Avocent ACS Repair

NOTE: you need to have the right console cable to see the right bootup screens

Device: Cyclades ACS 16
Problem: Kernel Panic Error at bootup, out of the box

Steps from Tech Support: http://global.cyclades.com/support/faqs1.php?nid=79 and http://faq.cyclades.de/index.php?nid=4

The steps I took to repair the ACS:

1. Download a fresh copy of the firmware
2. Setup a TFTP Server with the firmware
3. Bootup the ACS with the right Console cable
4. press ESC once on the ethernet test and answer the boot menu with the following answers

Booting from Original Boot 2.0.1  (Jun/04/03)  Cyclades Corporation
Testing RAM .............................. SKIPPED
Memory detected: 131072 Kbytes
Testing FLASH ............................ OK
Flash detected: 256 Kbytes
Testing Flash [Configuration] ………… OK
Storage Device Detected ……………… OK
Compact Flash SanDisk SDCFB-16
Size: 16 Mbytes
Testing Storage Device [Op Code] ……… SKIPPED
Interface Cards Detected …………….. OK
32-UART ports detected
PCMCIA Support Detected ……………… OK
Power Supply Capability ……………… DUAL
Testing Ethernet ……………………. OK            <– press ESC once
Testing Real Time Clock ……………… OK
Testing Serial Number………………… OK
ID is B9B6A908000074    

Watchdog timer ((A)ctive or (I)nactive) [A] : a
Firmware boot from ((F)lash or (N)etwork) [F] : n
Boot type ((B)ootp,(T)ftp or Bot(H)) [T] : t
Boot File Name [zvmppcts.bin] : acs/zImage.216
IP address assigned to Ethernet interface [192.168.10.43] : 192.168.10.43
Server’s IP address [192.168.160.1] : 192.168.10.2
MAC address assigned to Ethernet [00:60:2E:00:3D:4F] :
Fast Ethernet ((A)uto Neg, 100 (B)tH, 100 Bt(F), 10 B(t)F, 10 Bt(H)) [A] :
Network boot.
Sending a tftp request.
Trying file : acs/zImage.216
Booting from 192.168.10.2  …………. 8375 kb
Network boot completed.
Received 8587246 bytes.
CRC is … OK

5. Once the system boots up flash the firmware to make it permanent (FTP or DSView) NOTE: If you don’t do this step once the system reboots the problem will come back.