It sounds like the KVM switch is not responding to the polling at POST. I wouldn't consider this a PowerEdge specific problem. When any system polls the keyboard it will need to respond. Does the Power Edge server boot when it is selected by the switch during post?
The PE does start if the switch is selecting it. It does NOT start if the switch is selecting another machine.
I consider it a Dell "compatibility" (PE2400-specific?) problem only because I have not generally had this problem with other servers and workstations from Dell and other companies. Actually, I have had this problem with other Dells. Dimension XPS-Ts, for example. :)
Belkin, among other KVM switch manufacturers, provide circuitry which *constantly* emulates a connected keyboard and mouse. While I'm sure that it's a small bit of electronic voodoo, and therefore vulnerable to "unpredictable results" and quirks, I'm just frustrated that this system in particular won't work with it. I wonder: what is the PE2400 doing during the POST that is so particular? How complicated does a "hello, mousie, are you there?" have to be? :)
and reviewed the manual for the 4 port Omniview #F1D104 and read the manual. It is in PDF format so I couldn't cut and paste anything. Error free boots and keyboard and mouse emulation is mentioned but what caught my eye was on page 14, first question where the article reads - "Do not press any keys on the keyboard while the selected computer is booting up." I believe the computer has to be selected in order to boot properly. You might want to contact Belkin technical support to confirm this. If you do so, would you please reports their response here in the forum?
The system will startup if I disable the error halt/reporting in BIOS or if I press F1 or whatever my choice is to bypass the halt/error. The problem is not that it won't boot, per se. It that when it has started up, I have NO way to control the machine. No input devices. I can not hit CTRL-ALT-DEL to login or shutdown. I have to hit the reset button, risking data loss.
That said, I have found that I can safely reboot the thing from within PCAnywhere. So, while I still think there's a significantly serious problem with using (this/a) KVM switch on this machine, I have found some workarounds.
My ultimate goal was to be able to restart the server remotely using PCAnywhere. But, if by some (good) chance the PE2400 didn't happen to be the last system I was working on the last time I was in my server room, then I was screweed. So, then I got the idea to try to use thI *wish* I could use PCAnywhere to try to send the keystroke that tells the KVM switch to select a particular machine. At the console it's something like ScrollLock twice followed by the unit number. But, for some reason that doesn't work either.
So, for now, I make a habit of selecting the PE2400 before walking away from this beast. NOTE: all my other hand-built Pentium clones work on this switch just fiiiiine. :)
I had the exact same problem with my 2450 and the Belkin.
In the newsgroups, someone mentioned that the LinkSys Proconnect (SVIEW4 or SVIEW8) had no problems, so I got the 4-port and am happy to report that there are no problems with the 1300 and 2450 servers. I haven't tested it yet with my 4300, but I'm assuming it'll be OK - though it's never a good idea to assume.
Another model that was mentioned was the Aten Masterview Plus, and a dell rep in another thread in this forum said that Dell uses the Apex Outlook in their server farms.
[Follow-up by original poster]
After contacting Belkin, they have sent a replacement unit with updated firmware that they think/hope will solve the problem. I haven't put it into service yet, as it will require downtime for four systems, three of which are my companies most important production systems. I'll post again with the results.
We're experiencing the same problems with our Poweredge 350 and both our Belkin OmniView Pro 8 and 4 port (OSD). I talked to Belkin today and the tech was not aware of any problems. Our units are still under warrantee and they are shipping the new model to replace the old to see if that fixes the problem.
We are having the same trouble with Belkin KVMs on PowerEdge 4300,4400,1650 and 350s. We tried a Belkin Cat5 Extender with very mixed results. An Optiplex that we also have connected won't boot at all with it. The others boot as long as you disable the report keyboard error feature in the BIOS. About half of the time, we lose either mouse or keyboard on up to half of the servers and don't get it back until reboot (if then). We then bought a Belkin KVM over IP hoping that would solve the problem but we can't connect to it via IP at all and the console port/mouse acts extremely erratically. We're waiting for a Belkin engineer to call us back right now. I guess the Belkin/Dell combination just doesn't work?
I purchased five Dell servers (3 - PE1750 and 2 - PE2850) and attemped to hook them up to a Belkin Matrix2 KVM (F1DM208T) System that consists of two Matrix2 KVM daisy-chained together with a .5M cable and two CAT5 Extenders.
Given the context of this thread you probably know by now that they didn't work. The odd thing is that Dell Tech Support refused to transfer me to the "Escalation" Dept of their Tech Support System. They nice gentleman on the phone explained to me quite pleasantly that "It's third party hardware that you did not purchase from Dell, so it's not our problem".
It is quite obvious that Dell has a problem with the standards in which the PS/2 power is regulated. If a server is sold one would tend to assume (yes, I know never assume) that it will be used in a server environment!
After investing over $1000 in this KVM Solution (that works well with every server (12) in my server room, by-the-way) I can not simply just throw it out and start over with a "Dell Tested" KVM.
If anyone has a fix for this problem, please respond to this message.
jhcollier
Message Edited by jhcollier on 11-22-2004 10:06 AM
rholland
7 Posts
0
August 15th, 2000 19:00
It sounds like the KVM switch is not responding to the polling at POST. I wouldn't consider this a PowerEdge specific problem. When any system polls the keyboard it will need to respond. Does the Power Edge server boot when it is selected by the switch during post?
lvi1900
4 Posts
0
August 15th, 2000 21:00
The PE does start if the switch is selecting it. It does NOT start if the switch is selecting another machine.
I consider it a Dell "compatibility" (PE2400-specific?) problem only because I have not generally had this problem with other servers and workstations from Dell and other companies. Actually, I have had this problem with other Dells. Dimension XPS-Ts, for example. :)
Belkin, among other KVM switch manufacturers, provide circuitry which *constantly* emulates a connected keyboard and mouse. While I'm sure that it's a small bit of electronic voodoo, and therefore vulnerable to "unpredictable results" and quirks, I'm just frustrated that this system in particular won't work with it. I wonder: what is the PE2400 doing during the POST that is so particular? How complicated does a "hello, mousie, are you there?" have to be? :)
rholland
7 Posts
0
August 15th, 2000 22:00
I went to the Belkin website at
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=56&pcount=&Product_Id=12945&Section.Section_Path=%2FRoot%2FPeripheralSharing%2FKVMSwitches%2F#
and reviewed the manual for the 4 port Omniview #F1D104 and read the manual. It is in PDF format so I couldn't cut and paste anything. Error free boots and keyboard and mouse emulation is mentioned but what caught my eye was on page 14, first question where the article reads - "Do not press any keys on the keyboard while the selected computer is booting up." I believe the computer has to be selected in order to boot properly. You might want to contact Belkin technical support to confirm this. If you do so, would you please reports their response here in the forum?
lvi1900
4 Posts
0
August 16th, 2000 00:00
That said, I have found that I can safely reboot the thing from within PCAnywhere. So, while I still think there's a significantly serious problem with using (this/a) KVM switch on this machine, I have found some workarounds.
My ultimate goal was to be able to restart the server remotely using PCAnywhere. But, if by some (good) chance the PE2400 didn't happen to be the last system I was working on the last time I was in my server room, then I was screweed. So, then I got the idea to try to use thI *wish* I could use PCAnywhere to try to send the keystroke that tells the KVM switch to select a particular machine. At the console it's something like ScrollLock twice followed by the unit number. But, for some reason that doesn't work either.
So, for now, I make a habit of selecting the PE2400 before walking away from this beast. NOTE: all my other hand-built Pentium clones work on this switch just fiiiiine. :)
altavista101
1 Message
0
August 25th, 2000 19:00
In the newsgroups, someone mentioned that the LinkSys Proconnect (SVIEW4 or SVIEW8) had no problems, so I got the 4-port and am happy to report that there are no problems with the 1300 and 2450 servers. I haven't tested it yet with my 4300, but I'm assuming it'll be OK - though it's never a good idea to assume.
Another model that was mentioned was the Aten Masterview Plus, and a dell rep in another thread in this forum said that Dell uses the Apex Outlook in their server farms.
Good luck.
lvi1900
4 Posts
0
August 28th, 2000 15:00
After contacting Belkin, they have sent a replacement unit with updated firmware that they think/hope will solve the problem. I haven't put it into service yet, as it will require downtime for four systems, three of which are my companies most important production systems. I'll post again with the results.
athensdev
1 Message
0
November 5th, 2002 04:00
gaydosni
2 Posts
0
January 27th, 2003 20:00
m_morgan
2 Posts
0
April 8th, 2003 12:00
jhcollier
1 Message
0
November 20th, 2004 14:00
I purchased five Dell servers (3 - PE1750 and 2 - PE2850) and attemped to hook them up to a Belkin Matrix2 KVM (F1DM208T) System that consists of two Matrix2 KVM daisy-chained together with a .5M cable and two CAT5 Extenders.
Given the context of this thread you probably know by now that they didn't work. The odd thing is that Dell Tech Support refused to transfer me to the "Escalation" Dept of their Tech Support System. They nice gentleman on the phone explained to me quite pleasantly that "It's third party hardware that you did not purchase from Dell, so it's not our problem".
It is quite obvious that Dell has a problem with the standards in which the PS/2 power is regulated. If a server is sold one would tend to assume (yes, I know never assume) that it will be used in a server environment!
After investing over $1000 in this KVM Solution (that works well with every server (12) in my server room, by-the-way) I can not simply just throw it out and start over with a "Dell Tested" KVM.
If anyone has a fix for this problem, please respond to this message.
jhcollier
Message Edited by jhcollier on 11-22-2004 10:06 AM