How to setup RSC console on Sun Fire 280R, V480, V490, V880, V890 servers

By default the console of Sun Fire 280R, V480, V490, V880, V890 servers can not be accessed over network. You need to be physically present in datacenter to access the server console. Certain hardware related logs can not be logged without RSC (Remote system control). The server can also be managed remotely through RSC ( It can be powered on/off remotely). You can use the serial port as shown in the picture below to access the server console physically at datacenter. The example is of V490 server.

To be able to access the server console over network we need to add the SC/RSC card in the SC/RSC slot given in the server as shown below.

Now we need to redirect the console from serial port to the RSC console. First thing you need to do is install the download and install the RSC package. You need to have a support account at https://support.oracle.com/‎. RSC Software Download (steps to download the latest RSC software):

1. Login to MOS and select “Patches and Updates Tab”
2. In “Patch Search” on the Top right panel, Click on “Product or Family (Advanced Search)”
3. In the “Product Is” pull-down select “Sun remote System Control”??
4. In the next pull down “Release is” select the RSC version (2.2.2 or 2.2.3).
5. Select OS and click “Search” (will get a list with RSC releases & patches)
6. Select the desired RSC Release (packages) or patch
7. Click Download on the Right

After installing the package for RSC, we need to configure it. Here you can set the IP, add user to login through RSC and set password for the same.

# /usr/platform/`uname -i`/rsc/rsc-config

The configuration script will start here :

Continue with RSC setup (y|n): y

Set RSC date/time now (y|n| ) [y]:
Server Hostname [HostName]: geeklab
Edit customer info field (y|n| ) [n]:
Enable RSC Ethernet Interface (y|n|s| ) [n]: y
   RSC IP Mode (config|dhcp| ) [dhcp]: config
   RSC IP Address []: 192.168.1.10
   RSC IP Netmask [255.255.255.0]:
   RSC IP Gateway []: 192.168.1.1
Enable RSC Alerts (y|n|s| ) [n]:
Enable RSC Modem Interface (y|n|s| ) [n]:
Enable RSC Serial Port Interface (y|n|s| ) [n]: y
  Serial port baud rate (9600|19200|38400|57600|115200) [9600]:
   Serial port data bits (7|8) [8]:
   Serial port parity (even|odd|none) [none]:
   Serial port stop bits (1|2) [1]:
Setup RSC User Account (y|n| ) [y]:
   Username []: admin
   User Permissions (c,u,a,r|none| ) [cuar]:

--------------------
Verifying Selections
--------------------

General Setup
-------------
  Set RSC date now  = y
  Server Hostname   = geeklab
  Set Customer Info = n

 Is this correct (y|n): y

Ethernet Setup
--------------
IP Mode      = config
IP Address   = 192.168.1.10
IP Netmask   = 255.255.255.0
IP Gateway   = 192.168.1.1
Is this correct (y|n): y

Alert Setup
-----------
- Alerts disabled
Is this correct (y|n): y

Modem Setup
-----------
- Modem disabled, ppp disabled
Is this correct (y|n): y

Serial Port Setup
-----------------
Serial Port Baud      = 9600
Serial Port Data Bits = 8
Serial Port Parity    = none
Serial Port Stop Bits = 1
Is this correct (y|n): y

User Setup
----------
User Name        = admin
  User Permissions = cuar

Is this correct (y|n): y

This script will now update RSC, continue  (y|n): y

After configuring RSC, make sure you can login to the RSC through the network with the username and password you configured. Once that is done we can now redirect the console to RSC.

ok> setenv diag-out-console true
ok> setenv input-device rsc-console
ok> setenv output-device rsc-console
ok> reset-all

Once you do a reset-all, you can see the console logs being displayed on the RSC console through network. To make same changes from Solaris OS commands :

# eeprom diag-out-console=true
# eeprom input-device=rsc-console
# eeprom output-device=rsc-console

Now you can login remotely through the RSC console and manager the system more effectively and easily. In case you do not know whether the RSC is already installed and configured, you can check if the RSC software is installed.

# /usr/bin/pkginfo | grep SUNWrsc

The version of the package installed in Solaris should match the version of firmware installed on the card. `rscadm version` in Solaris will display the firmware version. Check the RSC settings configured on the RSC card :

# usr/platform/`uname -i`/rsc/rscadm show