Re: Suggestions for remote admin of linux machines

From: Robert Heller (heller_at_deepsoft.com)
Date: 05/18/04 

Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 20:44:18 +0200

  George Patton <george_m_patton@yahoo.com>,
  In a message on Tue, 18 May 2004 11:00:41 -0500, wrote :

GP> I need to move some servers to an unattended location and haven't been
GP> pleased with the methods for remote administration that have come to
GP> mind so far:
GP>
GP> Solution #1: XDMCP, pcanywhere, vnc, etc. Problem: An X-Server imposes
GP> too much overhead given the limited capabilities of the machines
GP> involved. (No, I don't want to replace the machines with the latest and
GP> greatest hardware :-)).

What is wrong with just using SSH and using plain old CLI tools from the
shell? *This* is one of the wonderful advantages of Linux. You really
don't need any sort of X server or other resource hogging GUI interface
for any of the admin work needed on a simple server. I have a '486
based print server. It is headless. While I do have a (RS232) serial
console set up, I rarely use it. It is on a lan and I use SSH to admin
it (actually, I run a remote XTerm on it, fired up via SSH).

GP>
GP> Solution #2: Serial console via cable and modem. Problem: We have a
GP> network interface but no spare phone line at the remote location.

You don't need this, unless you need to work on the machine in single
user mode.

GP>
GP> Solution #3: KVM over IP. Problem: I've priced out KVM switches with a
GP> network interface and they appear to be too expensive ($1500+).
GP> Unaffordable in the case at hand. For less money I could install a
GP> multiport serial card on a machine running x-windows and use this to
GP> control the machines via serial consoles. Still a bit pricey however
GP> because of limited sources for multiport serial cards.

Massive overkill. SSH gives you everything you need.

GP>
GP> All of these solutions are less than appealing. Can someone recommend a
GP> better method? Or perhaps point me to an affordable source for KVM
GP> switches with network interfaces?

OpenSSH is *free*. And unless you are running really old versions of
Linux, it is probably already installed. RH 7.3 and later come with
openssh rpms. If you are admining from a Mess-Windows box, you can get
PuTTY to give you OpenSSH functionallity.

GP>

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Robert Heller ||InterNet: heller@cs.umass.edu
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