AlterPath™ KVM Family Appliances
Release Notes
Version 3.0.0
19 October 2006
This document outlines:
1. Update Instructions
2. Appliance Firmware Version and Language Support Information
3. Enhancements
4. Fixes
5. Known Issues
6. Flash Update Failure Recovery
Update Instructions
Appliance Firmware
Please refer to the KVM user manual for detailed Appliance firmware update instructions.
Appliance Boot Code
The KVM/netPlus boot code can be updated by following these instructions:
1. Connect to the KVM/netPlus using the console port (see the KVM/netPlus user manual for instructions on how to do this).
2. Power cycle the KVM/netPlus and wait for the “Hit any key to stop autoboot” message; press a key at this prompt.
3. There are two boot methods for the KVM/netPlus: network and hardware.
Network boot allows the KVM/netPlus to use TFTP to obtain the firmware image from a remote network server. With hardware boot, the KVM/netPlus boots from a firmware image stored in the appliance’s local compact flash. It is important to note the current boot method: at the U-Boot command-line, type net_boot single if the KVM/netPlus is configured to network boot and hw_boot single if the KVM/netPlus is configured to boot from a flash image.
4. Log in as root (the default password is “cyclades”).
5. Set up basic networking by assigning an IP address to the KVM/netPlus. This can be done with the command ifconfig eth0 <ip address> where <ip address> is the IP address to assign the KVM/netPlus.
6. Use FTP or SCP to transfer the boot code image to /proc/flash/boot_ori on the KVM/netPlus filesystem (e.g. scp username@1.2.3.4:u-boot.bin
/proc/flash/boot_ori).
7. Restart the KVM/netPlus by typing reboot on the command line.
Appliance Firmware Version and Language Support Information

KVM, KVM/net Opcode V_3.0.0
Filename
FL0551001.bin
KVM/netPlus Opcode V_3.0.0 FL0552001.bin microcode
KVM Expander microcode
Microcode 1.0.2b KVMExpander_v102.bin
KVM/netPlus Boot FL0553001.bin
KVM/net,
KVM/netPlus
KVM/IP Module
Microcode
1.0.6.0
(05.09.01.6)
1.0.6.0-05.09.01.6.bin
Enhancements
1. Integration of Cyclades® KVM Appliance into DSView® 3 Management
Software -
The Cyclades KVM appliance is integrated into DSView 3 software using
Cyclades KVM Plug-in version1.0.0. This allows access, configuration and management of Cyclades KVM console server from DSView 3 management software. Cyclades KVM appliance firmware version 3.0.0 and Cyclades KVM
Plug-in version 1.0.0 for DSView 3 software version 3.3 are required to manage
Cyclades KVM appliances.
Please refer to your DSView 3 software version 3.3 and Cyclades KVM Plug-in version 1.0.0 manuals and release notes for detailed configuration instructions.
2. Support for Centralized Authentication –
Support for Centralized Authentication through DSView 3 software has been added. This is in addition to the existing authentication types supported in
Cyclades KVM console server. The three new authentication types added into
Cyclades KVM appliance are DSView, DSView/Local or DSViewDownLocal. To enable centralized authentication, any of the three DSView 3 authentication types should be selected. When one of these three (3) authentication types are selected, the Authentication Service configured in DSView 3 software is used to authenticate users accessing the Cyclades KVM appliance. DSView/Local is selected by default for centralized authentication.
3. Firmware Management –
Support for scheduling of firmware uploads to Cyclades KVM appliances and
Cyclades PM power management devices from DSView 3 software has been added.
4. Topology Synchronization –
Support for pull and push of topology from DSView 3 software and/or Cyclades
KVM console server has been added.

5. Save and Restore of Cyclades KVM configuration –
Support for saving and restoring Cyclades KVM console server configuration from DSView 3 software has been added.
6. New Syslog Message Format and New Messages –
Support for new format for the Syslog messages plus new Syslog messages have been added.
Fixes
•
Improved the reliability of KVM/IP connections in certain network environments (#7156).
Known Issues
Appliance
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KVM/IP connections may be dropped when KVM services are restarted after a configuration change (#15781).
The session control panel on the KVM/netPlus may not inform the user of the current port when using the cycle feature if the cycle time is very short
(~ 5 seconds) (#15785).
An error may occur when configuring multiple notifications (#15796).
Instability may occur if the user navigates the WMI in such a way as to trigger multiple configuration pop-up windows without closing previous pop-up windows (#15798).
On the local station, the user may be allowed to adjust video settings when there is no Terminator connected: this should not be allowed. When this occurs, the user may experience unexpected behavior (#15784).
On the local station, the cycle time may revert to the default cycle time despite a change in the configuration (#15794).
In rare cases, the list of available ports in the WMI Access page may be blank; the appliance should be restarted in this state (#15691).
DSView 3 KVM Plug-in
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To manage Cyclades KVM console server from DSView 3 software version 3.3, Cyclades KVM console server version 3.0.0 is required.
Cyclades KVM appliances that were added in previous versions of
DSView 3 software should be deleted from DSView 3 software before
DSView 3 software is upgraded to version 3.3. Cyclades KVM appliance should be upgraded to Version 3.0.0 then added back to DSView 3 software version 3.3.

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DSView 3 target names should not have spaces or a tilde (‘~’). If a target name has spaces or tilde, the DSView 3 push name operation will fail.
Cyclades KVM eth0 IP should be used in the DSView 3 Add Appliance
Wizard. If sub-interface IPs are used, data logging and syslog event notification will not work.
For communications with DSView 3 software, Cyclades KVM appliance v3.0.0 during its first boot will by default create an “admin” user with a random password. The Admin user is only created if the Admin user does not exist from previous versions of the firmware. DSView 3 software uses
“admin” user for communications with Cyclades KVM appliance. Login as root user and re-assign the password as per your requirements for the
“admin” user.
Longer boot time for first time boot of factory default Cyclades KVM appliance. During the first boot of an appliance with factory configuration, the SSHD keys are generated. This is a slow process. SSHD will accept connections after the keys are generated.
When NIS authentication is configured, the Web interface and the SSHD daemon needs to be restarted.
DSView 3 Firmware Upgrade of attached IPDU’s will upgrade the firmware of all IPDU’s of an IPDU chain (#15734).
DSView 3 Save Configuration and Restore Configuration should be applied to the same appliance. Configuration saved from one appliance should not be restored to another appliance because the IP and
Certificates are restored (#15703).
10. DHCP configuration cannot be enabled from DSView 3 software. The change of network configuration from Static IP do DHCP should be done directly in the appliance (#15755).
11. The maximum value accepted for KVM Session Idle Timeout or Screen
Saver Timeout is 60 minutes. You can save greater values but the maximum timeout is still 60 minutes (#15756).
12. DsView 3 software will display repeated entries in Active Session if the target is connected to a cascaded KVM appliance (#15788).
FLASH Update Failure Recovery
Please refer to the KVM user manual for recovery procedures.