Sun Fire [TM] v20z/v40z: Using remote commands to enable Serial Over Lan Console access to the Linux OE

Asset ID:	1-71-1010691.1
Update Date:	2010-05-27
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1010691.1 : Sun Fire [TM] v20z/v40z: Using remote commands to enable Serial Over Lan Console access to the Linux OE

Related Items


Sun Fire V20z Compute Grid Rack System
 Sun Fire V20z Server
 Sun Fire V40z Server

Related Categories


GCS>Sun Microsystems>Servers>x64 Servers

PreviouslyPublishedAs
214763

Description
Serial over LAN requires a properly configured LAN connection and a system from which an ssh session can be established. On the Sun Fire[TM] v20z and Sun Fire[TM] v40z, SOL is initiated through a properly configured and network-accessible Service Processor (SP) on these systems.

The Serial Over LAN (SOL) feature allows servers transparently redirect the serial character stream from the baseboard Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) to and from the remote-client system over LAN. Serial over LAN has the following benefits compared to a serial interface:

Eliminates the need for a serial concentrator.
Reduces the amount of cabling.
Allows remote management of servers without video, mouse or keyboard (headless servers).

Steps to Follow
To gain console access to the Linux OS through the SP via SOL, the following must be done:

Enable console redirection in the BIOS:
1. Boot or reboot the server.
2. When prompted, press F2 to enter BIOS setup.
3. Select the Advanced menu from the category selections along the top.
4. Select Console Redirection.

Modify some settings in the OS:
1. Edit the /etc/grub.conf (to allow the OS messages to pass thruconsole):
  1. Comment out the 'splashimage'
  2. Add 'serial -unit=1 --speed=9600'
  3. Add 'terminal --timeout=1 console serial'
  4. Append to the kernel line, 'console=tty0 console=ttyS0,9600n8'
  See <Document: 1010463.1> for additional explanation
2. Edit the inittab (to allow console login):
  1. Add 'co:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -t 60 ttyS0 9600 vt100' to the end of the second-to-last section of the config
  See <Document: 1017815.1> for additional explanation
3. Make sure that the /etc/securetty file contains ttyS0
Reboot the platform OS, so that these changes will take affect.

Disable SOL, regardless of whether it is enabled or not:
# ssh -l spuser spipaddr platform set console -s platform

Enable SOL:
# ssh -l spuser spipaddr platform set console -s sp -e -S 9600

Launch an SOL session from a remote system:
# ssh SPipaddr -l spuser platform console

For additional information, see Chapter 4 of the Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers--Server Management Guide (817-5249)

Internal Comments
serial over LAN, SOL, SP, service processor, linux, Red Hat, SuSE, console, inittab, terminal, BIOS, console redirection
Previously Published As
78039
Change History
Date: 2010-05-28
User Name: james.j.carter@oracle.com
Action: Approved
Comment: Check for currency, fix formatting

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