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Laptops, Headless Servers and KVMs?

Posted by Cliff on from the portable-passive-displays-would-be-a-wonderul-thing dept.

Administration of headless machines can be a pain, and working on multiple machines can also be a bit of a bother. KVM boxes solve some of the problem, but sometimes finding a keyboard and a monitor to lug around to these machines is most of the problem. Is there a portable solution that might solve both of these problems? Wouldn't it be nice to carry around a specialized laptop that could act as both a portable display and input device? Does something like this currently exist? KJH1138 asks: "I am looking for a hardware/software combination that would allow me to use my laptop as the KVM for a headless server before, during, and after OS configuration. What I have in mind would be a server KVM/USB to laptop serial/USB connection, with software on the laptop to provide KVM control of the headless device, with or without an OS. A PC Anywhere or Linux equivalent wouldn't work since they would require the headless system to already have an installed OS. I would prefer a Linux-based solution on the laptop, but would settle for a Windows option. I simply don't want the clutter of a keyboard and monitor."

PGillingwater has a similar desire: "Like many regular readers, sometimes I need to visit a customer site to diagnose equipment, like firewalls or routers. More systems these days use VGA output and keyboard input, which means having to scrounge a display and keyboard, then looking for a spare power socket in the machine room, which is not always easy! I am wondering if anyone has seen a laptop which also allows VGA input and keyboard output. This would be a cool idea. Use it as a normal laptop most of the time, then hijack the video and keyboard to connect to other systems when you need it."

46 of 397 comments (clear)

  1. What we do... by grub · · Score: 4, Interesting


    If we can't ssh to computers or telnet to equipment (switches, etc) we have an OpenBSD laptop which we can use as a console via a serial cable and kermit. That's assuming a unixish system, though. If you're only running Windows on servers then why not install TightVNC and control it from your desktop? Assuming the machine is still on the LAN, of course. If it's not you'll probably just reboot it anyhow.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:What we do... by sndtech · · Score: 2

      the poster said that he wanted to be able to use it before an OS was installed, so he could install an OS, your solution would work great for systems already installed but whatw ould happen if say, you had to reinstall the OS?

    2. Re:What we do... by temojen · · Score: 3, Informative

      Use a kernel build with a serial console on the install disk.

    3. Re:What we do... by ray-auch · · Score: 3, Informative
      Roughly here:

      A PC Anywhere or Linux equivalent wouldn't work since they would require the headless system to already have an installed OS.
    4. Re:What we do... by ePhil_One · · Score: 2, Informative
      I'm curious who's operating this datacenter without proper KVM or a crash cart. Since I'm guess its a low budget Hell Hole, I doubt this is a solution, but...

      We've been rebuilding our infrastructure, and discovered the Dell 2650's have a built in "Dell Remote Access Console" which actually gives VNC access to whatevers on the screen. I can powercycle remotely, update BIOS settings, etc. Very cool. I still have a KVM solution in place, but use it less and less.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisted little posts, all alike.
    5. Re:What we do... by jdray · · Score: 2, Informative

      I believe Compaq (HP) has a similar system named "Remote Insight" or somesuch.

      --
      The Spoon
      Updated 6/28/2011
    6. Re:What we do... by jdray · · Score: 3, Informative

      The best bet is a single user/single server KVM over IP unit, which is essentially a bridge between Ethernet and a Keyboard/Video/Mouse set. Here's one example. Here's another.

      --
      The Spoon
      Updated 6/28/2011
    7. Re:What we do... by cs · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Well, that's our fallback position. We much prefer things we can ssh/serial port to. However, that's no good if you have to fiddle with the BIOS before the machine boots. My nice Intel Server PC has a serial mode BIOS, but generally PCs have video out and that's it. Most hostile.

      What the poster (and myself, very much so) wants is a laptop that accepts PC video/keyboard/mouse in. Most desktop LCDs take video and convert for the LCD (which of course is very much digital, unlike CRTs which are fairly analogue). I imagine most laptop LCD/video hardware might be digital straight through, but the hardware for digitising video input must be very standard now.

      Personally annoyed that my latest laptop lacks a serial port (it's on the port expander - ugh) and has one of those annoying touchpads, I remain,

      --
      Cameron Simpson, DoD#743 cs@cskk.id.au http://www.cskk.ezoshosting.com/cs/
    8. Re:What we do... by jdray · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The point is that you have a nice, compact device (stuff it in your laptop bag if you need to) that goes with you to a site. Plug the KVM ports into a host and the Ethernet port into your laptop, and bingo, you've got console access to the host through your laptop.

      $900 is chump change for a tool that gets work done efficiently. If you're looking for a way to get something done with the least expenditure of dollars, I suggest staying out of corporate data centers all together. They'll make you cry.

      --
      The Spoon
      Updated 6/28/2011
    9. Re:What we do... by epiphani · · Score: 2, Informative

      Take that a step further, at least with servers:

      1. set the console to the serial via boot flags, so the kernel will dump its boot to serial.
      2. Use a BIOS that contains the ability to pipe its POST to serial. HP/Compaq servers have this ability, and im sure others do as well.
      3. Cable them all to a serial console machine. Blade enclosures do this automatically, and work quite well.

      Essentially, you have a serial console with equivelent ability of being in front of the machine, at least in the unix/linux server context. The only thing you cant do is install from physical media - but you can mitigate that with inventive use of pxe. :)

      --
      .
    10. Re:What we do... by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yup. The Xserves are the first Mac I've seen in years with a DB9 serial port.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
  2. Wow by cca93014 · · Score: 4, Funny

    1337 bytes in body

    Er, w00t?

    --

    Invoicing, Time Tracking, Reporting

    1. Re:Wow by dmccarty · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Does anyone actually read posts anymore before they moderate them?

      Thanks very much for your malformed links to

      1. A generic laptop mouse on Amazon
      2. A bogus keyboard that no one in their right mind would use
      3. A 2" display that would never work for this project (so small yet it still requires a power adapter)
      4. A 4" display made by a company that's out of business
      +5 Insightful, indeed. Hrrrmph.
      --
      Have fun: Join D.N.A. (National Dyslexics Association)
  3. Pardon my ignorince but ... by MPHellwig · · Score: 3, Insightful

    there are null-modem, lom ports, web-enabled bios configuration, web-enabled SCSI configuration, Ssh, remote desktop (free for admin usage) and you still wonder what the best solution is?
    Try talking up with a _good_ admin who shows you in _real_live_ the 1 & 2's.
    KVM switches are handy for non-server hardware misplaced in the network architecture, but any serious stuff has some or all of the above list.
    "Real" servers are not that expensive by the way, especially compared to the price of IP-KVM.

    1. Re:Pardon my ignorince but ... by CharlieHedlin · · Score: 2, Informative

      Ah, but the question talked about a lot of low end type servers at client locations, so using remote management ports may not be an option. Heck, some of my less critical servers don't have full remote management if the network interface is offline.

      Being able to use a laptop as in place of a "crash cart" would save many admins many headaches.

      It would also need to support connecting as a USB keyboard for my use though.

      Sounds like a perfect application for a specialized PC Card or external USB 2.0 device, capture and digitize the VGA, and emulate a keyboard. I guess the closest product currently availible would be to use some of the IP KVM equipment.

      While not cheap, a few of the entry level 1 port IP KVM swiches listed here would probably do the trick, but they still require power.

    2. Re:Pardon my ignorince but ... by Kraegar · · Score: 2, Informative
      We use a mixture of most of the above:

      IP based Console Server (via serial connection) to all Unix hosts.
      IP based KVM's with flatpanel monitor/keyboard trays in each rack to all hosts.
      Remote desktop for all the windows hosts
      SSH on all the Unix hosts
      Switches, routers, etc are all accessed via ssh. (some with a small single port "console server", if they don't natively support ssh).

      Basically the goal should be not to find the *best* way, but as many ways as you can, so when one avenue breaks down, you have other points of getting in. And all of them need to be secure. If it's web based it needs to be ssl. Use ipsec. ssh. etc...
      Also, the reason we have the KVM on the linux boxes serving up a green screen console to each rack is in case the console server goes down when the lan does. It saved us once when water hit the rack with both the network switches and the console server in it.

    3. Re:Pardon my ignorince but ... by MPHellwig · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Webmin is nice but I am talking about (SCSI) bios with a tiny webserver in it. This is how it could go:
      Place the machine in the rack
      Write down the mac of the management NIC
      Kick the machine on with WOL
      Configure the bios and scsi via web
      The machine installs via PXE boot (you got that on your site don't you?)
      Configure it
      Test it
      Configure it
      Test it
      (repeat as long as needed)
      Then take it out of your test rack and place in the "Live" rack (what you don't have a test site?!?)

    4. Re:Pardon my ignorince but ... by dasunt · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Just an additional comment.

      Assume you have more than one nice server, at least two machines with ethernet connections, and all with bioses that understand the serial port (and yes, you can find x86 bioses that will do this):

      Consider daisy-chaining the machines together by serial port:

      +-[ Server 4 ]
      | ^
      | |
      | [ Server 3 ]
      | ^
      | |
      | [ Server 2 ]
      | ^
      | |
      +>[ Server 1 ]

      Now, when a server has problems, its always possible to connect through ethernet to the server 'one hop down' from it, then connect through the serial port to the machine in question. If the machine 'one hop down' doesn't have ethernet, try the next machine 'one hop down'. Hopefully, you have at least 2 machines with ethernet connections, or else you run the risk that the faulty machine may be the machine with the ethernet card.

      Needless to say, this works best with a unix-style OS.

    5. Re:Pardon my ignorince but ... by ctr2sprt · · Score: 4, Informative
      The issue with network-based server management is that it isn't suitable for a large data center. For instance, a typical webhosting setup might have a couple hundred (or thousand) servers - the ideal target for remote management, because it's wildly impractical/impossible to put them all on KVMs. Each server will have one NIC for the "public" network, the one connected to the Internet. To help lock down remote access for SSH etc., you will also have a private network. We're already up to two distinct networks here, you'll note. Now add a third one for management, which incidentally is also going to require DHCP. The cost for building yet another discrete internal network - and managing it! - is going to be nontrivial. It's usually cheaper, and about as effective, to buy a couple cheap-ass carts and put monitors and keyboards on them. It means your NOC staff has to get off their asses every now and then, but... Is sparing them that really worth the $10k+ it will probably cost in network hardware (not to mention cabling nightmares)?

      Serial consoles are great, but not for PCs. In a big DC, you will not have the root password to every server. You will be logging in via some special authentication mechanism like SecurID and then doing sudo su (or just ssh public keys). So getting a login prompt is not going to be helpful; you'll have to reboot the server. On real Unix hardware, you can usually do this by sending a hardware break and typing "reboot" (or similar). This will work even if the OS is crashed or thrashing or whatever. On a PC, no dice, because it's purely the software which handles the serial connection. So you have to hit the reset button, which will probably solve whatever issue was going on anyway (while simultaneously destroying any in-memory logs of what the cause might have been).

      For us, in our DC with about 5000 servers, the worst servers to manage are actually the real Unix hardware, but that's only because we have just the one laptop (and because the Unix servers are all disasters held together by spit and baling wire, but that's another story). Also the laptop sucks ass and keeps breaking because it's 6 years old and has been dropped several times. That's something else to keep in mind if you're looking for a laptop-based solution: People Will Drop It. Not only that, if they have to step away from the server for a second, the laptop will get left on the floor, where some unwary soul will step on it or wheel a crash cart over it. Laptops are expensive, even secondhand. A crummy 15" CRT and keyboard will set you back $100, if that, and if they're on a cart that can be wheeled around they won't get dropped (often). Just make sure to buy monitors with fully-removable video and power cords, so when someone wheels the cart off without unplugging it you won't wreck the server's video connector and pull the PDC out of the rack.

    6. Re:Pardon my ignorince but ... by swmccracken · · Score: 2, Informative

      Oh it's installed by default on 2003; but it's just not turned on. It's there on the System control panel if you want to look.

      But it can be turned on easily by Group Policy - this really handy thing where you can configure settings for a whole group of computers incredibly quickly in Active Directory.

      It could easily be set as such (ie: turned on) for your domain if you chose - just edit the Domain Default policy in Active Directory Users and Computers. (In our case, just one OU for Servers.)

    7. Re:Pardon my ignorince but ... by winthebald · · Score: 2, Informative

      We use HP IP KVM switches for our DC. It's a 16 port switch. You can get 8 port hubs with an uplink to the main switch, meaning you can attach 128 servers per switch. So, depending on your server density you could one or several rows of racks served by one switch. Careful though, because the cables can't be Ethernet "Lite" with only 2 pairs pinned out. All 4 pairs have to be pinned out.

    8. Re:Pardon my ignorince but ... by jdbear · · Score: 2, Informative

      I do remote suppport. We fix a huge number of problems without having to resort to "pulling" the server. Of course, I support AIX, HP-UX, and Sun Solaris systems, so we use a remote connection to the console (datakit, an XN-10 networking system.)

      We've been able to fix boot drives, firmware upgrades, take system boards out of service, etc, all without being present. We can usually get a low cost "operator" to be on-site for the occastional repower or hard drive replacement, but we do the system admin from a remote location. It's a log quicker, since I support 1600 locations across 9 states.

      Sometimes there's a need to touch the equipment, but often everything can be done remotely, even at the firmware level.

      There are several options for on-site terminals. If serial connections is all that one needs, then a laptop with a null modem cable is enough. Sounds like that may not be the situation.

      If the problem is gui console access to a Windows NT box, then you might do better to build a small suitcase with an LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse. A laptop battery should be able to power the LCD for an hour or so, and the cable set could be connected in the back. It wouldn't be hard to set up, and would be pretty portable.

      jdbear

      --
      If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
  4. use avocent by wheatking · · Score: 3, Informative

    use avocent or any decent "kvm-over-ip" implementation....

  5. Wimp by Odo · · Score: 5, Funny
    > Is there a portable solution that might solve both of these problems?

    Yes. Real techs just stick their tongue in the video port and jiggle a paperclip in the keyboard port. Only amateurs need dedicated hardware.

  6. IP KVM card by unix_geek_512 · · Score: 2, Informative

    These cards and related products from peppercon and raritan would do the job.

    http://www.peppercon.com/eric2.html

  7. You mean like... by Telastyn · · Score: 2

    Standard serial ports common on all Sun hardware [and most all networking equipment] and likely technology older than I am?

    Not for windows servers. For that my experience shows that the easiest solution is a monitor tied to a chair.

    [a chair you ask? Well standard carts generally don't have the maneuverability (or small footprint) required for server rooms.]

  8. Maybe by N4DMX · · Score: 2, Informative

    Is something like this what you are looking for?

    It is rack mounted, but it would be easier than to carry a monitor, keyboard, and KVM seperately.

    --
    42
  9. Google is your friend by Thauma · · Score: 3, Informative

    Google: IP KVM

  10. VNC? by LaPistola · · Score: 2, Interesting

    We use VNC all day every day.
    Works great.

  11. VGA2USB by DaHat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Recently when trying to figure out why my PC in the livingroom (plugged into the TV) wasn't displaying any video, I longed for a easy device I could plug into my laptop to display video... rather than have to lug a monitor out to the livingroom.

    Sure enough, a company makes just such a device, the .

    It does nothing for your mouse and keyboard needs, but this (I think) solves the biggest issue of your question.

    --
    Help Brendan pay off his student loans
  12. Have you considered... by farzadb82 · · Score: 4, Informative

    KVM over IP ? - I think some one has already mentioned this previously, however, they mentioned the plugin card variety. You can also purchase a stand alone box, similar to a regular KVM, however, it routes the Keyboard, Video and Mouse via IP to any machine that is network capable. The client is supplied either as a windows binary or as a Java applet (when you browse to the maintenance webpage. You can, in theory use a wireless PDA or laptop with a java enabled web browser to connect directly and control these devices.

  13. Re:If there IS a solution, let me know. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative
    without getting out of my chair.
    Chair
    With
    Wheels

    k, bye bye

  14. I used a small LCD screen by xutopia · · Score: 2, Insightful
    when I had to run around and do that kind of thing. I brought everything in a cardboard box, mouse, keyboard and extra long wires with adaptors.

    The LCD screen was so small and light it was a pleasure to carry around (1024x768 native resolution). The long wires allowed me to sit comfortably wherever I was most comfortable.

  15. VGA to TV converter with ... by RLMorgan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Usa a VGA to TV converter to a laptop with a video capture option. My ThinkPad A31p will do that.

    Then get one of those flex keyboards that roll up. http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?p roduct_code=309758&pfp=BROWSE

  16. Nobody seems to be answering the question ~ by kortex · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Leave it to this crowd to come up with nothing but workarounds. I'm sure this person is aware of the multitudes of ways to console a box.
    I believe what he is asking - which I'm interested in as well - is a laptop where the key/mouse/mon can be independently connected to an external device - there are laptops out now that can play dvd movies without booting an OS - this would be a similar thing. This would be even more useful if you could use a keyb shortcut (kvm-stylee) to switch back and forth between your freshly rooted server and the laptops OS. I want one.

    --
    -- kortex "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts"
  17. Synergy ? by niconico · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Checkout : http://synergy2.sf.net/

    Maybe not exactly what you're looking for but this excellent peace of GPL software lets you use only one mouse+keyboard pair to interact with multiple computer+screen pairs, may they be running Mac OS, Windows and Linux/Unix.

  18. Re:Sounds a bit excessive by stratjakt · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well if your job is to solve problems, why can't you solve this one?

    A cheap 14" LCD panel and a mini usb keyboard with pointer built into it. There you go. Get some VGA and USB extension cables and leave them in the server so you don't have to crawl around behind it to plug them in.

    It ain't like rocket science, and it's much cheaper than all the esoteric KVM over IP type of shit everyone else is selling.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  19. Laptop by zotz · · Score: 2

    "Wouldn't it be nice to carry around a specialized laptop that could act as both a portable display and input device?"

    I have been talking about this exact thing for a long time. All it would need is a laptop with a built in kvm. One press you are controlling the laptop, one press you are controlling the external pc from the laptop.

    Someone build this for me please.

    --
    FreeMusicPush If you want to see more Free Music made, listen to Free
  20. Everybody is missing the point. by Glasswire · · Score: 2, Insightful

    He isn't looking for a new way to do KVM, he wants to be able to give Keyboard/Mouse/Video INPUT to the laptop so it can be the console to a KVM. Yes, software solutions exist, but that makes assumptions about compatibility between the console application and the OS on the laptop. The perfect solution is something (probably a PCMCIA card) that has input dongles to attach into the console KVM ports on the KVM unit AND a switch that toggles the laptop between KVM mode and laptop mode.
    Having said that, the poster that indicated earlier that anything only 20 geeks want will cost $10,000 is right, so I'm not holding my breath for the PCMCIA card.
    I would say, though, that it would be really nice if someone could come up with some cheap hardware with keyboard/mouse/VGA connectors that protocol converted to VNC APIs over IP over ethernet. There's a lot of people that could use a cheap KVM over IP solution like this...

  21. I guess you are a windoze admin by SCHecklerX · · Score: 3, Insightful
    'cause for every other type of server known to man, you simply run a serial console and use a laptop with a terminal emulator if your networked ssh dies for some reason.

    Isn't it great the problems needing a GUI just to do simple admin tasks creates?

  22. inputs from kb/mouse, needed: video input. by joejoejoejoe · · Score: 2, Interesting

    For the original problem, turning a laptop in to a kvm, I think you're just missing one vital part: something to take video as input from a VGA cable.

    Maybe someone could make a pcmcia card that had a dongle with a place to connect another computer's video output. (or USB connected device that did it.)

    Then you run something that from 1,000 feet looks like a VMware session that has no running OS, but just does Input/Output to the real pc on the other end of the cables.

    Something tells me this is totally doable, with a way to convert the video in... yeah...

    Can I skip to the "profit!" step please?

    (Since you have a mouse input and kb input, hopefully anyway, you can take male-male cables and cross connect two pcs, the laptop and server)

    OK wait, maybe what you need is a little box with Kb/Vid/Ms cables coming from it to the "Server" then a USB cable and some software?

    Now CAN I PROFIT?!

    --
    Silly Rabbit: tricks are for kids.
  23. Two tools together by petree · · Score: 3, Informative

    Epiphan makes a product called VGA2USB ($399) and then buy a usb keyboard with a touchpad on it. (ibm sells one for $100). This way you'd just have your laptop (which you would probably have out anyways) and then one keyboard/mouse combo. It's not perfect, but it'll get the job done for $500.

  24. Open source solution - okvm by vzzzbx · · Score: 2, Informative

    These guys are working on an open source hardware and GPL'd software solution comprising a PCI KVM card, console manager and KVM over IP manager. Won't be so useful for your laptop though.

  25. Re:RTFA by LinuxHam · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Typical Slashdot.... 99% of posts are unresponsive and off topic.

    No, typical Slashdot is a bunch of kids answering a serious question before ever setting foot in an enterprise environment.

    Two choices: first, an IP KVM installed in each rack. But you still have to address the power switch and media. Another poster mentioned PXE booting. It works, but takes effort to build all the different images you want to have handy, and what do you do for a hung box 1,000 miles away? Or once you address the power question, the NIC is bad?

    Second: IBM (and others) offer remote systems management cards that not only give you full remote KVM on the server the card is installed in, but they also give you access to the system power and screen captures of blue screens that may have occured before the server rebooted itself to recover. They can also present virtual floppy and CD-ROM drives to their host servers. Finally, if you don't want to run 10/100 and do IP allocations for each management card, you can daisy chain up to 24 servers together over RS-485 and use any one of them as a gateway to the IP network.

    One IP address. Full remote KVM access to up to 24 servers at a time. Access to the system power. Access to screenshots of blue screens that may have tripped a reboot. Full hardware and software alert forwarding directly handled by the gateway card or passed on to enterprise systems management environments via numerous methods. Virtual floppy and CD-ROM drives. If you still absolutely insist on going onsite to the box, you can sit at a desk in the corner and get an IP.

    For christ's sake be a professional, dammit! I love all these answers about using distros configured to put the console on a serial tty when the submitter clearly described needing to be in the box before the POST splash is up. Another year of not having to worry about my job if this is the competition.

    --
    Intelligent Life on Earth
  26. Re:RTFA by SlamMan · · Score: 2, Informative

    We use your first option, but in addition to controllable pdu's. Cost a touch more, but if it saves me a trip a 2 in the morning because a machine hung hard, its worth it.

    --
    Mod point free since 2001
  27. AAARGGGHHH by RMH101 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Q: "How can I remotely admin my enterprise servers more easily in the field?"
    A: "Buy a Mac!"P? Only on slashdot. Jesus.