servers without consoles

[sam wang]

i would like to know what are the common problems if a K370 server running HP-UX 10 does not have a console (terminal or GUI) attached, and assuming Central Web Console is not implemented.

[Mark Mitchell]

If the server has a problem, the console will sometimes keep the error message up. That can make all the difference from finding the problem and haveing to research it.

[Stefan Farrelly · Accepted solution]

No console shouldnt present a problem unless a situation arises where you will need to plug one in, eg;
firmware upgrade
change to boot option (single user mode, lvm maintenancemode)
booting off a different device
changing console options, modem connection, bootpaths,etc.
boot problems.

[Tracey]

In addition to the error messages going to the console, rebooting could be tricky if it requires user input. Ie not set for auto-boot or the system requires you to do a manual fsck. I personally would not want one of my system to NOT have a console.

[George LaSalle]

I am a bit short on floor/table space so have two test systems connected to a switch box which is then connected to a console terminal. I can switch to system that is most important at the time. The only drawback, as Mark said, is that I would miss seeing any messages sent to the console of the system that I'm not switched to.

[Patrick Wallek]

We have about 30 unix servers in our data center and we have 3 vt terminals connected to a KVM switch that we run all of the machines consoles to. The beauty of this KVM switch is that it has a buffer of some size (probably a few KB) that it keeps any activity to the console in the buffer so you can go back and view the console history. That is very nice.


I don't know what brand of KVM switch it is, I can find out if there is interest.

[Duncan Edmonstone]

A warning to any D Class users! The D Class WON'T BOOT without a console of some sort attched. I haven't seen the same problem on any other class of HP9000s.

Have you looked at HP's Secure Web Console?
Take a look at :
http://eproducts.hp.com/servers/secure_web_console.html

[Anthony Goonetilleke]

The only problems if you dont have a console is if the server goes down and does'nt bring the networking back up then you cannot reach it to try and fix the problem or change boot paths etc. But if you have a laptop handy on an old VT terminal just plug it into the back and you have your emergency terminal.