Introducing the Cisco Wide Area Virtualization Engine

This chapter provides a basic functional overview of the Cisco Wide Area Virtualization Engine (WAVE) 274 and 474 appliances and describes the hardware, major components, and front and back panel indicators and controls.

This chapter contains the following sections:

•Supported Products

•Hardware Features

Note Throughout this book, references to the WAVE appliance include the WAVE-274 and WAVE-474 appliances, unless specifically noted otherwise.

Supported Products

The WAVE-274 and WAVE-474 appliances support Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) software version 4.1.1 and later releases.

Hardware Features

This section illustrates and describes the front and back panel controls, ports, and LED indicators on the WAVE-274 and WAVE-474. It contains the following topics:

•Front Panel Controls and LEDs

•Location of Ports and Connectors

Front Panel Controls and LEDs

Figure 1-1 shows the front panel controls and LEDs.

Figure 1-1 WAVE-274 and WAVE-474 Front Panel

1

Power button

3

2 USB 2.0 ports (not supported)

2

LEDs

4

CD/DVD optical drive


The power control button powers up and powers down the system.

Note You can connect a keyboard to any USB port and connect a monitor to the video connector to troubleshoot the BIOS boot process. However, video output is for troubleshooting only during the BIOS boot process. The video output stops displaying when the serial port becomes active. To monitor the boot process in normal operation, use the serial console port.

Table 1-1 describes the front panel LEDs and their functions.

Table 1-1 Front Panel LEDs 

LED
Color
State
Description

Power-on

Green

On

Off

Appliance is powered on.

AC power is not present. Power supply or LED has failed.

Red

Flashing

There is a problem with the computer and it is displaying a diagnostic code. See the "Troubleshooting the System Hardware" section on page 5-1.

Hard disk drive activity

Green

Flashing

Hard disk drive is in use.

DVD-ROM drive activity

Green

On

CD/DVD drive is in use.


Location of Ports and Connectors

The WAVE-274 and WAVE-474 appliances support one Ethernet port and one console port. This section contains the following topics:

•Ethernet Port Connector

•Console Port Serial Connector

Figure 1-2 shows the back panel ports and connectors.

Warning To avoid electric shock, do not connect safety extra-low voltage (SELV) circuits to telephone-network voltage (TNV) circuits. LAN ports contain SELV circuits, and WAN ports contain TNV circuits. Some LAN and WAN ports both use RJ-45 connectors. Use caution when connecting cables. Statement 1021

Figure 1-2 shows the location of the back panel connectors, and Table 1-2 describes the connector functions.

Figure 1-2 Back Panel LEDs and Connectors

1

PS/2 mouse port (unused)

5

4 USB ports (unused)

2

PS/2 keyboard port (unused)

6

Ethernet port (RJ-45 LAN jack)

3

Console port (RS232 serial COM1 port)

7

Inline adapter (2 ports)

4

VGA port (unused)

8

AC power connector


Note Any USB connector can be used to connect a keyboard, and the video connector can be used to connect a monitor. The keyboard and monitor are used only during the BIOS boot process for troubleshooting purposes. After the BIOS boots, all input and output for the appliance is by way of the serial console port.

Table 1-2 Back Panel LEDs 

LED
Color
State
Description

Ethernet link

Green

On

Active link connection on the 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, or 1000BASE-TX interface for the Ethernet port.

Ethernet activity

Green

On

System is transmitting to or receiving signals from the Ethernet LAN that is connected to the Ethernet port.


Ethernet Port Connector

Connect a Category 3, 4, or 5 unshielded twisted-pair cable to the Ethernet connector. 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T Fast Ethernet standards require Category 5 or higher cabling. The WAVE appliance has one Ethernet connector (see Figure 1-3).

The Ethernet controller is integrated on the system board. It provides an interface for connecting to a 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, or 1-Gbps network and provides full-duplex (FDX) capability, which enables simultaneous transmission and reception of data on the network. If the Ethernet port in the server supports auto negotiation, the controllers detect the data-transfer rate (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, or 1000BASE-T) and duplex mode (full duplex or half duplex) of the network and automatically operate at that rate and mode. You do not have to set any jumpers or configure the controller.

Figure 1-3 Ethernet Port Connector

Console Port Serial Connector

The WAVE-274 and WAVE-474 appliances have one console port (see Figure 1-4). Use the console port serial connector to connect to a console for accessing the WAAS command-line interface (CLI) or other serial device.

Figure 1-4 Console Port Serial Connector

Note The WAVE appliance has two serial ports on the rear panel. Be sure to connect your console cable only to the port labeled COM1 or CONSOLE.