[BBLISA] Console access for OS X xservers?

[Betsy Schwartz]

What are you all using for console access to X Serves? I've inherited four 
OS X 10.3 xserves and am getting a crash course in OS X administration.

Right now two of our xserve's are on a Belkin KVM switch with a PS/2
keyboard which means that in order to use the startup key commands I
have to unplug the keyboard and plug in a USB keyboard and reboot. Not 
optimal.

I am putting VNC on the servers for remote access but that is only helpful 
for when they're *up*.

The other alternative is the Cyclades Alterpath console servers which we 
use for the unix machines, but then I have *no* idea how to get to the 
startup commands when the machine isn't bootable (other than plugging in an 
iBook, which is what I did last time to unmunge a server) . Is serial 
console access sufficient for an X serve?

Suggestions and Clue Bonks welcome.
thanks, Betsy


Betsy Schwartz                                                    email: 
betsys at gsd.harvard.edu
Unix Systems Administrator,CRG                           voice: 617-495-5947
Harvard Graduate School of Design                         fax:    617-496-5866