapter Four : Using Your ARMC/2 49

Redirection, Continued Remote Console Shortcut Key Combinations The most powerful feature of your ARMC/2 is the ability to redirect the host system’s console. To redirect the host system’s console is the ability to manage your host system as if it were physically in front of you, but not. The follow...

Redirection, Continued Console Redirection Window Dropdown Menu Item Description This dropdown menu contains the following dropdown menu items: Start Console Redirection This menu item can be used to begin Console Redirection. Stop Console Redirection This menu item can be used to halt Console Redir...

Redirection, Continued Console Redirection Window, Continued Dropdown Menu Item Description This dropdown menu contains the following dropdown menu items: Hold Right CTRL Key This menu item can be used to act as the right-side <CTRL> key when in Console Redirection. Hold Right ALT Key This men...

Redirection, Continued Console Redirection Toolbar The Console Redirection toolbar allows you to use Console Redirection more easily in full screen mode. The Console Redirection toolbar is a great GUI to use especially if you are not familiar with the shortcut key combinations. Follow the steps in t...

Redirection, Continued Console Redirection Toolbar Toggle Buttons Icon Description When you see this icon, it means that the Console Redirection is on. You can left click this icon to stop Console Redirection. When you see this icon, it means that Console Redirection is stopped. You can left click t...

Redirection, Continued Start CD-ROM Drive Redirection Note: You must be logged in as an administrator on the windows client to perform CD-ROM drive and Floppy drive redirection. There are a number of ways to start CD-ROM Drive Redirection . See the following table: Method Description 1 Use the keybo...

Redirection, Continued Start CD-ROM Drive Redirection, Continued Note: For information on how to create a bootable CD, visit nero.com or roxio.com. You can do a search on how to create a bootable CD using their products. You can also consult your CD writer's documentation. Once you open the CD-ROM D...

Redirection, Continued Stop CD-ROM Drive Redirection There are a number of ways to stop CD-ROM Drive Redirection . See the following table: Method Description 1 Use the keyboard shortcut keys, <ATL> + <E>, to stop CD-ROM Drive Redirection. 2 Use the Console Redirection toolbar. Simply le...

Redirection, Continued Stop CD-ROM Drive Redirection, Continued The Console Redirection status dialog box appears as it stops device redirection. Cont’d ARMC/2 User’s Guide 60

Redirection, Continued Start Floppy Drive Redirection Note: You must be logged in as an administrator on the windows client to perform CD-ROM drive and Floppy drive redirection. There are a number of ways to start Floppy Redirection . See the following table: Method Description 1 Use the keyboard sh...

Redirection, Continued Start Floppy Drive Redirection, Continued Once you open the Floppy Redirection Dialog Box , follow the steps below: Step Description 1 Select whether you want to redirect the floppy drive or a floppy image file. Left click the OK button. 2 Select the Floppy Drive you want to r...

Redirection, Continued Stop Floppy Drive Redirection There are a number of ways to stop Floppy Redirection . See the following table: Method Description 1 Use the keyboard shortcut keys, <ATL> + <P>, to stop Floppy Redirection. 2 Use the Console Redirection toolbar. Simply left click the...

Redirection, Continued Stop Floppy Drive Redirection, Continued The Console Redirection status dialog box appears as it stops device redirection. Cont’d Chapter Four : Using Your ARMC/2 65

Redirection, Continued Creating a Floppy Image, Continued Step Description 3 Select the floppy drive that you want to create the floppy image from. Select a location where you want the image to be stored and give it a file name. In this example, the file name is SampleImage.dat . Left click the Star...

Redirection, Continued Transferring a Floppy Image to a Floppy Disk Follow the steps in the table below to transfer a floppy image to a floppy disk. Step Description 1 Open the Floppy Image Creator program. 2 Select Transfer an Image file from a file to a Floppy Media and left click the Next button....

Redirection, Continued Transferring a Floppy Image to a Floppy Disk, Continued Step Description 3 Left click the Browse button to locate the floppy image file that you want to copy to the floppy disk. 4 In this example, the file name is SampleImage.dat . Left click the image file to select it and le...

Redirection, Continued Transferring a Floppy Image to a Floppy Disk, Continued Step Description 5 Left click the Start button to begin the image transfer to the floppy disk. 6 A progress dialog box opens displaying the status of the image transfer. Cont’d Chapter Four : Using Your ARMC/2 71

Redirection, Continued Follow the steps in the table below to stop Console Redirection : Step Description 1 Left click the Console Redirection dropdown menu item from the toolbar. The dropdown menu will appear. Left click Stop Console Redirection. Note: You can press the <ALT> key and the <...

Upgrade Firmware, Continued Updating Your ARMC/2’s Firmware Follow the steps in the table below to update your ARMC/2’s firmware: Step Description 1 Left click the Enter Upgrade Mode button. 2 The following dialog appears: Preparing to upgrade firmware. Please wait… Cont’d ARMC/2 User’s Guide 76

Upgrade Firmware, Continued Updating Your ARMC/2’s Firmware, Continued Step Description 5 Left click the Upload button to go to the next step. 6 The ARMC/2 firmware wizard will begin to check the existing firmware against the firmware file you are trying to load. Cont’d ARMC/2 User’s Guide 78

Upgrade Firmware, Continued Updating Your ARMC/2’s Firmware, Continued Step Description 7 Once it verifies the image, the following dialog box appears: Left click the OK button. 8 If the dialog box prompted that an update is necessary, left click the Flash button. If the wizard determined that no fl...

Reset ARMC/2 The Reset ARMC/2 menu item is a subsection of the Manage group. The Reset ARMC/2 is used to reset your ARMC/2 card. Follow the steps in the table below to reset your ARMC/2 card: Step Description 1 Left click the Manage menu item and then the Reset ARMC/2 menu item. 2 A confirmation dia...

Configure Group You can left click on the Configure menu item from the menu bar. The following table gives you a brief description of each menu item. Each menu item is explained in more detail further in this section. Function Description Users This menu item allows you to administer users that can ...

Users The Users screen is a subsection of the Configure group. This page allows you to configure the administrators who have access to the ARMC/2. The following table describes the information listed in this subsection in detail: Item Description Username This field displays a list of all users who ...

Users, Continued Adding Users Follow the steps in the table below to add an account: Step Description 1 Left click the Add button. 2 Enter a user name in the Username field. Your user name must be at least four characters long and no more than 32 characters long. User names are case-sensitive and mu...

Users, Continued Removing Users Follow the steps in the table below to remove an account: Step Description 1 Left click an account from the Username field. Once the account that you want to remove is highlighted, left click the Remove button. 2 A confirmation dialog box opens. Left click the OK butt...

Users, Continued Viewing and Editing Users Follow the steps in the table below to view and edit an account’s access rights and properties: Step Description 1 Left click an account from the Username field. Once the account you want to view and edit is highlighted, left click the Properties button. 2 ...

PMCP File Upload, Continued Step Description 3 Insert the ARMC/2 CD and browse to it. Select the SDR >G520> directory. Note: You can create your own SDR and Soft Processor (SP) Files using the Platform Management Configuration Program (PMCP) tool . Note: The Choose File browse window differs f...

View Group You can left click on the View menu item from the menu bar. The following table gives you a brief description of each menu item. Each menu item is explained in more detail further in this section. Function Description Card Health This menu item allows you to view the health information of...

Event Log Left click the Event Log menu item to view and clear the event logs. Notes: 1. Size of event log is 512 events. 2. When amount of event log arrives at 50% and 75%, ARMC/2 will send the alert event log. 3. When the event log gets full, it will overwrite the old event and continue to record ...

General Information, Continued General Information : Features Parameter Description Virtual Floppy This field displays whether or not floppy redirection is available. Virtual CDROM This field displays whether or not CD-ROM redirection is available. Virtual Keyboard/Mouse This field displays the type...

Appendix A ARMC/2 Universal Cable ARMC/2 Universal Cable Layout Note: If you do not use the chassis power on switch or chassis reset switch pins, you should place a plastic cap on them so that they do not short your motherboard. Do not use a standard jumper. It will short the connection. Appendix A ...

Appendix B ARMC2ConfigApp Overview The ARMC/2 card is normally configured through the Internet browser-based Remote Access Companion for ARMC/2. You can also configure your ARMC/2 card through the ARMC2ConfigApp utility. The ARMC2 ConfigApp utility is a GUI-based program that runs in Microsoft Windo...

ARMC2ConfigApp, Continued Step Description 3 If you are running the ARMC2ConfigApp program from a remote system, select the second radial button labeled ‘I want to connect to a ARMC2 on the network’. Type in the ARMC/2 card’s IP address in the field to the right of Card IP. Type in your user name an...

ARMC2ConfigApp, Continued User Manager Tab The User Manager tab allows you to manage the ARMC/2 card’s users. Here you can add, delete, and modify users. Field/ Button Description Add Button The Add button allows you to add a new administrator to the ARMC/2 card’s user list. The user name must be no...

ARMC2ConfigApp, Continued Adding a User The Add User fields are explained below: Field/ Button Description User Name You can enter the name of this account in this field. Description You can enter a short description for this account. Password You can use this field to enter the account password. No...

ARMC2ConfigApp, Continued User Properties Field/ Button Description User Name The selected ARMC/2 card user is displayed in this field. It cannot be changed. Description You can view and modify the short description for this account. Change Password Left click this box if you want to change the user...

ARMC2ConfigApp, Continued Network Configuration Tab The Network Configuration tab allows you to change the way the ARMC/2 card connects to the network. By default, the ARMC/2 card obtains an IP address dynamically via DHCP. You can change this by specifying the IP address, network mask, and gateway....

ARMC2ConfigApp, Continued Advanced Tab The Advanced tab allows you to force your ARMC/2 card’s on-board NIC to a specific MAC address. The Advanced fields are explained below: Field/ Button Description Current MAC Address The Current MAC Address field displays your current ARMC/2 card’s MAC address....

WinCuri The WinCuri program is a command prompt-based program that you can use to configure the ARMC/2 card. It allows you all the functionality of both the Internet browser-based Remote Access Companion for ARMC/2 and the ARMC2ConfigApp program. To run the WinCuri program, double left click the Win...

WinCuri, Continued WinCuri.exe Help File, Continued Script mode Commands: ----------------------------- Script file format is any of the other argument formats mentioned below For e.g : WinCuri -script myscr.scr -script ScriptFile myscr.scr can contain the fllowing lines if you want to get all users...

WinCuri, Continued WinCuri.exe Help File, Continued Host HeartBeat commands ----------------------- -HB -GetHB -HB -SetHB <Heartbeat Time Interval (Seconds)> - <Between 6 and 2147483646> General purpose commands ----------------------------- -Gen -Reset -SaveConfig|-NoConfig (Reset ARMC ...

LinCuri, Continued LinCuri Help File _______________________ LinCuri version 1.5.7.0 _______________________ Usage: ./LinCuri -[nw IP username] [cd] <arguments> ------- Example: ./LinCuri -nw 10.10.1.10 username -sel -listall to connect on network ./LinCuri -cd -sel -listall to connect via hos...

Appendix C ARMC/2 Remote Recovery Application (RRA) ARMC/2 Card Remote Recovery Application (RRA) The Remote Recovery Application (RRA) is a recovery tool that can be executed from a remote client system located on the same network as the ARMC/2 card. You can use it to recover a failed flash attempt...

ARMC/2 Card Remote Recovery Application (RRA), Continued Step Description The Active Cards in Recovery Mode screen appears and starts to search for ARMC/2 cards in Recovery Mode. Left click the ARMC/2 card’s MAC address that you want to configure. The Active Cards in Recovery Mode buttons are explai...

ARMC/2 Card Remote Recovery Application (RRA), Continued Step Description The Card Settings screen appears. The Card Setting fields are explained in the table below: Field/ Button Description Select Card Number dropdown box The ARMC/2 Remote Recovery Application (RRA) automatically assigns a card nu...

ARMC/2 Card Remote Recovery Application (RRA), Continued Step Description 4 When you left click the Browse button, the open firmware file (.ima) screen appears. Left click the Open button to select the image. Step Description 5 Complete Flash Left click the Complete Flash selection to flash firmware...

Step Description 6 Left click the Flash button to flash firmware. 7 Left click the Flash button to flash firmware. ARMC/2 User’s Guide 130

Step Description 8 Diagnostics function The diagnostics function is a debugging tool for engineer of manufacturer. Please don't use this function. Appendix D : Troubleshooting 131

Appendix D Troubleshooting Screen Distortion Problem The screen on the host system is blurry when using screen resolutions lower than 1024x768. This happens when you use both console redirection and the physical terminal on the host system. Clarity Image Normal Blurry Symptom The ARMC/2 card's VGA c...

Screen Distortion, Continued Symptom, Continued When the analog signal is set lower than 1024x768 (for example: 800x600), the ARMC/2 card’s video controller will use ratio metric expansion to bring the screen to 1024x768. Because of this, the screen will become blurry. Solution To correct this, set ...

BMC Not Responding Problem The BMC does not respond. Symptom You cannot power off, power on, or power cycle the host system. You cannot obtain Host System health information. Solution Make sure that in IPMI configuration "Use server's onboard BMC to access health information" is checked. Con...

Cannot Power On the Host System Remotely Problem Cannot remotely power on, power off, or power cycle the host system. Symptom When connected to the ARMC/2 remotely (using the GUI), power on, power off, and power cycle does not work properly. Solution The user should make sure that the feature cable ...

Appendix E Serial Over LAN Hardware Setup You can use an external serial port connector and null modem cable to setup the ARMC/2 to perform Serial over LAN operations. To do this, you must have an external 9-pin serial port connector and cable plugged into the ARMC/2 card’s serial port connector at ...

Hardware Setup, Continued BIOS After you have established a physical connection from your host system’s serial port to you ARMC/2 card, you must enable Remote Access in your BIOS. Step Description 1 From the host system’s terminal, enter the BIOS setup. 2 Confirm that your Onboard Serial Port you ar...

Appendix F Port Usage Port Usage Table Port Protocol Purpose Direction 5121 TCP Remote Keyboard and Mouse data (iUSB HID) Bi-directional. Data sent from the ARMC/2 card to the client as well as from the client to the ARMC/2 card. 5120 TCP CD Redirection (iUSB – CD) Bi-directional. Data sent from the...

Appendix G MAC Address Map MAC Address Location Description 00-40-D9-02-9B-3C Server Room, Rack 2, 5 Windows 2003 Advanced Server, Mail Server Index 141

Appendix H Tree Structure and Description of CD Contents ARMC/2 CD ARMC/2 CD Image CD Contents The ARMC/2 CD contains many files that help you use the ARMC/2 card. The main ones you need to be aware of are as follows: File Location Description Readme.txt CDROM\ Readme.txt file for the ARMC2 product ...

Appendix I GtkRConsoleARMC2 for Linux Installation If you are using a Linux client system to connect to the ARMC/2 card, you can run the gtkRConsoleARMC2 utility to remotely control the ARMC/2 card and redirect the host system’s keyboard, video, and mouse. Note: The gtkRConsoleARMC2 utility must be ...