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- From: Dave K <dave.k@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:03:54 GMT
For years we had the AT keyboard, and a serial mouse. Then we went
to PS/2 connectors for mouse and keyboard. The latest machines have
only USB connections for USB keyboards, and USB Mice. That begins the
story.
We had a new control system install project going on. This control
system install was going to replace an older minicomputer that did
supervisory control, printed daily and monthly reports, and kept
history for later review. It is really useful to have historical data
for flows, pressures, temperatures, valve positions, etc.
The project was managed by a control systems engineer, and his
interest was regulatory control, and batch sequencing; the sorts of
things that a process control system engineer is interested in.
"But," those of us in the computer department say, "if you are going
to replace the functions of the existing computer, you need a data
historian..." That challenge is met with a stone wall of silence;
remember, control systems engineers are interested in regulatory
control and batch sequencing.
So, the project goes on, and controls systems engineer suddenly
realizes he does need the historian. Not only that, we need it today!
Well, maybe not today, but really really really soon. Tomorrow will
do.
Now, we get a choice; we can buy the system complete from the
control system vendor, or we can provide the server, and they'll
install the software. We can provide the server at a way better cost
than the vendor, and install the software quicker, so the die is cast.
I specify, and order the server, and operating system. The computer
system engineer will take care of installing the software.
This is a really nice system. A couple dual core XEON processors, 4
gigabytes of memory, a RAID 1 array for the OS and programs, and a
RAID 5 array for data. Kewl. It will be fun to set that one up!
So I receive the system. It is a 5U rack mounted thing with no
keyboard, mouse or display. I have this KVM switch, and a flat panel
console where I can select multiple systems, and control them. So, I
grad an interface pod and proceed to get it hooked up.
The pods that interface the KVM switch to the keyboard, mouse and
display are PS/2 connectors for mouse and keyboard. No problem, I go
to the back of the rack, but there are no PS/2 connectors, anywhere.
Lots of USB though. I panic! Remember, this thing is supposed to be
working yesterday. I cannot hook it up to the console device to load
the OSl or the software.
Workaround time! I find an USB keyboard and Mouse, and hook up the
display to the KVM switch. I get control! It works. I install the
software and life is good. I call the computer vendor and order the
necessary interface pods with USB connectors. It will be a couple
days for that.
Next time, I'll be prepared. I bought three of the USB pods.
The moral of the story is, just when you think you have everything
you need, someone screws it up for you in such subtle ways you can't
expect it. I fully expect that the next server I install will have a
completely different interface...
Sometimes I really hate computers.
--
The other day, Windows installed the Malicious Software Removal Tool. The first thing it removed was Window.....
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