Handheld Console for Server Builds

[Juice Box]

When seeing our data center manager wheel around a cart with an LCD, keyboard & mouse in order to setup iLo properties on servers, it hit me that there should exist some sort of handheld KVM device that allows you to configure simple things such BIOS settings from a small, portable device on headless servers. It seems much more practical than the alternative of cart-toting.

Ideally this device would have the following:

~10" Display (possibly touchscreen)
Small keyboard/trackpad
VGA cable for display input
USB/PS2 cable for keyboard/mouse input


Perhaps something like this exists already, but my searches have proven unsuccessfully so far. Any ideas where one might find this?

 

[Pantlegz]

Why not just remote into everything? This is what I do... setup the server in a lab and have some sort of remote access turned on. If you need to make any changes, just remote in.

 

[somethingsketchy]

You won't find anything like your describing. Something like what you are trying to describe, would probably be expensive as hell, not to mention would be awkward to handle while making changes.

You would almost be better off with a laptop or the push-cart for your tasks. If it works, don't break it.

 

[Zargon]

Why not just remote into everything? This is what I do... setup the server in a lab and have some sort of remote access turned on. If you need to make any changes, just remote in.

I am aware of ZERO ways to remotely interact with BIOS on servers

 

[Juice Box]

I am aware of ZERO ways to remotely interact with BIOS on servers

Hehe, my thoughts exactly.

This device would be used primarily for initial setup tasks on a new server (BIOS, iLo settings, etc.) that you do to set up remote access - from where you'd do all post-install configurations.

You won't find anything like your describing. Something like what you are trying to describe, would probably be expensive as hell, not to mention would be awkward to handle while making changes.

You would almost be better off with a laptop or the push-cart for your tasks. If it works, don't break it.

It's actually the push cart concept I'm trying to avoid (replace), as it can be cumbersome in a data center. I don't see why it'd be such an expensive device, as it's functions seem pretty straight-forward.

 

[mfenn]

I am aware of ZERO ways to remotely interact with BIOS on servers

Dell's baseboard management system can do it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_DRAC

 

[Zargon]

nice

but can you get them outside of poweredge servers?

 

[mfenn]

nice

but can you get them outside of poweredge servers?

Not Dell's implementation obviously, but I would imagine that most vendors have something similar. It's an extra $150-200 per server, since you've basically got to put another whole computer (very low power of course) inside the chassis.

 

[imagoon]

nice

but can you get them outside of poweredge servers?

HP / Compaq / IBM all have these as options. Other 'cheater' option: Ethernet KVM. The server side is a tiny box with VGA in and a USB port for keyboard / mouse. Other side is an ethernet cable. Most of them can have a head end while the rest just have an internel web page.

You walk out on the floor with your laptop, the kvm dongle and a network cable attached to your laptop. Plug it all in, use a bookmark in your browser and your in.

 

[Zargon]

not bad

doubtfull I can ever them at my work though, only got a few servers, even if they are a 5 minute walk down into the basement

 

[lxskllr]

Someone clever could rig a netbook to do that. You'd have to run the monitor straight to the VGA out port, and rig the keyboard/touchpad to output through USB, but I think it would be fairly doable.

 

[sonoma1993]

nice

but can you get them outside of poweredge servers?

supermicro has IPMI adapter cards for their motherboards and servers.

 

[Fayd]

Someone clever could rig a netbook to do that. You'd have to run the monitor straight to the VGA out port, and rig the keyboard/touchpad to output through USB, but I think it would be fairly doable.

that'd be a violation of USB design..

and with regard to the monitor:

that's going in through an exit only orifice.

 

[wwswimming]

seems like a perfect ap for a tablet computer or netbook or compatible handheld device.

 

[Zargon]

that's going in through an exit only orifice.

thats what she said

 

[MerlinRML]

KVM over IP. You can access the local terminal from anywhere on your network using the KVM client, which is usually web-based. Combine this with integrated smart PDUs and once you rack and cable a server, you can do everything from outside the data center.

 

[Juice Box]

KVM over IP. You can access the local terminal from anywhere on your network using the KVM client, which is usually web-based. Combine this with integrated smart PDUs and once you rack and cable a server, you can do everything from outside the data center.

Cost of implementing an IP KVM network with nodes in every rack > cost of potential handheld KVM for setting up iLo controls upon initial power-on after which you can do everything remotely

 

[mfenn]

Cost of implementing an IP KVM network with nodes in every rack > cost of potential handheld KVM for setting up iLo controls upon initial power-on after which you can do everything remotely

Depends on how expensive your sys admin's time is.

 

[Fayd]

Cost of implementing an IP KVM network with nodes in every rack > cost of potential handheld KVM for setting up iLo controls upon initial power-on after which you can do everything remotely

...why have nodes on every rack? just use the single IP KVM like you would what you're proposing. move it from server to server as you complete changes to bios.

 

[Knavish]

Whatever happened to the serial-based management console?

Configure all the pre-os options over the serial connection & do the rest via remote from your nice, comfortable office chair.

 

[lxskllr]

that'd be a violation of USB design..

and with regard to the monitor:

that's going in through an exit only orifice.

The netbook would just be a premade hobby box with built in monitor. After alteration, it wouldn't work as a computer anymore. You don't have to follow specs when you're building for yourself ;^)

 

[ViviTheMage]

drac, or ipmi is what you want...no moving necessary., just as good as KVM.