[Info-vax] IP KVM for PS/2 Alphaservers?

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2015-06-08 13:19:09 +0000, Rod Regier said:

> I would like to deploy an IP-capable KVM product that is compatible 
> with the DS10 and DS15 Alphaserver PS/2 interfaces.
> 
> I tried using the StarTech SV1641HDIE product, but learned the Alpha 
> Power On Self-Test (POST) firmware keyboard handshake is incompatible 
> with the handshake supported by the StarTech product. Iterated with 
> StarTech tech support on the issue to no resolution.  Apparently there 
> are at least two classes of PS/2 handshake.
> 
> I could not find an adapter that would take a single combo USB plug and 
> map it to outputs that look like separate PS/2 keyboard and mouse.  
> (Lots of products that go the other direction, and lots of products 
> that will separately convert a USB keyboard to a PS/2 keyboard 
> connector *and* a USB mouse into a PS/2 mouse output).   None of that 
> is useful for a KVM combo USB plug conversion.
> 
> Has anyone successfully deployed an IP-capable KVM for PS/2 
> Alphaservers and if so what mfgr/model did you use?
> 
> Thanks

FWIW...

I've successfully used a few wired KVMs with AlphaServer boxes over the 
years, but have not tried IP KVMs.  Those KVM boxes were also PS/2 KVM 
boxes, and not USB.  Mostly Raritan.

If you want to play further and beyond the power-up sequence that's 
sent to the host, you also need a KVM that supports keyboard scanset 3. 
 Key-up and key-down.

For remote management (given the AlphaServer reference, and not an 
AlphaStation reference), I'd use a terminal server of some ilk and the 
COM1 console serial port, and not a KVM.  Treat it like an IP-connected 
iLO on an Itanium Integrity server, in other words.  Using the RMC 
that's usually present in the DS-class boxes, you'll have remote power 
control, too.

I've had little success with the commonly-available USB-PS/2 adapters 
and OpenVMS (non-USB) LK keyboards, and I'd expect about equivalent 
success going the other way.  I'd expect to need to create some custom 
hardware.

Related:
http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/92#comment-2959
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.os.vms/KQwGpKG3Okw/dTnvBbSzjU0J
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.os.vms/zkwF0ktVqvs/nN74xnRQHI8J
http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/445 (RMC)

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