remote console access/ multiport card recommendations?

[Chris Harwell]

just a clarification - i meant this question to be framed in terms of a
control channel for access in place of a monitor/keyboard switch NOT
as a replacement for networking. many clusters are installed w/o vga cards
and keyboards b/c for the most part they are not needed, but if you want
to experiment with interesting/creative networking (say channel bonding on
a beowulf or different arp scenarious with ha clusters) this could be
really useful.

thanks :>

On Mon, 23 Jul 2001, Chris Harwell wrote:

> hello,
>
> could any cluster experts confirm that this idea will work and perhaps
> recommend hardware - multiport serial board cards or rackmount console
> server?
>
> i'd like to interconnect boxes in a cluster via the serial ports, using
> console support in the kernel to a multiport serial card in or rackmount
> console server for remote access. that is i'd like remote access and don't
> want / need vga card + keyboard on each box.
>
> does this work with 2.4.x kernels yet?  - i remember seeing a post on the
> lkml about it being broken.
>
> any pointers at documentation for getting this to work?
>
> i was thinking something like this:
> [box1] serial port <-> cable <-> [null modem] <-> cable <-> serial port [box2]
>
> box1: compile kernel w/ console option, add line to inittab and or maybe
> lilo append option
> box2: kermit -l /dev/ttySx...
>
> thanks,
>
>

-- 
chris
charwell at digitalpulp.com