Network Console on Acid
Encyclopedia
The Network Console on Acid (NCA) connects a pseudo terminal
to the consoles' virtual terminals (/dev/tty0, etc.) on Unix-like
platforms, allowing an administrator
to remotely login and troubleshoot directly on the system console
. It uses a version of OpenSSH
that is modified so that one can securely connect to the server. Preferably 'nca' should be started very early in the OS
' boot up sequence, as so configured (according to the homepage) "It's the next best thing to a serial console for fixing boot-time problems remotely."
This is used for out-of-band management
, where an administrative IP
network is available rather than an RS-232
serial link.
Pseudo terminal
In some operating systems, including Unix, a pseudo terminal is a pseudo-device pair that provides a text terminal interface without an associated device, such as a virtual console, computer terminal or serial port...
to the consoles' virtual terminals (/dev/tty0, etc.) on Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
platforms, allowing an administrator
System administrator
A system administrator, IT systems administrator, systems administrator, or sysadmin is a person employed to maintain and operate a computer system and/or network...
to remotely login and troubleshoot directly on the system console
System console
The system console, root console or simply console is the text entry and display device for system administration messages, particularly those from the BIOS or boot loader, the kernel, from the init system and from the system logger...
. It uses a version of OpenSSH
OpenSSH
OpenSSH is a set of computer programs providing encrypted communication sessions over a computer network using the SSH protocol...
that is modified so that one can securely connect to the server. Preferably 'nca' should be started very early in the OS
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
' boot up sequence, as so configured (according to the homepage) "It's the next best thing to a serial console for fixing boot-time problems remotely."
This is used for out-of-band management
Out-of-band management
In computing, out-of-band management involves the use of a dedicated management channel for device maintenance...
, where an administrative IP
Internet Protocol
The Internet Protocol is the principal communications protocol used for relaying datagrams across an internetwork using the Internet Protocol Suite...
network is available rather than an RS-232
RS-232
In telecommunications, RS-232 is the traditional name for a series of standards for serial binary single-ended data and control signals connecting between a DTE and a DCE . It is commonly used in computer serial ports...
serial link.