The OnBoard appliance uses Expect scripts to handle communications with connected devices. One Expect script is provided to interact with each supported device type using text-based interfaces. The text-based interfaces are defined in a separate command template for each device type. The Expect scripts use the command templates to log into the devices and perform device management actions on behalf of authorized users.
The OnBoard appliance has been tested with specific models of devices and firmware levels that are listed in the release notes (at http://www.cyclades.com/support/downloads.php under the product name). The device models and firmware in the release notes have been proven to work with the default set of command templates and Expect scripts.
The default command templates do not always work for all devices of the same type because service processors of the same type often do not use the same syntax for their commands. For example, while power on is the command string that works to power on a server with some RSA II type service processors, power -on is the command string that works with some other RSA II type service processors.
Because the default templates and scripts cannot be guaranteed to apply to all service processors of the same type, this appendix provides information about how OnBoard appliance administrators can test command templates and create new command templates if needed to deal with command differences.
An OnBoard appliance administrator (root or an administrative user) can use the onbdtemplate utility on the command line to test the default command templates when configuring a device and to create a customized command template if needed. Because changes to the commands that are sent to devices can be made and stored in new command templates, OnBoard appliance administrators can accommodate devices that do not work with the default Expect scripts and templates, without having to write custom Expect scripts in most cases.