Tips & tricks for controlling console devices

Connecting to a managed device's console via SSH or via Web Terminal starts a pmshell (aka portmanager) session to that device. 

portmanager provides a number of inline "escape" commands to assist with device management, escape commands are run by typing the escape sequence.

List escape commands

To view available escape commands:

• Hit:

<enter>

• Type:

~?

A help menu is shown:

Shell Commands:
~b - Generate BREAK
~h - View history
~p - Power menu
~m - Connect to port menu
~u - Users Disconnection menu
~. - Exit pmshell
~? - Show this message

If the menu doesn't show:

• If you're connecting via OpenSSH (e.g. the ssh command on a macOS or Linux-based system), you must type ~ twice, i.e.: <enter>~~?
• The escape character for this port may have been changed from its default of ~, check this setting under ACCESS > Serial Ports > Escape Character

Available escape commands

Generate break: Send a serial BREAK to the connected device to signal it to enter a pre-boot environment (e.g. Cisco ROMmon) or other special operating modes.  The Operations Manager is Sun break safe.

View history: When port logging is enabled, view recent event and data logs for this port.

Power menu: When PDU outlet(s) are associated with this port, power on/off or power cycle the connected device.

Users disconnection menu: Administrator users may terminate any or all sessions that are currently connected this port, i.e. kick users off the port.

Port menu: Drop back to the port chooser menu to connect to another port.

Exit pmshell: Close this session.