[clug] [OT-slightly] Annoying propriety dongle for DELL 1855 chassis

[Steve Walsh]

Yes, I have a Dell/Avocent KVM switch, but, sadly, it's in Sydney, in 
use in my rack.

If you have a Dell account rep, you can try to get a 2161 or 4161 KVM 
switch on "trial" for 45 days (which is how I picked which one to go 
with), or you can buy the annoying dongles from Dell Europe [0] for 
about 30 GBP, or around $60USD on ebay[1]

Does the unit come with a DRAC (Dell iLOM) port? you can use that to get 
basic KVM functionality.

[0] 
http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&sku=470-10633
[1] search for "New Dell F7009 PowerEdge 1855 KVM Front Dongle Cable"

Steve
Antony Wuth wrote:
> Good afternoon,
>
> In my quest to acquire the most propriety annoying hardware possible I have
> ended up with a Dell 1855 chassis. Aside from it being a useful exercise
> machine I would ideally like to be able to use the two blades in it. Even
> better would be to be able to install a (real) OS on them...
>
> In Dell's (and seemingly most blade system manufactures) world a propriety
> dongle to access the KVM functions seemed like a sensible move...
>
> Now to the question: would anyone have access to either a front panel
> dongle, a rear dongle or even a KVM that talks to the (presumably propriety)
> rj45 kvm port? Would you allow me to borrow, buy or steal such a device for
> as long as it takes me to ensure I can netboot the blades...
>
> Thanks
> Antony Wuth
>   

-- 
--==--
Steve Walsh, RHCE
Some random guy who does things with linux and conference networks