[Tfug] headless systems

[Robert Hunter]

> I'm trying to figure out what the best way is to run a system remotely.

Hi, Chris.  Here are a few of my suggestions for running headless Linux
boxen.

Like others suggested, ssh + vnc is a good way to go.  In a "trusted"
environment you could also use rsh and ilk, but there are not many
reasons for doing so, and several for not.

For certain maintenance tasks, you will definitely want to have a serial
console available.  Either a permanently attached terminal/modem, or the
ability to hook up a laptop with a null-modem cable.  Hopefully your
machine allows for console redirection through the serial port, allowing
you access to the BIOS setup stuff.  For the worst case scenario, keep a
spare VGA adapter laying around.  There certainly are no shortage of
those at my shop. :-)

A while back, I posted a related question regarding remote rebooting a
machine which has become unresponsive.  Jim and Adrian had some good
suggestions, if you care to search for that thread.    Currently, I have
a few PDUs made by APC to handle remote reboots.  They go for about a
hundred bucks, have ethernet + serial hardware interfaces, and web-based
+ telnet software interfaces.  I've written a perl script which allows me
to control any one of the eight power outlets on the strip with minimal
fuss.  I've also found these PDUs to be quite handy for hardware
testbeds.


-- 
Rob