Maintain Connection To Headless Debian Server During Reboot

Hi, I have a headless server running Debian and I only manage it using CLI over SSH and 99% of the time this is OK.
However, if something were to happen during boot sequence I would have to go down to the basement and get an old monitor (and keyboard) I keep just for this purpose (VGA) and it's all just a hassle.

My Question is: Is there a hardware where I can maintain connection to the server during reboots/etc by having VGA and USB connected on one side and network (preferably WiFi) on the other side. Maybe using telnet?

What I've done so far: Googled the subject an insane amount from time to time over the past year but I just can't seem to find the correct terminology for what I'm searching for.

Thank you all!

Perhaps it's built-in already? E.g. Proliants have iLO, Dell servers have DRAC etc. They allow you to view the console via the network.

If not, and if you can enable a serial console, use a Raspberry Pi or other small server. While the small server might not have a serial connector, you can either wire one using GPIO or use a USB-to-serial cable.

I found several tutorials, like this one https://networklessons.com/uncategor...console-server, by searching for raspberry console server.

There are KVM over IP devices that could be connected to a wireless extender. That would allow you to connect and see all the BIOS boot messages.

They are not cheap so it depends on what that 1% is worth...

Originally Posted by berndbausch If not, and if you can enable a serial console, use a Raspberry Pi or other small server. While the small server might not have a serial connector, you can either wire one using GPIO or use a USB-to-serial cable.

If it does not have a serial port built-in then it is not really a server.

Originally Posted by michaelk There are KVM over IP devices that could be connected to a wireless extender. That would allow you to connect and see all the BIOS boot messages. They are not cheap so it depends on what that 1% is worth...

Aaah, that sounds like the solution I'm looking for. Although the price, as you say, might not be worth it from what I've found so far.
I wished there were something like this: https://www.aten.com/au/en/products/...sories/ka7570/
But where I could connect directly to the "KVM over IP-module" without the the need for a KVM-switch.
Do you know of something like that?




berndbausch & Turbocapitalist: Sorry I should have specified that the hardware ain't an enterprise server, it's just an ATX with lots of disks etc. No serial from what I can read on the specs.

I don't know how that particular device works.

Thanks for your help everyone. It got me on the right track

Originally Posted by MrBamse Thanks for your help everyone. It got me on the right track

Please share your solution here once you figure it out. Thanks!

Sure thing, I'll see if I go about trying a solution. The current options seem to expensive.

This is a page where explained how can you use the serial port with RPi:
https://www.packet6.com/configuring-...onsole-server/

A remote system console would let you see the boot messages but not bootloader or BIOS messages. You didn't post what problems you encounter so it just depends.

Originally Posted by pan64 This is a page where explained how can you use the serial port with RPi: https://www.packet6.com/configuring-...onsole-server/

Cool thanks

Originally Posted by michaelk A remote system console would let you see the boot messages but not bootloader or BIOS messages. You didn't post what problems you encounter so it just depends.

Sorry for not specifying further earlier. But the most "common" issues I've had have occured during OS boot (fstab errors etc, or sometimes it takes longer that usual and its probably running a diskcheck and it would be nice to see). Once it was an error with GRUB.

Sorry for being dumb, but what is a "remote system console"?

The system console displays the boot and administrator messages and now days is attached to tty1 by default. There are 6 virtual terminals that you can switch between them by using the alt-F1 to alt-F6 keys and the desktop uses F7. In the old days before PCs all terminals were connected to the server using RS232 (serial) wiring and the system console was a special dedicated terminal.

You can still create a dedicated system console using RS-232 by adding a kernel boot option. The serial port is connected to another computer and the console accessed via a terminal application like PuTTy or minicom. In the link that pan64 posted the serial console is connected to a Raspberry Pi (USB RS-232 adapter) and then using a special service converts the RS232 data to ethernet. You can then access the system console by connecting to the Pi using that port.

While the link use telnet you can create a virtual tty port using socat and access the console using any application with a device ID.

https://techtinkering.com/2013/04/02...rt-over-tcpip/

Originally Posted by michaelk The system console displays the boot and administrator messages and now days is attached to tty1 by default. There are 6 virtual terminals that you can switch between them by using the alt-F1 to alt-F6 keys and the desktop uses F7. In the old days before PCs all terminals were connected to the server using RS232 (serial) wiring and the system console was a special dedicated terminal. You can still create a dedicated system console using RS-232 by adding a kernel boot option. The serial port is connected to another computer and the console accessed via a terminal application like PuTTy or minicom. In the link that pan64 posted the serial console is connected to a Raspberry Pi (USB RS-232 adapter) and then using a special service converts the RS232 data to ethernet. You can then access the system console by connecting to the Pi using that port. While the link use telnet you can create a virtual tty port using socat and access the console using any application with a device ID. https://techtinkering.com/2013/04/02...rt-over-tcpip/

Cool! Can ser2net be started before SSHD and do you need a physical serial port?