Text-based console during post, Text-based console after post – HP Integrated Lights-Out User Manual
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The Remote Console uses Virtual KVM and does not provide a true text-based console. iLO 2 uses the
video adapter DVO port to access video memory directly. This method significantly increases iLO 2
performance. However, the digital video stream does not contain useful text data. Data obtained from the
DVO port represents graphical data (non-character-based), and is not comprehensible ASCII or text data.
This video data cannot be rendered by a text-based client application such as telnet or SSH.
Text-based console during POST
The standard iLO 2 text-based remote console remains available on iLO 2 until the operating system POST
is complete. iLO 2 standard firmware continues to use the virtualized serial-port functionality of the
management processor. On the iLO 2 firmware, the virtual serial port was renamed Remote Serial
Console. iLO 2 uses the Remote Serial Console to access a pre-operating system, text-based remote
console. The iLO 2 Remote Serial Console applet appears as a text-based console, but the information is
rendered using graphical video data. iLO 2 displays this information through the remote console applet
while in the server pre-operating system state, enabling a non-licensed iLO 2 to observe and interact with
the server during POST activities.
For an iLO 2 blade (and an iLO blade running Linux in a graphical format), enter getty() on the
server's serial port, and then use iLO 2 Remote Serial Console or iLO Virtual Serial Port (CLP command
start /system1/oemhp_vsp1) to view a login session to the Linux operating system through the
serial port.
A non-licensed iLO 2 cannot use Remote Console access after the server completes POST and begins to
load the operating system. To use Remote Console and iLO Text Console after POST, you must have an
iLO 2 Advanced or iLO 2 Advanced for BladeSystem.
Text-based console after POST
The iLO 2 Text Console after POST feature is a text-based console accessible from telnet or SSH after
POST. When using SSH, the data stream, including authentication credentials, is protected by the
encryption method supported by the SSH client and iLO 2. HP recommends using SSH to connect to the
iLO 2 Text Console.
iLO 2 also supports using telnet to connect to the iLO 2 Text Console. However, the data stream is not
encrypted when using a normal telnet connection. As part of the default security policy, using telnet is
disabled. You must enable telnet to allow access to the CLI, and iLO 2 Text Console.
For more information about the security of the communication methods used by iLO 2, see the Integrated
Lights-Out security technology brief on the HP website
The presentation of colors, characters, and screen control depends upon the client you are using and can
be any standard telnet (if enabled) or SSH client compatible with iLO 2. The iLO 2 Text Console is
enabled by default on iLO 2 firmware version 1.50 and later. Features and support include:
•
Displaying text mode screens that are 80 x 25 (standard color configurations) when the system is on
including:
o
System boot process (POST)
o
Standard Option ROMS
o
Text boot-loaders (LILO or GRUB)
o
Linux operating system in VGA 80x25 mode
o
DOS