iLO 2 standard - remote console and text mode linux

[Stefan Winter]

Hi,

some of our recently-bought ProLiants have iLO 2 on board. With iLO 1, when a server running Linux was in text mode (kernel option vga=normal) remote console worked beautifully.

Now with iLO 2, even when in text mode, iLO 2 insists that an Advanced license is required to view this *GRAPHIC* mode. But it isn't graphic, it's 80x25 text based, and the very same config worked fine in iLO 1.

Is this a bug in iLO 2 or is it just a clever marketing move to make people buy advanced licenses?

Stefan Winter

[ramesh_naik_]

Hi Stefan,


What is the Proliant server with the ILO 2 we are talking?
The ProLiant p-class BL servers include the advanced license key.
Press Enter when prompted for a license on a blade server; otherwise, the XML script will not be executed on the designated server.


To configure the availability of the Remote Console port, complete the following steps:
1. Log on to the iLO management device using an account that has supervisor status.
2. In the Administration section,
â ¢ For iLO, click Global Settings then click Access.
â ¢ For iLO 2, click Settings then click Access.
3. In the Remote Console Port Configuration section, click the appropriate option.


Hope this answers!!!!!


Regards,
rmn

[Stefan Winter]

This is a DL380G5 - without an Advanced license.

But my point was: it used to work in iLO 1 _without_ an Adanced license. So I thought it still should work on iLO 2 without an Advanced license.

[Stefan Winter]

This is a DL380G5 - without an Advanced license.

But my point was: it used to work in iLO 1 _without_ an Adanced license. So I thought it still should work on iLO 2 without an Advanced license. For the record, I verified the settings you mentioned and it didn't change anything.

[sandeep_raman]

Hello Stefan,

Ilo 2 Standard supports Remote Text Console.

http://h18013.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/ilo2/index.html
Model comparison Chart.

http://h18013.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/ilo2/questionsanswers.html#b1
What iLO 2 Standard features are included with the purchase of a ProLiant server?

SRH

[acartes]

First-generation iLO supports text mode standard and requires iLO Advanced for graphical remote console.

iLO 2 supports POST standard, and requires iLO Advanced for remote console otherwise. (Blade servers have remote console as a standard capability).

You will also note that iLO 2 does not support a "remcons" command from the command-line interface (SSH). This is because iLO 2 acquires the host console in a different way, in which there is no "Graphics" mode or "text" mode.

If you want a text console for Linux, assign a tty to the virtual serial port. You can access the VSP from the browser or from SSH through the command-line interface.

For details, visit:
www.hp.com/servers/lights-out, pick your product, select Support & Documents, then Manuals.
View "Integrated Lights-Out Virtual Serial Port configuration and operation HOWTO."

[Stevenp63]

Seriall console only works once the os is installed, and we loose a lot of visual cues that are only available via the real console.

This is also does work for installationpurposes, as there is no serial console for it.

Any help

Steven

[acartes]

Also examine the host RBSU setting for BIOS Serial Console Port. This can be configured so that text-mode writes using BIOS interrupts (i.e., POST and DOS) can be captured and routed to the iLO virtual serial port.

[Stevenp63]

Question our ILO1 on the G1's worked
just fine for our text console based purposes, but the new
G2's, and the forcing of ILO2, I'm unable to find a text mode any ideas

Steven

[acartes]

In systems with iLO 2:
http://h18013.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/remotemgmt/supported-servers.html
The remote console is accessed using a browser and launching the Integrated Remote Console or the Remote Console applets.

You will not see an explicit "text mode" for remote console listed.