Re: [tlug] [tlug-admin] Call for presenters 14th Nov

[Edward Middleton <edward.middleton@example.com>]

On 6/11/20 3:42 pm, Curt J. Sampson wrote:
> On 2020-11-06 13:02 +0900 (Fri), Edward Middleton wrote:
>
> > On 5/11/20 11:43 am, Christian Horn wrote:
> > > On Wed, Nov 04, 2020 at 01:01:08PM +0100, Christian Horn wrote:
> >
> > > - building KVM devices with HDMI grabbers and raspi: connect a
> > >     system via HDMI and usb to the raspi, and the raspi can not
> > >     only grab HDMI but also emulate usb mouse/keyboard to that
> > >     connected system
> > If you could combine it with power control functionality it could make a
> > pretty cool DIY iLO[1] alternative.  Though it looks like you can do most of
> > that with Intel Management Engine[2].
>
> I've had extensive experience with LOM back in the late '90s and 2000s, and
> again back around 2016 (when I discovered that kids these days had no clue
> and were buying ¥1500 Ethernet KVMs for systems that already had full
> management).
>
> Generally, if you're using Linux (or any other Unix) and using keyboard and
> video for LOM you've made a wrong turn; serial consoles are simpler,
> require much less software, usually reduce memory usage on the host, and
> let you log all the console output.

I looked at using a serial consoles with iLO but, it didn't support 
changing bios or driver settings as it only becomes available after they 
have run.  It also required the screen to be set to a really low 
resolution.  I am working with HP Prolient ML350 G6 servers that have 
iLO2.  This comes with a web server and web application that allows you 
to generate session keys for the iLO console which sends video frames 
using an rc4 encrypted telnet connection.  Its not great but will work 
through boot and is sufficient to run graphical installers.  The major 
issues I run into is that the hardware is not capable of running real 
encryption or current TLS so it wouldn't work with current browsers 
under Linux.  That's why I wrote an alternative iLO2 console client.

> Any even half-way decent rack mount server will have its own management
> module (typically a small independent Linux-based machine called a BMC or
> Baseband Management Controller) conected to one of the Ethernet ports and
> supporting a command-line interface and IPMI.

I am using a NanoPi R2s[1] as my BNC alternative.

1. http://wiki.friendlyarm.com/wiki/index.php/NanoPi_R2S