Just upgraded the kernel and thought i'd try out the console facitity. Logged ontop the server with it and then in another terminal (SSH) i rebooted. The console got partway through the shutdown message and froze.

The console was not able to be logged into till the server came back up.

So it seems that the console is just a very slow SSH. I thought I'd be able to see the shutdown and startup process just like the server was in front of me.

At the current time i can't figure out why it was installed????

Am i missing something????

ur pretty much right. it is a slow ssh. however this is not a service running on the box. it is the actual console as if you were at the box. it is very helpfull if your box died and would come up without ssh for some reason...

Yeah I find the DRAC cards are much more useful for kernel trouble and such. The bing thing about the console card is if you have ssh trouble, firewall trouble, or your server is getting DDOS and there is not enough bandwidth.

yea i use the drac on occasions

I like the fact that if I mess up a kernel update I can login to DRAC and select which kernel to boot into. Also I have access to the system bios and SCSI bios, etc. via DRAC, plus temperature and voltage sensors for the server.

We offer Remote KVM access for the type of connectivity mentioned earlier in this thread.

Remote Console is great in cases where the primary network connection is down, the box has been unplugged due to AUP/TOS issues or a firewall setting has locked you out of your server.

Its there as a "just in case" option. Not bad for free, if you ask me

For the serious server confirguration issues that require access to the boot screen and such, just let us know that you need KVM access for a day.

Maybe you should put it's uses into the console FAQ. People won't appreciate it if they don't know how to use it. I, for one, didn't know the uses you've stated. I now agree, it'a handy thing to have.

FAQ updated, thanks for the recommendation.

I never knew/thought about the TOS/AUP part, thats really big. I have not had trouble in a long time but if I ever did it would be VERY nice to have some sort of access to the server. I have seen many people have their server taken down and cannot do anything to check how it was hacked, now atleast we can go in and look at it and make sure it really was. Thanks for the info and great idea to update the faq.

That's really odd... check the attachment.
I suppose I'm just lucky

SW-Ray - that is a Dell dual xeon - are you sure you're not viewing the DRAC interface? The DRAC does allow you to view the boot sequence, enter bios, select which kernel to boot, etc.

Nope, I don't have DRAC on them. Besides, DRAC is accessed from a completely different (web) interface, along with a java client to view the console.
I even have pictures to prove my servers are hooked up to serial consoles

Do you have a Windows or Linux system?

EV1 should get KVM's on all machines instead of consoles!

Would you like to inquire about leasing one for your server?

I'm not a Windows user, but I agree with eleven2support

No not right now, but it would be a great additional to all servers, I have a half rack and will be getting full rack soon, so that will have it.

hi,

if anyone in this thread is still interested, i just posted a howto for getting the grub menu and boot process info sent to the serial console:

http://forum.ev1servers.net/showthread.php?t=57473

feel free to correct me on anything in there.

YEAH!

And also have dual processors instead of singles one, and quad ones instead of duals.

Wait... What am I saying? This will actually happen after 4 years or so!