This process involves modifying:
BIOS Settings
DRAC Settings
/boot/grub/grub.conf
/etc/securetty
/etc/inittab (for RHEL5), or /etc/init/ttyS1.conf (for RHEL6)
We use mcctest (RHEL5) and mcctest1 (RHEL6) for examples. On Linux, the serial ports COM1, CO M2, are named as ttyS0, ttyS1. We use the second serial port ttyS1 for console redirection.
1) Change respective BIOS settings
Bios settings for "Serial Communication"
Serial Communication - On with Console Redirection via COM2
Serial Port Address - Serial Device1=COM1, Serial Device2=COM2
External Serial Connector - SerialDevice1
Failsafe Baud Rate - 57600
Remote Terminal Type - ANSI
Redirection After Boot – Enabled
This is to redirect console via COM2.
2) Change respective rackadm settings
Use /opt/dell/srvadmin/sbin/racadm. This should be already set properly by default. First check the configuration, and make sure
[root@mcctest ~]# racadm getconfig -g cfgSerial
cfgSerialBaudRate=57600
cfgSerialConsoleIdleTimeout=600
cfgSerialSshEnable=1
...
Make changes if necessary via
[root@mcctest ~]# racadm config -g cfgSerial -o cfgSerialConsoleIdleTimeout 600
[root@mcctest ~]# racadm config -g cfgSerial -o cfgSerialSshEnable 1
[root@mcctest ~]# racadm config -g cfgSerial -o cfgSerialBaudRate 57600
This is to enable SSH to access DRAC.
3) Enable agetty for ttyS1
This is required to start agetty for ttyS1 at booting time.
For rhel5:
Add following entry in /etc/inittab
co:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -h -L 57600 ttyS1 ansi
For rhel6:
Add/Edit appropriate entries in /etc/init/ttyS1.conf
mcctest1 $ cat /etc/init/ttyS1.conf
# # ttyS0 - agetty
# #
# # This service maintains a agetty on ttyS0.
#
# stop on runlevel [S016]
# start on runlevel [23]
#
# respawn
# exec agetty -h -L -w /dev/ttyS0 115200 vt102
start on stopped rc RUNLEVEL=[2345]
stop on starting runlevel [016]
respawn
exec /sbin/agetty /dev/ttyS1 57600 ansi
4) Add/Edit appropriate entried in /boot/grub/grub.conf
This is needed in order to redirect OS loading to console as well via ttyS1 (or COM2).
These two entries need to be added into grub.conf
serial –unit=1 –speed=57600
terminal –timeout console serial
And append "console=ttyS1,57600" to your kernel entry.
Note – in grub.conf file you need to comment out couple of entries and add/edit some entries.
Entries in grub.conf –
#splashimage=(hd0,0)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
#hiddenmenu
serial --unit=1 --speed=57600
terminal --timeout console serial
.....
........
title Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (2.6.18-274.7.1.el5PAE)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-274.7.1.el5PAE ro root=/dev/sda1 console=ttyS1,57600 console=tty0
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18-274.7.1.el5PAE.img
5) Add appropriate entry in /etc/securetty
Add following entry in /etc/securetty –
ttyS1
This is needed for root access to the console.
6) Connect to console using ssh
divekar@mcclogin $ ssh mcctest-mgt -l root
root@mcctest-mgt's password:
Depending on the version of DRAC, you may connect to the console via
console com2
or
connect com2
7) Disconnect
To disconnect from ssh connection to console , enter “Control-\” (i.e. ^\).
Issue and solution:
1) Problem - logged on to mcctest1-mgt using ssh. After that cannot connect to console.
$ connect com2
connect: com2 port is currently in use
Solution -
$ racadm racreset
2) issue
Note – If you are using console from web server and you move your pointer out of that window, then when you again go to console window, click on “View -> Refresh”. By this way you will regain control on the console window and can issue commands from console.
REF:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smdrac3/idrac/idrac10mono/en/ug/html/racugc5.htm
Created by: Shashi Diverkar, 14-Jan-2013
Modified: 15-Jan-2013 (Jingchen Zhou)