Configuring Front Panel USB Port to Management
Use the information in this topic to configure the XClarity Controller Front Panel USB Port to Management.
On some servers the front panel USB port can be switched to attach either to the server or to the XClarity Controller. Connection to the XClarity Controller is primarily intended for use with a mobile device running the Lenovo XClarity Mobile app. When a USB cable is connected between the mobile device and the server’s front panel, an Ethernet over USB connection will be established between the mobile app running on the device and the XClarity Controller.
Click Network under BMC Configuration to view or modify XClarity Controller front panel USB port to management settings.
- Host Only Mode
- The front panel USB port is always connected only to the server.
- BMC Only Mode
- The front panel USB port is always connected only to the XClarity Controller.
- Shared Mode: owned by BMC
- The front panel USB port is shared by both the server and the XClarity Controller, but the port is switched to the XClarity Controller.
- Shared Mode: owned by Host
- The front panel USB port is shared by both the server and the XClarity Controller, but the port is switched to the host.
For additional information about the Mobile app, see the following site:
Lenovo XClarity Administrator Mobile app online documentation
- If the front panel USB port is configured for Shared Mode, the port is connected to the XClarity Controller when there is no power, and is connected to the server when there is power. When there is power, the control of the front panel USB port can be switched back and forth between the server and the XClarity Controller. In shared mode, the port can also be switched between the host and the XClarity Controller by pressing and holding the front panel Identification button (for compute nodes it may be the USB management button) for more than 3 seconds.
- When configured in Shared Mode and the USB port is currently connected to the server, the XClarity Controller can support a request to switch the front panel USB port back to the XClarity Controller. When this request is executed, the front panel USB port will remain connected to the XClarity Controller until there is no USB activity to the XClarity Controller for the period specified by the inactivity timeout.