PCs That Can Be Managed From a Serial Port?

PoochieReds asks: "I'm in the market for a couple of PC's that are manageable via serial port. Where can I find a PC that doesnt take a keyboard and monitor to set up the BIOS? I'm really looking to go x86 linux for this job, but if I can't find something that does what I need I may have to fall back to using a SPARC. I'm also not interested in the RealWeasel -- neat product, but I really want an integrated solution (i.e. a serial capable BIOS). Can anyone recommend a reliable, rackmountable, x86 box that is completely manageable via serial port?"

Comments

Intel ISP1100

[Anonymous Coward]

We are using ISP 1100 from Intel and they are manageable from the serial port and does not require a monitor or a graphics card, it is even delivered without a graphics card.

Re:Intel ISP1100

[duffbeer703]

Although this would probaly work, is it ethical for a Slashdotter to use an Intel product? They are an *evil* corporation, you know.

Would RMS Approve?

Re:Intel ISP1100

[Moonwick]

Anyone who considers RMS a benchmark of morality has a screw loose.

Re:Intel ISP1100

[Anonymous Coward]

That's the idea.

Most slashdot types are missing more than one screw.

Re:Intel ISP1100

[unitron]

"Most slashdot types are missing more than one screw."

Some might say that they've missed quite a few screws. :-)

Dell poweredge

[chrismcc@netus.com]

Hello...

Dell poweredge servers can do this. You initally need a keyboard and monitor to change a BIOS setting to use the serial port. After that you can manage it from a console ala cisco gear or sparc. You'll need to setup lilo to tell it to use the serial port and also setup a getty on the serial port.

Intel Chipsets

[carbon60]

Intel has many server boards that have a dedicated chip for management over the serial port. Also, VA has\d a very cool box to plug all your servers into, may it rest in peace. ttp://developer.intel.com/design/servers/buildingb locks/boards.htm

Re:Intel Chipsets

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry to chime in here a little late, but this thread was just brought to my
attention. I'm one of the PC Weasel designers, and we were pretty interested
when some of Intel's FAEs contacted us over the possibility of their OEMing
Weasels for their servers. Obviously, we wanted to know what was "wrong"
with their own serial console support. Here's the exchange, anonymized
because it appears the idea wasn't "politically popular" within Intel and
their server management group.

Jonathan

Q. In order to understandIntel's"competing"product, we picked up
a T440BX motherboard and have been playing around with it some.
What's wrong with the serial console? You've alluded to there
being some shortcoming(s) in it, but I need a little more
information - our best guesses all seem to come down to OS-
dependencies. What operating system are you running, and what
isn't making it for you?

A. The bottom line with the console redirection, is that it's really BIOS
redirection. It's only possible to see what's going on until the OS
takes over from the BIOS. Our boards have what's called a BMC, Baseboard
Management Controller. We have a Windows app called Intel Server Control.
It's a remote console of sorts, has a few functions like power up,
power down, reset, view system event logs from NVRAM, etc. It also
will go into BIOS redirection mode, and then to the minimal feature
set I described once the OS is running. Once the OS has booted,
and *if* it's NT or Solaris and *if* the Intel Server Control agent
is loaded on the target system. Another disadvantage of the ISC console
is it can only connect by serial null-modem cable, or by modem. It has a
built-in phone book, and Telnet isn't an option. The console runs on
Windows only.

Q. See, this is what we're finding confusing. Isn't a UART a UART on this
motherboard? I mean, once the bootblocks have been loaded and the OS
is on the way up, why can't the bootstrap talk to that port via normal
serial drivers? I'm thinking primarily of xBSD and Linux because I
really don't know my way around Solaris (or NT, for that matter).

A. This is a function of the BMC. The BMC also has the instrumentation for
the DMI stuff, etc. What can I say? It only owrks for BIOS redirection.
Once the OS is booted (only Unix variants) if getty is setup, then the
serial port will work as expected. But as far as seeing what's going on
when the OS is loading - nope.

The other deficiency is with the ISC application. To be able to use it on
the remote console, the server has to be set for redirection in the BIOS.
Another issue is that console redirection doesn't work for double-byte
language settings. So if the BIOS is set to Japanese, for example, BIOS
redirection doesn't operate. I know what you're thinking... But, I didn't
design it.

This is especially troubling for NT, 'cause it has to be rebooted so often.

What's wrong with the weasel?

[gmhowell]

I don't use one, and don't work for the company, but what exactly is wrong with the RealWeasel? It looks like you can twiddle the BIOS while hooked up to it. What more do you want?

Re:What's wrong with the weasel?

[Anonymous Coward]

Isn't the RealWeasel ISA only? That would prevent it's use in most modern servers.

Re:What's wrong with the weasel?

[gmhowell]

I got an email announcement last week that it is now available in PCI.

Re:What's wrong with the weasel?

[StandardDeviant]

that's cool, but if he needs to manage something like a 1U machine, there is probably only room for one pci card via one of those little angle thingies and he may have something that already needs to go there (like a raid card or something). just a guess...

Many server boards do this...

[Whip]

Among others, Intel's server boards support this -- It requires a special client on the system you're doing the administration from, but you -can- do anything over the serial port.

I use a (I think) 440GX+ board. Damned nice board. Does this remote management, amongst its other nice features. Of course, you PAY for those features (~$600 for the board).

TiVo

[jelwell]

My Tivo can be managed from a serial port. It doesn't have a keyboard or a mouse (just a remote control). It's already running linux - don't know about x86 though. And you could easily fit it in a rack - although mounting it there would require some drilling.

http://www.tivo.com/

Joseph Elwell.

Any PC will work

[mattdm]

You just need one of these. Despite the site name, this isn't a troll - the PC Weasel is an ISA or PCI card that provides serial access to any BIOS. I think this was on Slashdot sometime before, actually....

Did you even...

[CrayDrygu]

Did you even read the post?

"I'm also not interested in the RealWeasel..."

Re:Did you even...

[mattdm]

Huh. Long day. :)

Having fully read the post, though, let me say: why not get a RealWeasel? It seems like the perfect solution, "integrated" or not.

OpenBIOS / LinuxBIOS

[Anonymous Coward]

Unfortunately I don't think either of these projects are ready for prime time, but when they are they might be the answer to your problem. OpenBIOS' wishlist contains many wishes for serial consoles and obviously the LinuxBIOS should support that right out of the box so to speak.

FreeBSD

[redmenace]

Why doesn't anyone mention FBSD? During the install, if there's no keyboard attached it will default to using a serial port. www.freebsd.org

Re:FreeBSD

[Anonymous Coward]

becuase he wants to manipulate the BIOS, which you can't do from FreeBSD or any other operating system; i.e. you need to be able to interact through the serial port pre-boot of the opsys. goddamn bsd trolls.

It's been a long day indeed...

[Anonymous Coward]

So say you found such hardware. What the hell is the point? Whatever you are gonna connect to the serial port will have to have a keyboard, will it not? :)

Re:It's been a long day indeed...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll take modems for $100, Alex.