Windows Server 64-bit version and 2161DS-2 Remote Console Switch

Are you having the problem from the local access port or the remote console software? Also, have you tried connecting via web browser client if you are connecting through the RCS java application software? I believe the RCS software doesnt support 64 bit systems but you should still be able to connect via a web browser session without issues.

I have problems both locally and remotely; different problems, though.  Locally I have the keyboard mapping issue (i.e. I can log in, but don't get the correct keys mapped), and remotely through RCS (and also through pcAnywhere) I am unable to log in at all as the CTL-ALT-DEL function key does not work, i.e. it does not open up the login box.

 

I can't connect via a web browser as I believe I'm blocked by our firewall.

 

Thanks; any further help you can give will be gratefully accepted.

 

Peter Bray

Here's another question that I can't resolve: Is the firmware on the 2161DS-2 switch upgradeable to support 64-bit operation and, if not, is there another switch that /will/ support 64-bit?

 

And if there IS a firmware upgrade, can you point me to the download location and give me instructions how to upgrade as I'm afraid Dell's web site isn't very easy to follow in that respect!

 

When I go into "Manage Remote Console Switch", I see the following information, if it helps:

 

Versions:

  Application    01.00.13.01

  Boot            01.00.00.04

  OSCAR ASIC  00.00.16.00

  UART FPGA    01.00.01.00

  Video FPGA    01.00.00.13

 

Hardware         00.15.00.00

 

SIPS

  Information

    Application   03.00.03.00

    Boot            03.00.01.02

    Hardware      10.00.00.00

  Firmware Available

    Hardware      03.00.06.04

 

Peter Bray

Some further information.  I can now access the server, but not through the Remote Console or pcAnywhere.  I discovered that if I connect to another server on the same network (with an x.x.x.68 IP address; the problem server has an x.x.x.60 IP address) I can connect to the problem server via the Remote Desktop function.

 

The connection isn't brilliant; it's very slow and it sometimes takes two clicks on a button to respond, but it does work, except that when I click on "Log Off" or "Shutdown", it highlights those choices but then does not bring up the appropriate window.  So I can't reboot this server remotely, which I had hoped to do to see if that resolves the issue.

 

Losing hope rapidly!

 

Peter Bray

Peter,

 

The server IP address shouldnt have anything to do with the issue. I noticed that you have an outdated firmware version. If you have the Dell 21651DS-2 the firmware rev should be at the latest (1.2.3.1). You can download the latest firmware rev below:

 

http://dell.avocent.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=63&func=select&id=22

 

Second recommendation, After you have downloaded the firmware upgrade try testing the network connection on the back of the switch (LAN port) using a x-over cable to a laptop/desktop directly bypassing your network switch. This is the performance that you should be experiencing when connecting to the network switch. If the performance connected directly using a x-over cable is faster then you will need to check the network speed settings on both ends (Ethernet and 2161DS-2 switches).

 

Third, After completing the firmware upgrade try out the web browser interface by typing in the IP address of the 2161DS-2 in to your browser. Check to see if you still have the same issue.

I downloaded the firmware as suggested, and tried to upgrade.  I get the message "The Remote Console Switch is unable to perform the operation at this time.  Please try again later."  I attempted to do the upgrade through ASMP, and the file I used was 2161DS2_4161DS_1.2.fl, but even though I tried several times, minutes apart, the upgrade failed each time.

 

There are no other users on the switch; I upgraded the SIP firmware on all 7 PS/2 ports successfully; I even rebooted the switch and retried, but no luck.  Do I have the correct firmware upgrade file?  Does ASMP have to be activated on the switch, and is there any way I can check remotely if it HAS been activated?

 

Peter Bray

Well, I've resolved the firmware issue.  It appears that I wasn't just missing the 1.2.3.1 firmware update, but also the 1.1.0.0 update.  Downloaded both updates, applied them in sequence, rebooted each time, and the switch now shows the latest version.

 

Now I can also connect to the switch through a web browser, which I couldn't do before.  Interesting thing, when I connect this way, is that the connection shows me the 7 current servers, plus the 4 that I removed a while back; any way of removing these permanently from the display?

 

But, alas, I still have no connectivity to the 64-bit server.  Through the Remote Console Software I see the login screen, but I get no response when I hit CTRL-ALT-DEL.  Through pcAnywhere, I can't even connect.

 

Back to square one!

Peter Bray

You can delete the offline servers by simply clicking on the configure tab- Servers- SIP..There should be a delete offline SIP option in the bottom right corner.

 

To launch the CTRL-ALT-DEL command you will need to click on the MACROS button on the top of the video viewer window.

Thanks for all your help, "Avocent".  Since I upgraded the firmware, and did a reboot of the 64-bit server, I am now able to connect through the web interface.  Connection through pcAnywhere is still only available on the 32-bit servers, but that's because I've now discovered, through Symantec, that version 10.5 of pcAnywhere (which I'm using) doesn't support 64-bit hardware.

 

Peter Bray