Chapter 8: Power, Environmental & Digital I/O
168 Console Server & RIM Gateway User Manual
POWER, ENVIRONMENT & DIGITAL I/O
Opengear console servers manage Remote Power Control devices (RPCs including PDUs and IPMI devices) and
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSes). They also monitor remote operating environments using Environmental
Monitoring Devices (EMDs) and sensors, and can provide digital I/O control.
8.1 Remote Power Control (RPC)
The console server Management Console monitors and controls Remote Power Control (RPC) devices using the
embedded PowerMan and Network UPS Tools open source management tools and Opengear’s power management
software. RPCs include power distribution units (PDUs) and IPMI power devices.
Serial PDUs invariably can be controlled using their command line console, so you could manage the PDU through the
console server using a remote Telnet client. Also you could use proprietary software tools no doubt supplied by the
vendor. This generally runs on a remote Windows PC and you could configure the console server serial port to operate
with a serial COM port redirector in the PC (as detailed in Chapter 4). Similarly network-attached PDUs can be controlled
with a browser (e.g. with SDT as detailed in Chapter 6.3) or an SNMP management package or using the vendor supplied
control software. Also servers and network-attached appliances with embedded IPMI service processors or BMCs
invariably are supplied with their own management tools (like SoL) that will provide secure management when connected
using with SDT Connector.
However for simplicity all these devices can now all be controlled through the one window using the Management
Console’s RPC remote power control tools.
8.1.1 RPC connection
Serial and network connected RPCs must first be connected to, and configured to communicate with the console server:
 For serial RPCs connect the PDU to the selected serial port on the console server and from the Serial and
Network: Serial Port menu configure the Common Settings of that port with the RS232 properties etc required
by the PDU (refer Chapter 4.1.1 Common Settings). Then select RPC as the Device Type
 Similarly for each network connected RPC go to Serial & Network: Network Hosts menu and configure the RPC
as a connected Host by specifying it as Device Type: RPC and clicking Apply (refer Chapter 4.4 Network Hosts)
 Select the Serial & Network: RPC Connections menu. This will display all the RPC connections that have
already been configured
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