At 07:20 PM 7/31/01 -0400, Jonathan Hays wrote: >No keyboard? It depends. > >While it's true that native UNIX workstations (Sun, HP, etc.) will run >"headless", most >Intel x86 boxes I have encountered require you to plug in a keyboard or the >machine >won't boot, regardless of the OS installed. Or is there a way around this I >don't know >about? >--- >Jonathan Ah, good point. Now why would it not care which OS? The bios. Crapola bios which give you very little flexibility (enter most commercial packaged PCs with their crap bios) have this problem. If you get a good Asus Motherboard (actually a LOT of vendors give you this flexibility), their bios have this option called Halt On Error: All Error Change it to "No Errors" Your PC will easy POST without the need for a keyboard after this change. For FreeBSD, you probably want to modify the kernel to "always force on" the keyboard. You can also recompile the kernel to enable a serial console so it works like the bad-boy Unix Workstations. (need a null serial modem cable and you are ready to rock and console :) ) Reason why you want FreeBSD to "always force on" the keyboard. If you do not plug in the keyboard, let the box boot, and then plug the keyboard back in, you cannot type anything in. With "always force on", it will work afterwards. Of course, this is only the case if you really messed up the box (kernel panic, ip misconfiguration, firewall rules that kick you off) and your boss forgot to buy that access console server. Linux also has a serial console capability IIRC. If anyone here learns basic FreeBSD on their own and needs help for doing some of these more advanced features, I will easily lend a hand. -Carroll Kong Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=14428&t=14428 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]