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= How do I connect to an MF/PL server located at Telehouse via the serial port? =

Note: if you are trying to connect to a server in our Web Architects colo see [wiki:webarchitects-serial-access Web Architects serial acess page]; for Koumbit see [wiki:koumbit_serial_access Koumbit serial access].

== Serial Console physical setup ==

In the MF/PL Telehouse rack, we have two startech 16-port USB to serial adapters using the FTDI chipset connected to the server `robideau`. These need to be connected to the front USB ports  [ticket:6304 for some reason we do not yet understand] 

Run:

{{{
cereal-admin list
}}}

To see the layout.

The serial consoles of the attached machines are all remotely accessible (to properly-authenticated people), and they are also logged and timestamped.  We are using [http://cmrg.fithhorseman.net/wiki/cereal cereal] to do this cleanly and easily.

== How to connect ==

In order to connect via serial console to one of the servers named above, ssh into `console.mayfirst.org` as ''servername''`-console`

For example:

{{{
ssh -t ken-console@console.mayfirst.org cereal attach ken 
}}}

Would give you full read/write access to the console on `ken`.

The SSH RSA host key for `console.mayfirst.org` should have a fingerprint of:
{{{
2048 c5:a7:2a:6e:c2:0e:79:7d:d6:ff:ce:c7:2d:30:e2:f2
}}}

We can also setup additional users that have read-only access to the sessions created by each of these usernames, should that be desirable.  You can request such access by creating a [/newticket ticket].

In addition - we have a serial line running from `wiwa`'s `/dev/ttyUSB0` that goes to `robideau`'s built-in serial port 1, so that `robideau`'s console itself is remotely accessible, and logged.  You can connect to robideau's console with:

{{{
ssh -t robideau-console@wiwa.mayfirst.org cereal attach robideau 
}}}

== Setting up a new console user ==

To setup a new console user (this is something only admins can do), do the following as `root@robideau`:

{{{
adduser --disabled-password --gecos='fred console user,,,' fred-console
cereal-admin create fred /dev/ttyUSB8 115200 fred-console fred-console
cereal-admin start fred
}}}