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| 1 | +# Deploy Edge Microvisor Toolkit via Serial over LAN (SOL) |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +In this article, you will learn how to deploy Edge Microvisor Toolkit using the |
| 4 | +Serial over LAN (SOL) method. |
| 5 | + |
| 6 | +Traditional methods such as KVM consoles, physical serial connections, or SSH |
| 7 | +have been commonly used to access and manage servers. However, they have certain |
| 8 | +limitations, especially during system boot or failure conditions. SSH depends |
| 9 | +on the operating system and network services being fully operational, while KVM |
| 10 | +requires graphical access, and physical serial connections often require direct |
| 11 | +cabling to server. |
| 12 | + |
| 13 | +Serial Over LAN (SOL) addresses these limitations by redirecting the server’s |
| 14 | +serial console input and output over a network connection through the management |
| 15 | +controller, allowing administrators to remotely access the server’s text-based |
| 16 | +console, including BIOS and boot messages, even when the operating system is not |
| 17 | +running. |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +This enables remote troubleshooting and management without requiring physical |
| 20 | +access or additional serial cabling. |
| 21 | + |
| 22 | +Testing Serial over LAN (SOL) in a BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) |
| 23 | +environment usually involves verifying that the host serial console is redirected |
| 24 | +through the BMC network interface and accessible remotely via IPMI |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +Below you will find the necessary configuration for SOL to work. |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +## Prerequisites |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +- The BMC IP address configured. |
| 31 | +- A Management LAN cable connected to the BMC port. |
| 32 | +- ipmitool installed on the client system. |
| 33 | +- The host serial console redirection enabled. |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +## Configure BIOS Settings on Server |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +Configure BIOS for serial redirection. Navigate to |
| 38 | +**System setup -> System BIOS -> Serial Communication** |
| 39 | + |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | + |
| 42 | +## Configure SOL Settings on Xeon BMC |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | +Open WebUI of BMC through BMCIP. Navigate to |
| 45 | +**iDRAC Settings -> Connectivity -> Serial Over LAN**. |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | + |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +## Remote Client (ipmi) settings in XEON BMC |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +Configure the IPMI settings. Navigate to |
| 52 | +**iDRAC Settings -> Connectivity -> Network -> IPMI Settings**. |
| 53 | + |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | + |
| 56 | +## Set up the remote client |
| 57 | + |
| 58 | +> **Note:** You should run all IPMI commands on the client machine. |
| 59 | +
|
| 60 | +To set up the remote client machine, you need to install ipmi: |
| 61 | + |
| 62 | +```bash |
| 63 | +sudo apt install ipmi |
| 64 | +``` |
| 65 | + |
| 66 | +## Manage SOL (Serial Over LAN) session |
| 67 | + |
| 68 | +1. Start a SOL session. |
| 69 | + |
| 70 | + ```bash |
| 71 | + ipmitool -I lanplus -H <BMC-IP> -U admin -P password sol activate |
| 72 | + ``` |
| 73 | + |
| 74 | +2. Stop the SOL session. |
| 75 | + |
| 76 | + To stop the active SOL session, run the following command: |
| 77 | + |
| 78 | + ```bash |
| 79 | + ~. |
| 80 | + ``` |
| 81 | + |
| 82 | + You can also stop it from another shell on the client machine by running: |
| 83 | + |
| 84 | + ```bash |
| 85 | + ipmitool -I lanplus -H <BMC-IP> -U admin -P password sol deactivate |
| 86 | + ``` |
| 87 | + |
| 88 | +3. Check the SOL configuration. |
| 89 | + |
| 90 | + ```bash |
| 91 | + ipmitool -I lanplus -H <BMC-IP> -U admin -P password sol info |
| 92 | + ``` |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | + To learn more about ipmitool commands, refer to the guides at |
| 95 | + [linux.die.net](https://linux.die.net/man/1/ipmitool) or |
| 96 | + [ibm.com](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power9/0000-REF?topic=POWER9_REF/p9eih/p9eih_ipmi_commands.html). |
| 97 | + |
| 98 | +## Verify SOL configuration |
| 99 | + |
| 100 | +> **Note:** |
| 101 | +> The settings have been configured and tested on the DELL R760 server. |
| 102 | +> They have been executed from a remote client and verified with the |
| 103 | +> latest EMT 3.0 ISO image. |
| 104 | +
|
| 105 | +1. To verify the configuration, run the following command: |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | + ```bash |
| 108 | + ipmitool -I lanplus -H <BMC-IP> -U admin -P password sol info |
| 109 | + ``` |
| 110 | + |
| 111 | +  |
| 112 | + |
| 113 | +2. For system status information, run: |
| 114 | + |
| 115 | + ```bash |
| 116 | + ipmitool -I lanplus -H 10.47.99.78 -U root -P Password chassis status |
| 117 | + ``` |
| 118 | + |
| 119 | +  |
| 120 | + |
| 121 | +3. Activate the SOL session on the client and reboot the server. |
| 122 | + |
| 123 | + ```bash |
| 124 | + vm@edgebuildvm2:~$ ipmitool -I lanplus -H 10.47.99.78 -U root -P Password sol activate |
| 125 | + ``` |
| 126 | + |
| 127 | + Output: |
| 128 | + |
| 129 | + ```text |
| 130 | + [SOL Session operational. Use ~? for help] |
| 131 | + KEY MAPPING FOR CONSOLE REDIRECTION: |
| 132 | +
|
| 133 | + Use the <ESC><1> key sequence for <F1> |
| 134 | + Use the <ESC><2> key sequence for <F2> |
| 135 | + Use the <ESC><3> key sequence for <F3> |
| 136 | + Use the <ESC><0> key sequence for <F10> |
| 137 | + Use the <ESC><!> key sequence for <F11> |
| 138 | + Use the <ESC><@> key sequence for <F12> |
| 139 | +
|
| 140 | + Use the <ESC><Ctrl><M> key sequence for <Ctrl><M> |
| 141 | + Use the <ESC><Ctrl><H> key sequence for <Ctrl><H> |
| 142 | + Use the <ESC><Ctrl><I> key sequence for <Ctrl><I> |
| 143 | + Use the <ESC><Ctrl><J> key sequence for <Ctrl><J> |
| 144 | +
|
| 145 | + Use the <ESC><X><X> key sequence for <Alt><x>, where x is any letter |
| 146 | + key, and X is the upper case of that key |
| 147 | +
|
| 148 | + Use the <ESC><R><ESC><r><ESC><R> key sequence for <Ctrl><Alt><Del> |
| 149 | +
|
| 150 | + Press the spacebar to pause... |
| 151 | + Initializing PCIe, USB, and Video... Done |
| 152 | + PowerEdge R760 |
| 153 | + BIOS Version: 2.2.7 |
| 154 | + Console Redirection Enabled Requested by iDRAC |
| 155 | +
|
| 156 | + F2 = System Setup |
| 157 | + F10 = Lifecycle Controller (Config |
| 158 | + iDRAC, Update FW, Install OS) |
| 159 | + F11 = Boot Manager |
| 160 | + F12 = PXE Boot |
| 161 | + iDRAC IPV4: 10.47.99.78 [Dedicated] |
| 162 | + Initializing Firmware Interfaces... |
| 163 | +
|
| 164 | + Enumerating Boot options... |
| 165 | + Enumerating Boot options... Done |
| 166 | + Loading Lifecycle Controller Drivers... |
| 167 | + Loading Lifecycle Controller Drivers...Done |
| 168 | + Lifecycle Controller: Collecting System Inventory... |
| 169 | +
|
| 170 | + iDRAC IPV4: 10.47.99.78 [Dedicated] |
| 171 | + Lifecycle Controller: Done |
| 172 | + Booting... |
| 173 | + Booting from PCIe SSD in Slot 23 in Bay 1: Edge Microvisor Toolkit |
| 174 | + Welcome to GRUB! |
| 175 | + Booting `EdgeMicrovisorToolkit GNU/Linux, with Linux 6.12.67-1.emt3' |
| 176 | + Loading Linux 6.12.67-1.emt3 ... |
| 177 | + Loading initial ramdisk ... |
| 178 | + ``` |
| 179 | + |
| 180 | +4. Exit the SOL session. |
| 181 | + |
| 182 | + Use `~.` in the current session, or `ipmitool sol deactivate` |
| 183 | + from another active session. |
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