Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Thu, 15 Mar 2001 13:33:11 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Thu, 15 Mar 2001 13:33:01 -0500 Received: from pat.uio.no ([129.240.130.16]:47757 "EHLO pat.uio.no") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id ; Thu, 15 Mar 2001 13:32:47 -0500 From: Terje Malmedal To: chip@valinux.com CC: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org In-Reply-To: (chip@valinux.com) Subject: Re: Remote Management (was Re: Alert on LAN) MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-Id: Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 19:31:57 +0100 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org [Chip Salzenberg] > IBM says, as quoted by Terje Malmedal: >> With the latest release, Alert on LAN 2 now extends IT >> capabilities to remotely manage and control their >> networked PCs: >> >> Remote system reboot upon report of a critical failure >> Repair Operating System >> Update BIOS image >> Perform other diagnostic procedures > OK, fine... but: Where are the authentication and authorization?! > Surely I'm not the only person to see in this "Alert On LAN 2" the > potential for a security disaster. I know I will never buy anything > that supports AOL2 until its security features are openly documented > and testable. Definitely scary possibilites there. I think the best we can realistically hope for is that you can require a password to be sent with each packet. >> The feature I really need is to be able to reset the machine >> remotely when Linux is hung. > Some current PC motherboards support remote management via a serial > line. Of course, you'll need software: The VA Cluster Manager (GPL'd > - http://sourceforge.net/projects/vacm) can monitor and control any > number of clients, limited only by the number of serial ports you can > give it. VACM also includes optional client support for enhanced > monitoring, e.g. of temperatures. I'm not sure which motherboards it > supports, but I'm sure you can find current documentation. :-) I am aware of some motherboards where you can configure the BIOS via RS232. What I want is some way to actually reset a machine that is hung. Currently we are using power-strips where we can switch on and off individual plugs by telneting to the strip. We also use Netra T1's from SUN. They have a small microprosessor listening on the serial port. If you send the escape sequence #. it will take over and allow you to reset or power-cycle the real computer. Very cool stuff: lom>version LOM version: 2.1 LOM checksum: 7CA3 LOM firmware build Aug 6 1999 09:46:27 lom>help The following commands are supported: alarmon alarmoff check console environment faulton faultoff help poweron poweroff reset show version lom>environment LEDs: faultled OFF Alarm1 = OFF Alarm2 = OFF Alarm3 = OFF Fans: 1 = OK speed = 74% 2 = OK speed = 74% 3 = OK speed = 74% PSUs: 1 = OK This functionality is what I hope Alert on LAN2 can give me. -- - Terje malmedal@usit.uio.no - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/