[Tfug] Use laptop as external kbd/monitor?

[Harry McGregor]

I can think of two options.

Option 1, console over serial, use an null modem cable, and a terminal 
program (minicom or hyperterm), and bring up a console.  On most PC 
hardware, this won't help with bios issues, etc, but you can configure 
grub to use a serial console, and the kernel can use a serial console, etc.

Option 2, buy an IP KVM (single head) unit.

such as this: 
http://cgi.ebay.com/KVM-over-IP-Server-remote-control-Startech-SV1110IPEXT_W0QQitemZ150209341566QQihZ005QQcategoryZ11175QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

unfortunately, most of the IP KVM units require an active X control to 
view the KVM....

                                           Harry

Angus Scott-Fleming wrote:
> Does anyone know of any way to use a laptop as an external keyboard+monitor for 
> systems that are running headless and can't run VNC?  I  have a number of Linux 
> boxes running stripped-down distros as firewalls or as NAS-devices, and it's a 
> PITA to have to lug around a keyboard and a monitor to get to them when I need 
> to troubleshoot beyond what I can do an SSH session.    
>
>
>
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