[CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread Rudi Ahlers
Hi All,

I recently got some IBM Xseries 335 servers 2nd hand, and noticed they
don't have any graphics card. Some google searched indicate they only
have an uplink port, which you could connect to another (other model)
IBM server and use that as the head node. But, I don't have one
available.

It has 2x GB NIC's, and what looks like a management port, but I can't
figure out how to use it. SSH  HTTP connections to it was futile. OR,
it was assigned a dedicated IP, on a different subnet than ours but
it's not written down anywhere so I don't know what IP to connect to.

Does anyone know how to get Linux installed onto these devices? We
have a PXE server in the office which I generally use for this setting
up servers over the LAN, but they always have a VGA port.

-- 
Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
SoftDux

Website: http://www.SoftDux.com
Technical Blog: http://Blog.SoftDux.com
Office: 087 805 9573
Cell: 082 554 7532
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Re: [CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread Fajar Priyanto
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 6:59 PM, Rudi Ahlers r...@softdux.com wrote:
 Hi All,

 I recently got some IBM Xseries 335 servers 2nd hand, and noticed they
 don't have any graphics card. Some google searched indicate they only
 have an uplink port, which you could connect to another (other model)
 IBM server and use that as the head node. But, I don't have one
 available.

I believe we can use serial console to it.
Use a null modem cable to connect to the serial console and use tool
like Hyper terminal or minicom.

I hate it too when server doesn't provide such a simple graphic card
and choose the cool serial console method.
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Re: [CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread cornel panceac
2010/12/19 Fajar Priyanto fajar...@arinet.org

 On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 6:59 PM, Rudi Ahlers r...@softdux.com wrote:
  Hi All,
 
  I recently got some IBM Xseries 335 servers 2nd hand, and noticed they
  don't have any graphics card. Some google searched indicate they only
  have an uplink port, which you could connect to another (other model)
  IBM server and use that as the head node. But, I don't have one
  available.


it may be possible to conenct it to a (special) kvm switch, and then connect
the display to the kvm sw instead.

-- 
Through political strategy they keep us hungry and, when you gonna get some
food, your brother got to be your enemy.
(Ambush in the Night - Robert Nesta Marley)
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Re: [CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread James Pearson
Rudi Ahlers wrote:
 Hi All,
 
 I recently got some IBM Xseries 335 servers 2nd hand, and noticed they
 don't have any graphics card. Some google searched indicate they only
 have an uplink port, which you could connect to another (other model)
 IBM server and use that as the head node. But, I don't have one
 available.

They do have a graphics card - the 'uplink' port is a KVM port that has 
VGA and PS/2 - this is certainly the case with the X335's we have.

If you can get hold of a C2T breakout cable, then you should be able to 
plug in a keyboard/mouse/screen.

Just google for 'IBM C2T X335 cable'

James Pearson
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Re: [CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread Adam Tauno Williams
On Sun, 2010-12-19 at 12:10 +, James Pearson wrote:
 Rudi Ahlers wrote:
  Hi All,
  I recently got some IBM Xseries 335 servers 2nd hand, and noticed they
  don't have any graphics card. Some google searched indicate they only
  have an uplink port, which you could connect to another (other model)
  IBM server and use that as the head node. But, I don't have one
  available.
 They do have a graphics card - the 'uplink' port is a KVM port that has 
 VGA and PS/2 - this is certainly the case with the X335's we have.
 If you can get hold of a C2T breakout cable, then you should be able to 
 plug in a keyboard/mouse/screen.

+1

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Re: [CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread Rudi Ahlers
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 1:34 PM, Fajar Priyanto fajar...@arinet.org wrote:
 On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 6:59 PM, Rudi Ahlers r...@softdux.com wrote:
 Hi All,

 I recently got some IBM Xseries 335 servers 2nd hand, and noticed they
 don't have any graphics card. Some google searched indicate they only
 have an uplink port, which you could connect to another (other model)
 IBM server and use that as the head node. But, I don't have one
 available.

 I believe we can use serial console to it.
 Use a null modem cable to connect to the serial console and use tool
 like Hyper terminal or minicom.

 I hate it too when server doesn't provide such a simple graphic card
 and choose the cool serial console method.
 ___



I already tried it, but the serial console doesn't output anything.

-- 
Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
SoftDux

Website: http://www.SoftDux.com
Technical Blog: http://Blog.SoftDux.com
Office: 087 805 9573
Cell: 082 554 7532
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Re: [CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread Drew
 I recently got some IBM Xseries 335 servers 2nd hand, and noticed they
 don't have any graphics card. Some google searched indicate they only
 have an uplink port, which you could connect to another (other model)
 IBM server and use that as the head node. But, I don't have one
 available.

That'd be the C2T (Cable Chaining) technology they were using back
then. It's essentially a KVM switch system built into the server, the
idea being that if you have a rack of 42 of them you can hookup up a
single monitor/keyboard/mouse to the stack and with the press of a
button switch between the servers.

All you need to get access to the console on these units is a C2T
Breakout cable. It looks like a custom KVM cable with PS2/VGA ports on
one end and a DVI port on the other.


-- 
Drew

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
--Marie Curie
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Re: [CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread Jim Wildman
On Sun, 19 Dec 2010, Drew wrote:

 I recently got some IBM Xseries 335 servers 2nd hand, and noticed they
 don't have any graphics card. Some google searched indicate they only
 have an uplink port, which you could connect to another (other model)
 IBM server and use that as the head node. But, I don't have one
 available.

 That'd be the C2T (Cable Chaining) technology they were using back
 then. It's essentially a KVM switch system built into the server, the
 idea being that if you have a rack of 42 of them you can hookup up a
 single monitor/keyboard/mouse to the stack and with the press of a
 button switch between the servers.

 All you need to get access to the console on these units is a C2T
 Breakout cable. It looks like a custom KVM cable with PS2/VGA ports on
 one end and a DVI port on the other.


One of the more frustrating servers I've worked with.  You can only use
the serial port for the console after you set it up in the bios..which
you can't do from the serial port if it isn't already setup.

Confirm that you need the C2T cable.  Be aware that there are 2 types.
One about 18 long with an identical connector on each end (for stacking
the servers), one as described with the KVM break out on the end.  Used
to cost about $60 back in the day.

Out of curiosity, here is an example
http://cgi.ebay.com/KVM-Breakout-C2T-Cable-IBM-x330-x335-06P6210-New-/320632050911?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item4aa728d4df

Great little servers once they are installed.  oh, the original bios
would only allow you to set PXE boot on 1 of the interfaces at a time.

--
Jim Wildman, CISSP, RHCE   j...@rossberry.com http://www.rossberry.com
Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best
state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
Thomas Paine
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Re: [CentOS] how to install Linux on an IBM xserver 335 server without graphics card?

2010-12-19 Thread Jim Wildman
On Sun, 19 Dec 2010, Jim Wildman wrote:


 One of the more frustrating servers I've worked with.  You can only use
 the serial port for the console after you set it up in the bios..which
 you can't do from the serial port if it isn't already setup.

 Confirm that you need the C2T cable.  Be aware that there are 2 types.
 One about 18 long with an identical connector on each end (for stacking
 the servers), one as described with the KVM break out on the end.  Used
 to cost about $60 back in the day.

 Out of curiosity, here is an example
 http://cgi.ebay.com/KVM-Breakout-C2T-Cable-IBM-x330-x335-06P6210-New-/320632050911?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item4aa728d4df

 Great little servers once they are installed.  oh, the original bios
 would only allow you to set PXE boot on 1 of the interfaces at a time.


Oh, and there are 2 ports on the back, one IN and one OUT.  The KVM goes
on the OUT port (right hand as I remember it)

 --
 Jim Wildman, CISSP, RHCE   j...@rossberry.com http://www.rossberry.com
 Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best
 state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
 Thomas Paine
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--
Jim Wildman, CISSP, RHCE   j...@rossberry.com http://www.rossberry.com
Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best
state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
Thomas Paine
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