Dell Metered PDU LCD - Manual (Page 27)

27 External Signaling Ports |
External Signaling Ports
Two types of external signaling ports are provided on the rPDU front panel (see Figure 18):
S
Communication ports
S Monitoring ports
Ethernet Port Serial Port
Dry Contact Sensor Port Temperature/Humidity
Sensor Port
NMC Reset Button
Figure 18. Communication and Environmental Ports
Communication Ports
The rPDU provides both a serial and an Ethernet (10/100 Base-T) communication port for external controls.
These communication ports are used to access external controls for upgrading, monitoring, or managing the
rPDU.
Firmware upgrades (flash upgrades) update the rPDU firmware and the internal Dell Network Management
Card (NMC). Upgrades can be performed either using a command line interface (CLI) upgrade utility or a
Web-based graphical user interface.
NOTE: The RESET button on the front panel resets the internal NMC.
Flash upgrades are transparent and do not affect rPDU operation. However, the front panel buttons and LCD
operation are disabled during the upgrade. Unique model identification information prevents an incorrect
firmware load from being installed on an rPDU during a flash upgrade.
During the flash upgrade, the LCD provides a “Flash Update In Process” message and provides a progress bar. If
the upgrade is interrupted, recovery processes allow the upgrade to restart. If the upgrade fails, the LCD displays
a “Flash Error” message and the backlight changes to amber text with a dark red background.
The rPDUs can be monitored and settings modified using a graphical Web interface. The settings correspond to
the Settings menu (see Settings menu on page 43). This requires a PC connected through the Ethernet port.
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