Access Console from Desktop

[Karthik S S]

Hi,
How can I get the HP-UX/Solaris Console remotely from my windows desktop. Is there any software for that??. I am looking for a software something similar to VNC/PC anywhere used for windows machines. I dont require ReflextionX or some other XDM software but I need to get the actual console on my desktop. Pl. help.

Thanks, Karthik

[Massimo Bianchi]

Hi,
i know abot HPUX boxes.

You have two way:
1- expensive: you buy and configure a web-console, i know they are pretty expensive
2- you configure the built-in lan console. when you telnet to that address, you have the real console and the GPS at your needs.

HTH,
Massimo

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,
I don't know if you mean the HP GSP service processor or just a terminal window. In the later case, open a command window on your PC and do a "telnet ".

[Bill Hassell]

The HP solution depends on which HP-UX box(es) you have. Recent models (the N, L, A and rp-class) machines have a built-in LAN access port that can be accessed wih telnet. Earlier models only have a serial port so you can get an HP WebConsole (which provides a web page terminal port) or a number of vendors (BlackBox, Cisco) have multiple serial ports with a telnet-based selector.

[Karthik S S]

Hi,

I dont want any hardware based solutions like lan console/web console. What I want is a simple software installed on hp-ux which can listen to the client request. It should be able to provide full console functionality for the remote clients over the network. For instance in Windows NT/2000 You can install VNC Server on one machine and from a remote Windows m/c you can control the first machine. Whatever you do is shown on the remote console aswell. You move the cursor here and it moves on the remote machines monitor. I hope you are getting my point ...

Thanks
Karthik

[Dietmar Konermann · Accepted solution]

I assume we are talking about the kernel's console device. This is the (ascii) terminal tty /dev/console. No graphics, of course.

The machine uses the console path for its initial diag/info messages and later on the kernel's console driver uses that device to implement /dev/console.

Depending on the machine type, several ways to access this console are possible.

1) Serial port
Traditionaly used by servers. You connect a terminal to a RS232 port. For remote access you would need HW like a terminal server, dtc or web console device. You could also use a null-modem cable to another systems' RS232 port.

2) GSP/MP LAN console
Modern systems allow telnet access to the service processor. From there you can attach to the kernel's /dev/console path.

3) Workstation's ITE
The internal terminal emulator of a workstation emulates a terminal on the graphics device and offers a pseudo /dev/console. No remote access possible. However, you could re-configure the console path to point to a RS232 port and use approach 1) then.

So I think, no remote console access is possible without hardware assistance (maybe built-in).

If you need shared access to the graphics of the workstation you could of course install VNC. BUT this would be no console access, only shared access to the X11 desktop.

Best regards...
Dietmar.

[Stefan Schulz]

Hi,

you are looking for a solution to control another session on a remote machine.

Sorry, but i don't know of such a software. You could use VNC which is also available for HP-UX, but it works not like you would expect it from your Windows VNC.

The UNIX VNC will give every connection a seperate desktop. As VNC on UNIX will install a second X-Server. So if you connect to your server you will see a different X-Session than the on which is displayd on the console.

AFAIK there is a guide somewhere to replace the original X-Server with the VNC X-Server. Perhaps than it will be possible to connect the same session.

Hope this helps

Regards Stefan

[Karthik S S]

Thank you very much Dietmar. My problem is 50% solved ( My one of the intention was to have a Shared graphics access ). I could get it by running "vncserver -alwaysshared" and asking the clients to connct to the same Display.

But, what worries me is that we can get a shared console access?? Is there no way out for this problem using software???

Thanks
Karthik

[Dietmar Konermann]

Hi, Karthik!

I think it's important what you consider to be "the console".

When you power on the system then the initial messages go somewhere... to the console path. You need to acess the boot console handler from her. This happens before any kernel is running.

So, if you want to have a "real" console from where you can e.g. perfom offline diagnostics or trouble-shoot boot problems, then you need to have a path that works independently from HP-UX. How should this be done in software?

Best regards...
Dietmar.

[Karthik S S]

Hi Dietmar,

When I say console I mean the Console Login: Screen which you see once the system finishes its default running level. And assuming that the system is on the Network I want that console screen to be captured and handled from my Windows workstation over the network through some kind of client/server software.

And I dont mean to have control on the system when the HP-UX is down or when the system is out of the network.

Thanks
Karthik

[Stefan Schulz]

Hi again,

if you want a real console access remotely you are bound to lan console (which should be build in) or web console (as a seperate purchasable card).

As the VNC and other solutions use a X-Server, you wont't get a console login with this. In e.g. single user mode where the console ist already working there is no X-Server runnig, also in runlevel 1 and 2.

All you can do in a X-Server session like under VNC is to open up a dtterm with the option -C (see man dtterm) to get all consolemessages in this window. Or use xconsole, but this is a display only window.

If you need a remote console access in lower runlevels than you need to activare the lan console.

Hope this helps

Regards Stefan