Configuring the ACS Console Server in Wizard Mode : Step 5: Data Buffering

Step 5: Data Buffering
Selecting Step 5: Data Buffering displays a form to allow logging the console data to a data buffer file either locally in the console server or remotely to an external storage source such as an NFS server or Syslog server. Once Enable Data Buffering is selected, the form displays a number of fields. The displayed fields depends on whether selected Destination is Local or Remote.
The values set in this form apply to all serial ports. Data buffering allows a site to save a record of all communication during a serial port connection session. You can set up data buffer files to be stored either in local files on the console server’s Flash memory or on the hard disk of an external server, such as an NFS or Syslog server.
The following figure shows the form when Enable Data Buffering is checked and the Destination is set to Local.
Wizard - Step 5: Data Buffering [Local]
The following figure shows the form when the data buffering Destination is set to Remote.
Wizard - Step 5: Data Buffering [Remote]
The following table provides description for each field whether local or remote destination is selected.
Local data buffering stores data in circular or linear mode. In circular mode, data is written into the specified local data file until the upper limit on the file size is reached; then the data is overwritten starting from the top of the file as additional data comes in. Circular buffering requires the administrator to set up processes to examine the data during the timeframe before the data is overwritten by new data.
The following table shows the differences between remote and local data buffering.
Data is stored in files sequentially. The NFS server must be configured with the mount point shared (exported). In linear mode, data is written into a continuous sequence of files and the file spaces is not reused. The administrator needs to allow enough space for the expected amount of data and take measures such as moving unneeded data files off line, to ensure data does not outgrow the available space.
Set a file size greater than zero. Make sure the file size does not exceed the space available on the console server’s Flash memory. If needed, you can supplement the Flash memory module by installing a Flash memory card (with an adaptor) or other storage device in a PCMCIA slot.
NOTE: You can perform advanced configuration in Expert mode including the option of setting up data buffering separately for individual or groups of serial ports.
To configure data buffering:
1.
Select Step 4: Data Buffering.
2.
Click the Enable Data Buffering checkbox. The Destination pull-down menu appears.
3.
Select a location for the data files from the Destination pull-down menu (either Local or Remote). Additional pull-down menus and fields appear, depending on which destination is selected.
4.
a.
From the Mode pull-down menu, select Circular or Linear data buffering.
b.
5.
When the destination is Remote, perform the following steps.
a.
In the NFS File Path field, enter the pathname for the mount point of the directory where data buffer file is to be stored. For example, if the mount point directory’s pathname is /var/adm/acslogs, enter /var/adm/acslogs in the field.
NOTE: The NFS server must already be configured with the mount point shared (exported) and the shared directory from the NFS server must be mounted on the console server.
b.
c.
Select an option from the Show Menu pull-down menu. The choices are: show all options, No, Show data buffering file only and Show without the erase options.
6.
Click apply changes.