From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Sep 17 03:04:50 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 850A116A40F for ; Sun, 17 Sep 2006 03:04:50 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from perryh@pluto.rain.com) Received: from agora.rdrop.com (agora.rdrop.com [199.26.172.34]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3B43943D55 for ; Sun, 17 Sep 2006 03:04:50 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from perryh@pluto.rain.com) Received: from agora.rdrop.com (66@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by agora.rdrop.com (8.13.1/8.12.7) with ESMTP id k8H34CVJ082756 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NOT); Sat, 16 Sep 2006 20:04:12 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from perryh@pluto.rain.com) Received: (from uucp@localhost) by agora.rdrop.com (8.13.1/8.12.9/Submit) with UUCP id k8H34BdL082755; Sat, 16 Sep 2006 20:04:11 -0700 (PDT) Received: by pluto.rain.com (4.1/SMI-4.1-pluto-M2060407) id AA09405; Sat, 16 Sep 06 19:48:59 PDT Date: Sat, 16 Sep 06 19:48:59 PDT From: perryh@pluto.rain.com (Perry Hutchison) Message-Id: <10609170248.AA09405@pluto.rain.com> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org References: <450C46A8.3080908@verysmall.org> <450C652C.7040700@infracaninophile.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <450C652C.7040700@infracaninophile.co.uk> Cc: pobox@verysmall.org Subject: Re: rebooting into single user mode on a remote server X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 03:04:50 -0000 > In order to follow the upgrade instructions in the Handbook or > /usr/src/UPDATING to the letter, you need console access to the > machine being updated. That is [a] problem ... when it's in a > hosting centre umpty dozen miles away ... > > There are essentially three possibilities. > > i) get someone local to the machine to do the bits requiring the > console access ... > > ii) arrange to get remote console access. That can be expensive > if you go down the route of buying a dedicated console server. > Or it can be very cheap indeed if you have another FreeBSD box > close by the machine you're trying to update and you can string > null modem cables between their serial ports ... > > iii) Finally, and not to be dismissed without due consideration, > is the really quite simple approach of /not/ taking the machine > down to single user mode ... iv) (actually a variant of ii, but different enough to warrant separate mention IMO) Put a "PC Weasel" or similar in any machine that is going to be located remotely. This card looks like a VGA to the machine, but allows for remote access. The simple ones support only text mode via a serial port; some of the fancier ones act as X11 clients so as to also support graphics modes. This gives you access not only to the FreeBSD console, but to the BIOS. And no, I do not work for any manufacturer or supplier of such.