Console Redirection on VMware ESX Server Software and Dell PowerEdge Servers October 2005
Notes, Notices, and Cautions NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. This guide is for informational purposes only and may contain typographical errors and technical inaccuracies. The content is provided as is, without express or implied warranties of any kind. 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and PowerEdge are trademarks of Dell Inc.; VMware, VMotion, and ESX Server are trademarks of VMware, Inc.; EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation; Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds; Intel, Xeon, and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Table of Contents Ensure page numbers match TOC Overview...1 DRAC Console Redirection...1 PowerEdge 1850/2850 - DRAC 4...1 PowerEdge 6650 - DRAC 3...1 PowerEdge 1855MC DRAC/MC using Avocent Digital KVM Access Module...2 PowerEdge 1855MC DRAC/MC using Avocent Analog KVM Access Module...2 1. Modify Files in ESX Service Console... 2 2. Configure BIOS... 2 3. Configure Chassis Baud Rate... 2 4. Using DRAC/MC Console Redirection... 4 5. Ending Your CR Session... 4 BMC-SOL Redirection...5 PowerEdge 1850/2850 Setup...5 1. Modify Files in ESX Service Console... 5 2. Configure BIOS... 5 3. Configure BMC... 5 PowerEdge 1855MC Setup...6 1. Modify Files in ESX Service Console... 6 2. Configure BIOS... 6 3. Configure BMC... 6 Using BMC Console Redirection...7 1. Install BMC Management Utility... 7 2. Telnet From Management Station... 7 3. Navigate the BMC Menu... 7 4. Ending Your CR Session... 7 Known Issues...8 Appendix A Modifying Files in ESX Service Console...9 Modify lilo...9 Commit LILO changes... 10 Modify securetty...10 Modify inittab...10
Overview The inherent ability to secure-shell (ssh) into a Linux server provides the easiest method to remotely access a VMware ESX Server. Sometimes a true console-view of a remote server is required. For these instances the Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) available on the Dell PowerEdge 1850 and 2850 provides true console redirection of a remote server. Another method to access a remote server involves configuring serial over LAN (SOL) redirection through the baseboard management controller (BMC) on the Dell PowerEdge 1850, 1855, and 2850. SOL redirection provides redirection of POST and boot-up then allows access to a remote server through a terminal session. The Dell PowerEdge 1855 also provides remote terminal sessions through the DRAC/MC on the server chassis. DRAC Console Redirection Dell recommends using the features of the Dell Remote Access Controller version 4 (DRAC 4) for console redirection (CR) when that option is available. Console redirection using the DRAC is more efficient and requires less setup than other methods. For detailed information on the DRAC console, please refer to the OpenManage documentation CD. PowerEdge 1850/2850 - DRAC 4 The Dell Remote Access Controller version 4 (DRAC 4) available on the Dell PowerEdge 1850 and 2850 provides true console redirection from POST through ESX booting and seamless interaction with the OS after boot. To start a DRAC console session: 1. Attach to the DRAC card through an internet browser window by entering the DRAC s IP address in the address bar. 2. Login to the DRAC with the configured username and password. 3. Click Console in the left column. 4. Click Open Console in the resulting Console Redirection page. 5. Interact with the ESX service console from this point forward just as if you were logged in locally to the server. NOTICE: The default username and password for the DRAC is root and calvin respectively. Dell highly recommends you change these defaults. PowerEdge 6650 - DRAC 3 Some Dell PowerEdge servers, including the Dell PowerEdge 6650, can be configured with an add-in DRAC 3. Dell does not support ESX console redirection on DRAC 3. The DRAC 3 provides console redirection from power-on until the point where ESX completes loading. After that, it is highly recommended to use ssh to access the service console. ESX Console Redirection 1 Dell Inc.
PowerEdge 1855MC DRAC/MC using Avocent Digital KVM Access Module The Dell Remote Access Controller Modular Chassis (DRAC/MC) (version 1.2) available on the Dell PowerEdge 1855 blade server provides true console redirection from POST through ESX booting and seamless interaction with the OS after boot. To start a DRAC console session: 1. Attach to the DRAC module through an internet browser window by entering the DRAC s IP address in the address bar. 2. Login to the DRAC with the configured username and password. 3. Click Console in the left column and select the appropriate blade in the resulting Console Redirection page. 4. Click Launch Application to launch a Java Application. Accept the necessary security certificates. 5. Interact with the ESX service console from this point forward just as if you were logged in locally to the server. NOTICE: The default username and password for the DRAC is root and calvin respectively. Dell highly recommends you change these defaults. PowerEdge 1855MC DRAC/MC using Avocent Analog KVM Access Module The Dell PowerEdge 1855MC provides console redirection through the chassis DRAC/MC. When used with Avocent Analog KVM Access Module, this feature resembles the BMC serial over LAN feature in that it provides a remote TTY session and not a true redirection of the local console screen like the DRAC 4. BMC (ctrl-e) settings do not affect DRAC/MC console redirection. 1. Modify Files in ESX Service Console Make modifications to the ESX configuration files as described in Appendix A. 2. Configure BIOS Enter system BIOS setup (F2) and configure as follows: Console Redirection Console Redirection: DRAC/MC Failsafe Baud Rate: 19200 Remote Terminal Type: ANSI Redirection After Boot: Enabled 3. Configure Chassis Baud Rate To get the 19200 baud rate to work on the PE 1855MC, make sure the chassis DRAC/MC baud rate is set to 19200. To check this, connect to the PE1855MC chassis with a serial cable and use HyperTerminal, or telnet to the DRAC/MC s IP address from a management station, then run the racadm commands below. ESX Console Redirection 2 Dell Inc.
NOTE: Command parameters are case sensitive. 3.a. Login to the DRAC/MC After connecting to the DRAC/MC, login with its configured username and password. The DRAC/MC: prompt will appear. 3.b. Check the baud rate Run the following command to check the currently configured baud rate. racadm getconfig g cfgractuning Of the four displayed parameters, the cfgractunehostcom2baudrate parameter is the one of which to make note. 3.c. Change the baud rate If needed, run the following to change the baud rate to 19200. racadm config -g cfgractuning -o cfgractunehostcom2baudrate 19200 NOTE: To change the baud rate the firmware may first require updating. ESX Console Redirection 3 Dell Inc.
4. Using DRAC/MC Console Redirection This requires a connection between the PowerEdge 1855 chassis DRAC-MMB RJ45 port and your network switch. Telnet to the DRAC/MC IP address, e.g. telnet 192.168.0.15 then login with the username and password configured for the DRAC/MC, e.g. At the resulting DRAC/MC: prompt, issue the command connect server-x where X is the slot-number of the blade to which you want to connect. Login to the resulting TTY prompt with a valid username and password for the ESX service console. 5. Ending Your CR Session Typing logout in the console does not disconnect the CR session, but leaves you at a login prompt on your remote server. Type ~. [tilde period] to disconnect from the remote server. Type exit at the DRAC/MC prompt to disconnect from the DRAC/MC. ESX Console Redirection 4 Dell Inc.
BMC-SOL Redirection The Dell PowerEdge 1850, 2850, and 1855MC support BMC serial-over-lan console redirection. Configure BMC SOL by completing the following steps. PowerEdge 1850/2850 Setup Configure the server s BIOS and BMC as follows to enable BMC SOL redirection. 1. Modify Files in ESX Service Console Make modifications to the ESX configuration files as described in Appendix A. 2. Configure BIOS Enter system BIOS setup (F2) and configure as follows: Integrated Devices Serial Port 1: BMC NIC Console Redirection Console Redirection: Serial Port 1 Failsafe Baud Rate: 19200 Remote Terminal Type: ANSI Redirection After Boot: Enabled 3. Configure BMC Enter BMC setup (ctrl-e) and configure as follows: IPMI over LAN: On IPMI LAN Channel IP Address Source: Static (if no DHCP, scripts, etc) Ethernet IP Address: <assigned IP, e.g. 192.168.1.13> MAC Address: <Mac address pre-populated> Subnet Mask: <assigned subnet mask, e.g. 255.255.255.0> Default gateway: <gateway, e.g. 192.168.1.99> VLAN Enable: Off VLAN ID: 0001 VLAN: Priority 0 LAN Alert Enabled: On Alert Policy Entry 1: Enable Alert Destination 1: <ITA IP, e.g. 192.168.1.1> User Configuration Admin Account: Enter Password: Confirm Password: <username, e.g. root> <password> <password> ESX Console Redirection 5 Dell Inc.
PowerEdge 1855MC Setup Configure the server s BIOS and BMC as follows to enable BMC SOL redirection. 1. Modify Files in ESX Service Console Make modifications to the ESX configuration files as described in Appendix A. 2. Configure BIOS Enter system BIOS setup (F2) and configure as follows: Console Redirection Console Redirection: BMC SOL Failsafe Baud Rate: 19200 Remote Terminal Type: ANSI Redirection After Boot: Enabled 3. Configure BMC Enter BMC setup (ctrl-e) and configure as follows: IPMI over LAN: On IPMI LAN Channel IP Address Source: Static (if no DHCP, scripts, etc) Ethernet IP Address: <assigned IP, e.g. 192.168.1.13> MAC Address: <Pre-populated: see BMC MAC section below> Subnet Mask: <assigned subnet mask, e.g. 255.255.255.0> Default gateway: <gateway, e.g. 192.168.1.13> VLAN Enable: Off VLAN ID: 0001 <fixed value> VLAN: Priority 0 <fixed value> User Configuration Administrator Account Admin Account: Enter Password: Confirm Password: Enabled <username, e.g. root> <password> <password> ESX Console Redirection 6 Dell Inc.
Using BMC Console Redirection The following steps apply to the Dell PowerEdge 1850, 2850, and 1855MC using the BMC serialover-lan configuration. 1. Install BMC Management Utility You must install the BMC Management Utility on your management station computer to access BMC-SOL redirection. Install this from the Dell OpenManage application CD. Insert the OpenManage CD-ROM into the management station and chose to install or upgrade a Management Station. Choose the Custom option and assure the BMC Management Utility option is selected. Reboot the system after installation. 2. Telnet From Management Station Run the following in at a command prompt for BMC SOL redirection: telnet localhost 623 3. Navigate the BMC Menu The BMC SOL menu appears BMC Management Utility OSA SOL Manage, Version 1.0.1 1: Connect to the Remote Server s BMC 2: Configure the Serial-Over-LAN for the Remote Server 3: Activate Console Redirection 4: Reboot and Activate Console Redirection 5: Help 6: Exit 3.a. Connect To Remote Server Press 1 from the main BMC menu then enter the IP address of the BMC. Next Enter the user ID and password configured for the BMC in earlier steps. The message SOLProxy Status: Connected appears if a connection succeeds, then returns to the BMC SOL main menu. 3.b. Activate Redirection Press 3 to activate console redirection. The following message displays, followed by a blank screen: Activating remote console now. Remote console is now active and ready for user input. Press an arrow/cursor key, the space bar, or <enter> at the resulting blank screen and the system will prompt you to login. 4. Ending Your CR Session Typing logout in the console does not disconnect the CR session, but leaves you at a login prompt on your remote server. Type ~. [tilde period] to disconnect from the remote server. ESX Console Redirection 7 Dell Inc.
Known Issues BMC-SOL and DRAC/MC console redirection work best after ESX has fully loaded. Most POST messages, LILO boot menu, and system startup messages display acceptably well but have some limitations. On the PowerEdge 1850, 2850, and 1855 the remote console may times-out or lose its connection after the following line executes: Freeing unused kernel memory: If this happens, the session will return to the BMC menu. Reconnecting to the server after a few seconds succeeds and functions properly and interactively from here on. If the connection is not lost then a normal TTY login prompt results. During a CR session, text scrolling may appear to overlap when paging through screen output or editing text files in vi. Keyboard latency increases during console redirection. ESX Console Redirection 8 Dell Inc.
Appendix A Modifying Files in ESX Service Console The following file modifications apply to the Dell PowerEdge 1850, the Dell PowerEdge 2850, and the Dell PowerEdge 1855MC for both BMC SOL and DRAC/MC console redirection. These modifications are not required for the DRAC 4 console on the Dell PowerEdge 1850 or 2850. Modify lilo Modify /etc/lilo.conf to the following. Modifications shown in bold. Line-wraps ( ) shown for readability and should be entered on a single line in the file itself. NOTE: With these changes, the local console receives system messages (e.g., shutdown warnings) and not the serial console. If system messages are desired in the CR session, put the console=ttysø,19200n8 parameter at the end of the append line. NOTE: These modifications increase the LILO menu timeout from 10 seconds to 45 seconds. This allows time to connect remotely to the ESX server. prompt timeout=45 boot=/dev/sda install=/boot/boot.b linear default=esx image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.9-34smp label=linux root=/dev/sda2 initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.9-34smp.img read-only append= console=ttysø,19200n8 console=ttyø image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.9-34 label=linux-up root=/dev/sda2 initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.9-34.img read-only append= console=ttysø,19200n8 console=ttyø image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.9-vmnix2 label=esx root=/dev/sda2 initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.9-vmnix2.img read-only append= mem=192m cpci=0:*;1:*;2:*;5:*;6:*;7:;9:*; console=ttysø,19200n8 console=ttyø ESX Console Redirection 9 Dell Inc.
Commit LILO changes To install the new LILO boot record you must run the lilo command. # lilo The following response results Added linux Added linux-up Added esx * Modify securetty Add the following line to /etc/securetty to allow for OS-level console redirection as root. ttysø Modify inittab Modify /etc/inittab to allow for a serial console session. Modifications shown in bold. # Run gettys in standard runlevels co:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -h -L 192ØØ ttysø ansi 1:2345:respawn:/usr/sbin/vmkstatus tty1 2:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty2 NOTE: For the Dell PowerEdge 1850 and 2850, if console redirection is set to OFF in the BIOS and Serial Port, under Integrated Devices, is also set to OFF, the above change in /etc/inittab will result in the following error message: Id co: respawning too fast. Switching off for 5 minutes ESX Console Redirection 10 Dell Inc.