Console Logger

Product Overview

Purpose of the Console Logger

The Management Processor (MP), otherwise known as the Guardian Service Processor (GSP), console log captures the commands typed at the console, the response displayed, and alert messages generated by the system.

The Console Logger is a part of Event Information Tools (EIT), running on the Support Management Station (SMS), that retrieves the console information from the MP and places it on the SMS in a continuous log format. When the file reaches its user-defined size limit (the default size is approximately 2MB), it is archived and a new file is used.

The issue is that the MP doesn't have the memory to store very much information. The goal is to create a running log that can be used to troubleshoot failures that run past a single boot. By archiving this information on the SMS, we are able to reach Root Cause Analysis (RCA) much more quickly and improve our ability to remotely diagnose failures.

The Console Logger works on Windows SMS systems. It can retrieve console log data from any hp Superdome-compatible MP.

Preconfigured Login/Password

In order to run the Console Logger, you will need to enter the user name and password.

How to Find the Version of Console Logger

On HP-UX:
"/sbin/init.d/conslogd_rc version" prints the version of Console Logger.

On Windows:
Select the properties of "C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\opt\bin\daemons\conslogd.exe". The "Description" field contains the version information.

Getting Started with the Console Logger

Before you can start using the Console Logger, you must modify the configuration file. The configuration file resides at:
HP-UX:    /var/smstools/config/conslogd.cfg

Windows:  C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\config\conslogd.cfg  
The Console Logger has been preconfigured at the factory to run as a Windows Service with system host, IP, and login information.

First Time Task

The first time you use the Console Logger, you will need to perform the following steps:

Run the utility to generate an encrypted password.

Modify the configuration file, "conslogd.cfg".

Start Console Logger.

The following sections describe these procedures in detail.

Uninstallation Information for Windows

If an installation of the Console Logger has been completed and a reinstall becomes necessary, you must perform an uninstall prior to beginning the reinstall. In order to uninstall, bring up the Windows Task Manager Processes list, select the process 'conslogd.exe' and terminate it beforehand. Since that process is initiated at Startup, it should stay terminated and allow uninstallation or reinstallation over existing program. The uninstaller is located at:
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\opt\bin\uninstall
After initial installation, there will be no entries in the default Console Logger configuration file (conslogd.cfg). You will need to add an MP entry to the configuration file. If you do not add an MP entry to the configuration file, you will see the following message in 'conslogd.log':
No MP entry can be found in C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\config\conslogd.cfg
Run the Utility to Generate An Encrypted Password

Follow these steps to generate an encrypted password for the configuration file:
Change directory to the following location:
HP-UX:   cd /opt/smstools/bin

Windows: cd c:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\opt\bin
Run the "encryptpasswd" executable.
When prompted, enter your unencrypted password:
   Enter the Password: pass4mp

   
The utility will display the encrypted version of the password you entered (the following encrypted password is merely an example of an encrypted password; your encrypted password may be different):
   Enter the Password: pass4mp

   Encrypted Password: 123456789abcdef

   
Copy the "Encrypted Password" ("123456789abcdef" in the current example) into the configuration file, under the heading "MP Information", in place of the "<encrypted password>" field entry.
Modifying the Configuration File

Follow these steps to modify the configuration file:
Use Notepad (DO NOT USE MICROSOFT WORD!) to open the following file:
      C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\config\conslogd.cfg 

      
Note:

An equal sign must be placed between an entry name and its value: spaces and other characters are not acceptable.

All line entries must be left-justified, that is, they must start at the first cursor position in the line (there can be no leading spaces or characters).

In MP entries, spaces are not allowed between field values; the only permitted inter-field value characters allowed are commas, and there must be no spaces either before or after them.
Modify the one REQUIRED field: "MP Information". You should enter the appropriate data (system name, IP address, user name, encrypted password generated under "First Time Task", step 1) for your system(s). Note that the system name should include the domain name. Also, the maximum number of entries for this field is 18 entries.

Modify any other fields in the configuration field, as desired and appropriate (see the configuration file for instructions and suggestions on how to choose appropriate values, and to identify default values). To change the polling cycle, for instance, uncomment the line "#POLLING_CYCLE=5" in the sample configuration file, below, by removing the "#" at the beginning of the line; then replace "5" with the desired value. If you want to accept the default value for the polling cycle (in this case, "5"), then do nothing to this section of the configuration file; i.e., leave the statement "#POLLING_CYCLE=5" as it is.

Save your Notepad file, being careful to not change the file name.
Starting or Stopping the Console Logger

HP-UX

To start the console logger in the HP-UX operating environment, execute the following command:
 /sbin/init.d/conslogd_rc start
To stop the console logger in the HP-UX operating environment, execute the following command:
 /sbin/init.d/conslogd_rc stop
Windows

In the Windows operating environment, Console Logger will run as a service, and will start automatically once the EIT software bundle is installed.

To start or stop the Console Logger in Windows, perform the following:

Select "Control Panel".

Select "Administrative Tools".

Select "Services"

Sele Logger".

Right click and select "Stop/Start".

Routine Maintenance

Routine maintenance needs to be performed on the Console Logger:

When the user changes the MP password. The utility for generating an encrypted password ("encryptpasswd.exe") will need to be run, in order to generated an encrypted version of the new MP password, which can then be copied into the configuration file.

For instructions on performing this routine maintenance task, see "Run the Utility to Generate An Encrypted Password", above.

Enabling SSH to Connect to the Management Processor (MP)

Console Logger can connect to the MP using SSH if the MP supports SSH. SSH must be enabled, but no further configuration or setup is necessary. Use the following procedure to enable SSH:

Log on to the MP.

Enter the CM command.

Enter the SA command.

Verify that SSH is enabled. If it is DISABLED, enter H and change the mode to Enabled.

Configuring the Console Logger

A configuration file will be used to contain information such as Management Processor (MP) IP address, user name, password, etc. The following is the sample configuration file:
#######################################################

#

# Configuration file for Console Logger

#

#

#######################################################



#######################################################

#

# WARNING!

#

#1) An equal sign must be placed between an entry name 

#and its value: spaces and other characters are not

#acceptable.

#2) All line entries must be left-justified, that is,

#they must start at the first cursor position in the line

#(there can be no leading spaces or characters).

#3) In MP entries, spaces are not allowed between field

#values; the only permitted inter-field value characters

#allowed are commas, and there must be no spaces either

#before or after them.

#

# WARNING!

#

#######################################################



#######################################################

# MP information.

#

# MP=<system name>,<IP address>,<user name>,<encrypted password>

# Please note <system name> must include domain name.

# This is a only requried field. Max number of entries

# is 18.

#######################################################

#MP=mp1.cup.hp.com,15.23.48.0,user1,secret1

#MP=mp2.cup.hp.com,16.23.48.0,user2,secret2



#######################################################

#

# POLLING_CYCLE

# Every POLLING_CYCLE minutes, the console logger connects

# to each MP specified in the above list. It must poll

# each MP console log often enough to prevent console

# data from being lost due to the log becoming full. However,

# it must not poll so often that it becomes a burden on the

# MP, preventing it from being able to perform it's other

# duties in a timely manner. We recommend setting POLLING_CYCLE

# to 5 minutes. 

#

# This is an optional field. The default is 5 minutes.

#######################################################

#POLLING_CYCLE=5



#######################################################

#

# MAX_NUM_ARCH_FILE

#

# Maximum number of archived files per partition per MP.

# For example MAX_NUM_ARCH_FILE is 8, mp1.cup.hp.com_1_1.dat

# is the most recent archived console log file for mp1.cup.hp.com

# partition 1 and  mp1.cup.hp.com_1_8.dat is the oldest.

#

# This is an optional field. The default is 10.

#######################################################

#MAX_NUM_ARCH_FILE=8



###########################################################

#

# Maximum console log data file size.

#

# This is an optional field. There are two sets of default

# value. If no MAX_LOG_DATA_FILE_SIZE entry specified, we

# use default value 2,000,000 (about 2MB); if this entry

# has value less than 100,000 (about 100KB), we use default

# minimum value which is 100,000.

###########################################################

#MAX_LOG_DATA_FILE_SIZE=1000000



###########################################################

#

# Console Logger program log file Size

#

# This is an optional field. There are two sets of default

# values. If no MAX_PROG_LOG_FILE_SIZE entry is specified, we

# use a default value of 1,000,000 (about 1MB); if this entry

# has a value of less than 100,000 (about 100KB), we use

# a default minimum value of 100,000.

###########################################################

#MAX_PROG_LOG_FILE_SIZE=500000
User Interface

HP-UX

Console Logger Inputs

The configuration file for Console Logger is located at:
/var/smstools/config/conslogd.cfg 
Console Logger Outputs

The location of the Console log file is:
/var/smstools/log/MP_Name}_{Partition Number}.txt 
The location of the status log file for the Console Logger error/program is:
/var/smstools/log/conslogd.log 
The location of the archived status log file for the Console Logger error/program is:
/var/smstools/log/conslogd.log.old
Windows

Console Logger Inputs

The configuration file for Console Logger is located at:
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\config\conslogd.cfg 
Console Logger Outputs

The location of the Console log file is:
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\log\{MP_Name}_{Partition}.txt 
For example, mp1.hp.com_1.txt (console log file for MP mp1 and partition 1).

NOTE: This file (i.e., "C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\log\{MP_Name}_{Partition}.txt") will contain control characters, if the console displayed control characters.

The location of the status log file for the Console Logger error/program is:
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\log\conslogd.log 
The location of the archived status log file for the Console Logger error/program is:
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\log\conslogd.log.old
Error Handling

The error messages and program status are logged to:
HP-UX:    /var/smstools/conslogd.log

Windows:  C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\log\conslogd.log
The following are sample records from this file:
Begin - Wed Jun 18 10:43:48 2003

Obtain console log data for all partitions of mp3.cup.hp.com (16.23.

48.0) - Thu Jun 12 13:11:55 2003

Telnet Error - Error - Can not open Telnet session

Problem: problem connecting to "16.23.48.0", port 23: Unknown error





end Timestamp



Begin timestamp



MAX_NUM_ARCH_FILE does not exist- using default: 10



POLLING_CYCLE does not exist- using default: 5

MAX_LOG_DATA_FILE_SIZE does not exist- using default

: 2000000

MAX_PROG_LOG_FILE_SIZE does not exist- using default

: 1000000



end timestamp



Begin timestamp



No MP entry can be found in C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\config\conslogd.cfg



end timestamp



Begin timestamp



No valid MP entry can be found in C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\config\conslogd.cfg



end timestamp



Begin timestamp



MAX_NUM_ARCH_FILE value invalid- using default: 10



Invalid ip address in MP entry - 16.23A.48.0



End - Wed Jun 18 10:44:22 2003
NOTE: If you see the message, "No MP entry can be found in C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\config\conslogd.cfg", this means that there is no MP entry in the configuration file, 'conslogd.cfg'. If you see the message, "No valid MP entry can be found in C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\config\conslogd.cfg", this means that the configuration file, 'conslogd.cfg', does contain an MP entry, but that the entry is invalid (e.g., due to an incorrect IP address, wrong format, etc.).

NOTE: If telnet errors are encountered, possible causes are the following:

The MP was down.

The wrong IP address was specified.

An invalid username/password was entered for the MP.

Troubleshooting Guide for Windows

Only one Console Logger should be running at any time. Running more than one copy of the Console Logger at a time will result in erratic and unpredictable behavior.

NOTE: To ensure that you only have one copy of the Console Logger running at a time, always start/stop the Console Logger from "Administrative Tools", described above. If you start/stop the Console Logger from DOS, you may end up with more than one copy of the Console Logger running at one time.

To ensure that you only have one copy of the Console Logger running at one time:

Go to the Windows Task Manager.

Click on "Processes".

Click on "Image Name" to sort all processes.

Determine how many "conslogd.exe" processes are currently running: there should only be one.

If you see that there is more than one "conslogd.exe" process running, select one by clicking on it.

Click on "End Process".

Repeat Steps 5 and 6, until there is only one "conslogd.exe" process still running.

Troubleshooting Tips

The following are general troubleshooting tips when using the Console Logger:

Follow the instructions immediately above to ensure that you are only running one copy of the "conslogd.exe" process.

Go to the C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\EIT\var\log directory, to examine the contents of "conslogd.log" or "conslogd.log.old" (the archived copy of "conslogd.log). "conslogd.log" contains the Console Logger log status and error messages; for example, it would tell you why telnet to an MP failed (due to incorrect IP address, invalid username/password, etc.).

You should be able to edit the configuration file on the fly. If you find that you cannot do so, do the following:

Stop the Console Logger.

Edit the configuration file.

Restart the Console Logger.

Troubleshooting Guide for HP-UX

Make sure that both the conscontroller and conslogd processes are running on the system.

Enter the command "ps -ef | grep conscontroller" and "ps -ef | grep conslogd".

If either of the above processes are not running, stop the console logger (/sbin/init.d/conslogd_rc stop) and re-start the console logger (/sbin/ini.d/conslogd_rc start).

Top of Page / Diagnostics HOME

URL: http://docs.hp.com/hpux/onlinedocs/diag/eit/st_console_logger.htm
Last updated: Friday November 18, 2005

Table of Contents

Purpose of the Console Logger

Preconfigured Login/Password

First Time Task

Uninstallation Information for Windows

Run the Utility to Generate An Encrypted Password

Modifying the Configuration File

Starting or Stopping the Console Logger

HP-UX

Windows

Routine Maintenance

Enabling SSH to Connect to the Management Processor (MP)

HP-UX

Console Logger Inputs

Console Logger Outputs

Windows

Console Logger Inputs

Console Logger Outputs

Troubleshooting Tips