Console switches fail to boot - Servers

Resolving The Problem

RETAIN tip: H192304

The Console Switch will not boot when powering on the Console Switch, 1735-1LX and 1735-2LX, with eight or more Console Switch Cable (Option 31R3134 or 31R3132) devices attached to targets, none of which are powered on. The power LED will flash on and off. If the PrtSc key is pressed, the OSCAR menu will not appear because the Console Switch never actually turned on.

The following conditions must be met to see the symptoms:

1. Eight or more servers must have at least one of their PS 2 connectors connected to the Console Switch.
2. All servers must be powered down.
3. With the above two conditions met, the Console Switch 's power button is switched on.

This tip is not hardware specific.

The system is configured with one or more of the following IBM Options:

• 1x8 Console Switch, Option 17351LX
• 2x16 Console Switch, Option 17352LX
• IBM 3M Console Switch Cable (USB), Option 31R3132

The BOOT CODE version 1.0.1.7 and version 1.0.2.1 firmware for the 1735-1LX and 1735-2LX Console Switch is affected.

This tip is not software specific.

This behavior is corrected with the boot code v2.0.0 (or later).

The referenced file is available from the IBM 1x8 and 2x16 Console Switch Enhancements web page.

Open the document and download the code update.

Note: The unit firmware code can only be updated in Microsoft Windows.

For additional update instructions, refer to the User Guide available in document Installation and User's Guide - IBM Console Switch. See "Appendix A: Firmware Upgrades" for detailed instructions.

Option 1:

Power on the Console Switch first and then power on servers.

Option 2:

Have at least one target server powered at the time the Console Switch is booted.

Option 3:

If the Console Switch is in the state mentioned in the symptoms section, either power on one of the target servers attached to the Console Switch or disconnect Console Switch cables (either at the Console Switch or both the mouse and keyboard connector at the target system) until there are seven or fewer attached to the Console Switch.

This issue only occurs at boot time and only when the conditions listed in the symptoms section are met. The Console Switch works correctly as long as it is not booted up with those conditions met and it also works correctly after boot up. According to the IBM Console Switch Quick Installation Guide, the servers are supposed to be powered on before the Console Switch is powered for correct operation. This issue actually only occurs when the user follows a startup sequence outside the recommended guidelines (i.e. starts Console Switch and then servers).