SOL - getting garbage from kernel and getty

[Harald_Jensas at Dell.com]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-poweredge-bounces at dell.com [mailto:linux-poweredge-
> bounces at dell.com] On Behalf Of Torbjørn
> Sent: 15 February 2008 15:47
> Cc: linux-poweredge-Lists
> Subject: Re: SOL - getting garbage from kernel and getty
> 
> Harald_Jensas at Dell.com wrote:
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: linux-poweredge-bounces at dell.com [mailto:linux-poweredge-
> >> bounces at dell.com] On Behalf Of Torbjørn
> >> Sent: 15 February 2008 09:39
> >> To: linux-poweredge-Lists
> >> Subject: Re: SOL - getting garbage from kernel and getty
> >>
> >
> >
> >> Regarding using racadm, I must say that this machine does not have a
> >> DRAC, I am using a BMC only. racadm might still apply, though, but I
> do
> >> not have OMSA installed.
> >> Is there any difference in configuring the BMC from racadm versus
> BIOS
> >> ?
> >>
> >
> > The following maximum baud rates are allowed for BMC serial
> communication and SOL:
> >
> > 19200 for PowerEdge 1425SC and other PowerEdge x8xx systems.
> > 57600 for PowerEdge x9xx and xx0x systems without Dell Remote Access
> Controller 5 (DRAC 5).
> > 115200 for PowerEdge x9xx and xx0x systems with DRAC 5.
> >
> > Try reducing the speed to 57600 baud, 115200 is only supported on
> systems with the DRAC 5 Controller.
> >
> >
> >
> > You should read this:
> >
> http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smbmcmu/BMCMU_3_0/e
> n/ug/bmcugadd.htm#wp1055490
> >
> > An I would recommend configure GRUB to redirect to serial as well,
> and turn off Serial Redirect after boot.
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Harald Jensås
> >
> 
> Aha, that table would have been nice to find yesterday ..
> Oh well, google eventually came through for me, I was pondering
> starting
> to bruteforce all the usual baud rate combinations.
> 
> Regarding GRUB, I think I will follow your advice regarding the
> configuraion, but just out of curiosity, why should I not use "serial
> redirect after boot" ?
> 

The only reason is that manual tells us to configure grub. I do not know why/if it is not OK to have redirect after boot enabled. :)


> And finally, one more SoL question .. I have some 860s, also with a BMC
> only.
> I have been poking around that a little, and it only supports IPMI 1.5,
> as far as I can tell.
> Is there any way to get SoL like I have on the 2950 on the 860 ?
> I tried connecting to it using ipmitool, but was unable to get a SoL
> session going.
> "ipmitool sol activate" will not work, as it is a IPMI 2.0 feature, and
> I couldn't get the other support options going, either.
> Anyway to get a SoL session on the 860 ?
> 

IPMI 1.5 does not support SOL in the same way as IPMI 2.0, but you can get something similar working, all you need is a host to run a SOL Proxy service. (Could be running on your local box...)

All you need should be in this document:
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smbmcmu/2.0A01/en/ug/BMCUG.PDF

Serial Console redirection on Page 91... :)

I belive the Linux version of SOL Proxy Deamon is in this software package:
http://ftp.us.dell.com/sysman/OM_5.2.0_MgmtStat_A00.tar.gz.sign

I belive it is available for multiple Operating Systems on this ISO: 
http://ftp.us.dell.com/sysman/OM_5.2.0_SMC_A00.ISO


Essentially what you do is install the SOL Proxy on a management host, telnet to the SOL Proxy on the management host and then connect to the BMC. 


--
Harald Jensås