Set Up TTY Connections

If you plan to use a TTY communications (comm) path for a LifeKeeper heartbeat, you need to set up the physical connection for that heartbeat. Remember that multiple communication paths are required to avoid false failover due to a simple communications failure. Two or more LAN-based (TCP) comm paths should also be used.

Connect the TTY cable to the serial ports of each server to be used for the serial heartbeat.

1. Test the serial path using the following command:

/opt/LifeKeeper/bin/portio -r -p port -b baud

where:

• • baud is the baud rate selected for the path (normally 9600)
    

• • port is the serial port being tested on Server 1, for example /dev/ttyS0.
    

• Server 1 is now waiting for input from Server 2.

2. Run command portio on Server 2. On the second system in the pair, type the following command:

echo Helloworld | /opt/LifeKeeper/bin/portio -p port -b baud

where:

• • baud is the same baud rate selected for Server 1.
    

• • port is the serial port being tested on Server 2, for example /dev/ttyS0.
    

3. View the console. If the communications path is operational, the software writes “Helloworld” on the console on Server 1. If you do not see that information, perform diagnostic and correction operations before continuing with LifeKeeper configuration.