Silly console question.

Question

Hello All -
I have several 210's up and running happily.
I need to console into one which has gone down.
Using a Cat5E patch cord, and the supplied db-9 to rj45 adapter that came with the server, the silver adapter...I believe it's part number 530-3600-xx?
Connecting to the rj45 serial management port on the back of the server.
Using Hyperterm, 9600 8N1, no flow control (tried hardware and software).
I get 0 output to the console. Powering the server off and on, same problem.
I've swapped laptops, cables, connectors.
Any thoughts as to what the heck I'm missing?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as silly console question ;o)
Try to use your cable on another server ...
Unfortunately the silvery thingies provided by Sun are sometimes DTE (Term) sometimes DCE(Modem). Don't ask
In some occasions using a straight through Cat5 cable is enough to DTE - DCE thing straighten up (it 'swaps' pins 3 & 6 on the RJ45 by sendin 3 to 3 and 6 to 6 the Orand & Orange/White Pair)(see sunfan's post http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5248128&tstart=0) if it does not work try a CrossOver cable in lieu of Straight through (3 to 6 on RJ45)
If things are still not working, which can be the case if V210 needs more than Ground get a standard CISCO DB9 to RJ45 cable to connect to the Serial RJ45 at the back of the server.
If there is nothing of the above working build your own cable, I did mine cutting a DB25 Null Modem cable right in the middle and splicing the wires back (matching colours) together and then cut one end off a Cat5 and slice with the previous Null Modem as follow (see table). One DB25 end would then be DTE and the other one DCE ... I haven't find a server that does not want to print out something ... unless the connector is oxidised (that happens too).
DTE
DB-9     DB-25 Signal Function Adapter RJ-45
8 5 CTS Clear To Send Blue 1
1 8 DCD Data Carrier Detect Orange 2
2 3 RD Received Data Black 3
5 7 SG Signal Ground Red 4
5 7 SG Signal Ground Green 5
3 2 TD Transmitted Data Yellow 6
4 20 DTR Data Terminal Ready Brown 7
7 4 RTS Request To Send White 8
6 6 DSR Data Set Ready     -     -
9 22 RI Ring Indicator     -     -
The console may have been redirected to TTYB ... but at least you should see the ALOM logging.
All the best
Cheers
B.
Sorry the post does not show the table properly ... just tab it.
Edited by: Fortever on Jan 3, 2008 10:42 AM