This guide documents what we did to configure the unit we have here at Princeton. Different configurations are possible and whatever works for your site will probably be fine by us. We do recommend not using cleartext password protocols though. There is also an official QuickStart guide found on the BayTech documentation page.

DS4-RPC-UC552 Configuration Page

• 1 Overview

• 2 The Hardware

• 3 Configuration

  • 3.1 Configuring the DS74 Module

  • 3.2 Configuring the DS62 Module

  • 3.3 Configuring the BT-DS RPC Module

• 4 Final Touches

1 Overview

The DS4-RPC unit with DS62 and DS74 modules (known as the BayTech DS4-RPC-UC552) has multiple interfaces and configurations. This guide gives detailed instructions on how to connect and configure your unit to provide an SSH interface through which planetlab staff (and you) can log into the unit and powercycle the planetlab nodes as well as watch their console output via COMM.

2 The Hardware

In addition to the unit itself, in order to connect your unit properly you will need 3 cables to connect the RJ45 COMM ports located on the DS4 unit to the COMM ports on your planetlab nodes. (Likely these are DB9 ports which will then require an adapter). You will also need some standard ethernet cable to link the DS4 to the network. If you are a non US site check with BayTech to make sure you get a unit compatible with your power standards and outlets.

Serial port cables and adapters are available from Digi-Key:

Description

DigiKey Part Number

RJ45 to DB9 Adapter

046-0001-ND

RJ45-RJ45 Modular Cable Assembly

H1883R-07-ND

3 Configuration

In order to configure your DS4 unit you will need to first connect the left most port on the DS62 Module labeled EIA-232 to a comm port on your local machine. You can use one of the three cables meant for the nodes for this purpose. Connect to the unit using your favorite COMM software. I ran minicom on my Redhat linux box. Make sure to set the Input as 9600 8N1.

NOTE: If you press ";" 5 times in a row at any point you will return to the main menu.

What you should see:

    Module: 1
    Attention Character:  ;
    Device A         (2 ,1).........1
    Device B         (2 ,2).........2
    Device C         (2 ,3).........3
    Device D         (2 ,4).........4
    BT-DS RPC        (5 ,1).........5
    Status..........................S
    Configure.......................C
    Unit Reset......................RU
  Logout..........................T

3.1 Configuring the DS74 Module

The only thing I configured in this module was the name of the devices. Device A - D on the main menu refers to the comm port input on ports 1 - 4 respectively. I renamed them to "PL[port number] comm output" for the first 3 ports (where I had nodes connected) and named the fourth "no machine". To do this I went through the following menus:

1) C -- Configure
2) 2 -- DS74
3) 3 -- Port Device Name
For each node
  # -- Port number
  "PL # comm output" | "no machine"
4) X -- Exit

5) [Enter]

What you should now see:

    Module: 1
    Attention Character:  ;
    PL1 comm output  (2 ,1).........1
    PL2 comm output  (2 ,2).........2
    PL3 comm output  (2 ,3).........3
    no machine       (2 ,4).........4
    BT-DS RPC        (5 ,1).........5
    Status..........................S
    Configure.......................C
    Unit Reset......................RU
    Logout..........................T
  Enter Request :

3.2 Configuring the DS62 Module

Similar to the previous:

1) C -- Configure
2) 1 -- DS62

Gets us to the Configuration menu for the DS62 unit. First we can create a user/password pair for logging in.

1) 7 -- Login Setup
2) 2 -- Manage Users
3) A -- Add user

After entering the User name and password hit [Enter] until you return to the DS62 configuration menu. Next we will enter the network information. If you have DHCP the units have this enabled by default and it should have this information already. The "Network Port Configuration" option allows us to set it manually as well as enable and disable services as we see fit. My network setup:

1)  IP              -- Entered manually
2)  Subnet Mask     -- Entered manually
3)  Gateway Address -- Entered manually

7)  DHCP            -- Disable
8)  Telnet          -- Disable
9)  SSH             -- Enable
10) SSH Key Gen     -- Generated new key

Again, hit [Enter] until you return to the DS62 configuration menu. Here there are still options to configure SNMP, RPC, Web Server and Radius. I left RPC alone and disabled all others.

Hit "X" to exit and "Y" to save the changes.

3.3 Configuring the DT-DS RPC Module

From the main menu

1) C -- Configure
2) 3 -- BT-DS RPC

Gets us to the configuration menu for this unit. The first configuration I did here was to change the outlet names to correspond to the hostnames of the nodes connected. So:

1) 2 -- Change Outlet Name
For each outlet #
   # -- outlet #
   <Enter hostname>

Then I altered the Unit ID to from "BT-DS RPC" to "Control Outlets" for the sake of users who have no idea what these module names are.

1) 5 -- Change Unit ID
Current Unit ID: Control Outlets

Modify (Y/N)? Y
Control Outlets

There is the possiblity to create users and assign users to have control of specific ports. I chose not to create users for the sake of simplicity.

4 Final Touches

Logout and disconnect the comm cable from your PC. Connect the unit to your nodes via comm and power cord. (Make sure the ports on the comm and power plugs match what you set when naming the outlets and ports in the configuration) You should now be able to ssh into the box:

ssh <username>@<ip address>
<username>@<ip address>'s password: <password>

    DS-Series - F 1.07.02      (C) 2003 Bay Technical Associates
    Module Name:DS62

    Module: 1
    Attention Character:  ;
    PL1 comm output  (2 ,1).........1
    PL2 comm output  (2 ,2).........2
    PL3 comm output  (2 ,3).........3
    no machine       (2 ,4).........4
    Control Outlets  (5 ,1).........5
    Logout..........................T
 
  Enter Request :

Remember that ";;;;;" still takes you back to the main menu!