[TriLUG] Re: console access through serial port?

[Reginald Reed]

We've got systems that run headless, but it really depends on your BIOS.
The Dell's and generic machines with Intel ServerBoards we run allow
this with no problem at all.  The Intel boards also allow you to see
BIOS screens/POST over the serial port.  Its our preferred data center
and lab configuration.  The BIOS needs to be able to ignore the fact
that there isn't a keyboard.  I think most systems can do this.

--Reggie

> -----Original Message-----
> From: trilug-admin at trilug.org 
> [mailto:trilug-admin at trilug.org] On Behalf Of lfwelty
> Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 11:17 AM
> To: trilug at trilug.org
> Cc: Greater New Hampshire Linux Users
> Subject: Re: [TriLUG] Re: console access through serial port?
> 
> 
> lfwelty wrote:
> > 
> > Will this allow you to run headless?
> 
> Ummmmm, that's kind of a stupid question, of course it will 
> allow you to run headless.  I guess what I mean is, if it 
> passes your vga to the tty, will you be able to boot 
> headless?  I don't suppose it changes your bios... so not likely... :/
> 
> F.
> 
> > 
> > Ben Boulanger wrote:
> > >
> > > On Thu, 18 Apr 2002, Rodent of Unusual Size wrote:
> > > > 1. Is there any way to get access to the console through the
> > > >    serial port?  I have another system that does this for VMS
> > > >    and T64U systems (anyone remember VCS?), but it's unclear
> > > >    to me whether Linux supports it -- and, if so, how I can
> > > >    set it up.  I basically want to be able to give an 
> irresistable
> > > >    three finger salute through the serial port if need be, to
> > > >    *force* a crash/reboot.
> > >
> > > To get kernel info output to the serial line (and lose it 
> on the VGA 
> > > line), in lilo.conf add: serial=0,38400n8
> > >         image=blah
> > >         append="console=ttyS0,38400"
> > >
> > > and to get a vty on your serial line, in inittab add 
> something like:
> > >         s0:12345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty ttyS0 DT38400 ansi
> > >
> > > Then connect up the proper cable (Null modem for computer to 
> > > computer) and run minicom or some other terminal program on it.
> > >
> > > > 2. Provided I can get in, is there any way I can *crash* the
> > > >    system so I can take a look at a dump to figure out WIH was
> > > >    going on to wedge it?
> > >
> > > There's a few different things you can do (gdb?) to crash 
> a system, 
> > > you should be able to find that on google... but I wonder if that 
> > > kernel config option "SysRq key" would help you here.  Check the 
> > > kernel stuff on that one.
> > >
> > > Ben
> > > --
> > >
> > > A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected 
> > > without trials.
> > >
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> > 
> > --
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Frank Welty                |  15401 Weston Parkway, Suite 150
> > lfwelty at redback.com        |  Cary, NC 27513
> > Redback Networks           |  desk:919.678.2175 m: 919.264.7495
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> -- 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Frank Welty                |  15401 Weston Parkway, Suite 150
> lfwelty at redback.com        |  Cary, NC 27513
> Redback Networks           |  desk:919.678.2175 m: 919.264.7495
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