Remote management of home server without iDrac/iLo, just with serial console

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Revision as of 09:00, 2 July 2019 by Enigmaguy (talk | contribs)
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If you want to manage your home server over serial console without iDrac or iLo you can use RaspberryPi with connected serial console converter over USB to control your machine. You have to bear in mind one thing. Normally it is not possible to use USB devices when booting Linux, so for example if you need to enter a password to GRUB or encrypted hard drive during boot-up of Linux it is neccessary to have an PCI Express card (most today mainboards does not supports RS232 connection) not USB module. Fortuntaly, you can all things order for pennies from Aliexpress with free world-wide shipping, see below.

RS232 PCI Express card supported in Linux

RS232 PCI Express card supported in Linux

Description

  • On aliexpress - this link (2019) - [1]
  • This name "2018 High Quality Plug And Play PCI-E PCI to Dual Serial DB9 RS232 Express Serial Controller 2-Port Adapter Card + Driver CD"
  • Works under Linux, (tested Kernel4, slot0 - /dev/ttyUSB4, slot1 - /dev/ttyUSB5)

Advantages

  • Works with every mainboard which has PCI Express (does not have to have build-in serial)

Disadvantages

  • Does not works correctly in GRUB (boot menu cannot be forwarded to higher serial ports, only linux console and kernel works)

USB Serial convertor

USB serial

Description

  • On aliexpress - this link (2019) - [2]
  • This name "1M USB to RS232 Serial 9 Pin Adapter Cable w DB9 Female to DB25 Male Connector"
  • Raspberry Pi driver for Noobs 3.0.0 - [3]

Advantages

  • very cheap, works fine

Disadvantages

  • USB Id is set to zero (all devices has same ID), so you cannot set exact device in Udev for more of these USB serial convertors