Remote Single User Mode?

[Andrew Pantyukhin]

On 3/24/06, Chris <chrcoluk at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 23/03/06, Chris Maness <chris at chrismaness.com> wrote:
> > Eric Schultz wrote:
> > > Kris Kennaway wrote:
> > >> On Wed, Mar 22, 2006 at 10:11:48AM -0800, Chris Maness wrote:
> > >>> I administer this box by remote.
> > >>
> > >> Look into setting up a serial console; this is the "remote single user
> > >> mode" you're looking for.
> > >>
> > > Good morning...
> > >
> > > How remote is "remote"?
> > >
> > > If it's just down the hall you can probably get a DB25/DB9 (depending
> > > on the machine) to RJ45 adapter and use existing CAT5 cable to get to
> > > a serial console to your desk.  There even exist serial RJ45 switch
> > > boxes if you have several machines to "remote" administer.
> > >
> > > If it's farther than that, like in another building/city/etc. you can
> > > always setup a modem on the box's serial port and dial in to that.
> > > You'll need a modem at your end too, which means either an analog line
> > > or a analog-to-digital tap for your office phone.
> > >
> > > I have no idea whether there any serial-over-IP solutions.  But you
> > > could build one with FreeBSD!!!
> > >
> > I have a slave name server at the same location.  Maybe I can run a
> > serial cable with a crosover between the two of them.
> > _______________________________________________
>
> I think the docs are just playing safe, I admin over 10 servers and
> have remote updated each one at least once, I have never had any
> problems doing all this in multi user mode.
>
> make buildworld
> make buildkernel
> make installkernel
> reboot
> mergemaster -p
> make installworld
> mergemaster -iv
> reboot
>
> Chris

5.4 => 6.0 upgrade caused some problems on a box
under high load until I used a serial console and did
everything by the book.