[plug] Emulate Keyboard, Video, Mouse over USB (on Linux)

[Onno Benschop]

Matthew Lambie wrote:

>X/Terminal Services isn't going to help because you want to get to the
>system's BIOS. And the machine might not have these services running
>anyway.
>
>I hope this makes more sense now.
>
Whoot, it does, excellent question, thanks for the detailed explanation.

So, initially I'm thinking, why not plug in to the serial port. If I 
recall correctly most server motherboards support a serial console which 
should get you into BIOS. Again IIRC the SMP Intel Nightshade I was 
running several years ago, 2 x PII-233 had this built-in.

I've also noted that there is a device called A PC weasel that is an ISA 
card that captures Video output and puts it onto the serial port, not 
quite what you're looking for I'm guessing: 
http://www.thewhir.com/features/pc-weasel.cfm

Then you could go for a mini-lcd panel and just plug it in, but likely 
the VGA connector is at the back.

I googled for the following terms:

    * remote admin bios
    * bios serial console


The latter seems to come back with a HP page about serial consoles which 
specifically state:

    The purpose of console redirection is to provide the capability to
    remotely manage a server in a headless environment. Through BIOS
    Serial Console redirection, you can see POST messages, navigate
    option ROM (such as ORCA) setup menus, and use RBSU through a serial
    connection to the server COM port.


So, that seems a simpler option than actually spending money :)

-- 
Onno Benschop

Connected via Optus B3 at S34°45'36.5" - E139°00'08.7" (Mount Pleasant, SA)
--
()/)/)()        ..ASCII for Onno..
|>>?            ..EBCDIC for Onno..
--- -. -. ---   ..Morse for Onno..

Proudly supported by Skipper Trucks, Highway1, Concept AV, Sony Central, Dalcon
ITmaze   -   ABN: 56 178 057 063   -  ph: 04 1219 8888   -   onno at itmaze.com.au