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1: System Installation
Connecting the System Console
This section explains how to attach and establish a connection between a system console and an
Altix 450 system. The system console enables you to perform the following activities:
• Start a Linux console session to set up networking and other configuration parameters.
• Monitor your system by reading the status and error message information that the L1
controller generates.
• Enter L1 controller commands to monitor or change particular system functions. You can,
for example, monitor the speed of fans for a particular module. See the SGI L1 and L2
Controller Software User’s Guide (007-3938-00x) for descriptions of the L1 controller
commands that you can use.
• Power-on or power-off your system.
To attach a PC to your server system, connect a null modem serial cable between the PC and the
Console port of the IRU (see Figure 1-19). To establish a connection between your system and the
system console (PC), follow these steps:
1. Ensure that the L1 controller of the base compute module is powered on. When the base
compute module is connected to a power source, the L1 controller should be powered on.
Note: When powered on, the L1 controller displays L1 running. If it does not display L1
running, check the connection between the base compute module and the power source. In
addition, ensure that the circuit breaker of the power source is on.
2. Power on the system console.
3. Ensure that the system console has the following network settings:
• Baud 38400
• No parity
• 8 data bits
• 1 stop bit
• Hardware flow control on (RTS/CTS)
4. Type cu -l ttys0 -S38400 for a Linux based console, and then press Enter to
display the L1 prompt. If the console uses another operating system, start a terminal
emulation program as instructed in the console’s user documentation.