The remote console is connected to the serial port of your virtual or dedicated server and allows you to carry out administrative tasks without logging in through the network. In fact, the remote console is out of band and does not need the network interface functioning on your conputer at all. This feature allows you to do the following -

• Access the bootloader after the restarting the system, which allows you to boot a new kernel without setting it as the default
• View kernel messages when your server start up or during operation
  
• Login to your server through the serial TTY getty
• The remote console is accessed through SSH, securing all data transferred between your workstation on Diginode's systems.
  

Accessing the Remote Console Using SSH

To access the remote console, SSH to qcon.diginode.net on the default ssh port (22) with your preferred SSH program. . Use SSH version 2 protocol if available. You do not need a ssh username or password, but the system will prompt you for your ClientID and Password. These are the same values you use to login to the digisBMS system.

We have made a Java SSH Applet page for clients that for one reason or another cannot use a native SSH client. However, connections from native clients are preferred, here is a list of freely available SSH applications.

• PuTTY - Great SSH client for windows (and *nix) supporting both SSH 1 and SSH 2 protocols. Remember to select SSH as the protocol as PuTTY defaults to using telnet, which is not supported by our systems.
  
• OpenSSH - For *nix and Mac OSX users. For most installations, you can just open a console and type in "ssh qcon.diginode.net" in the shell prompt.

Short Guide on Using the Remote Console

• After you have connected and entered your username and password correctly, you will be taken to a menu where you can choose the server you wish to connect to. Enter the corresponding number and press enter.
• By now, you should be connected to your server. If you server is not yet on, you will see a error message stating that a file cannot be found. This is normal and the system will stop displaying the message when your system is turned on.
• If you already have a remote console connection to the same server, you will not be able to open a full write socket. You can fix this be disconnecting the other connection by pressing "Control-E" and then "c" and then "f".
• After you have finished with the console, press "Control-E"  and then "c" and then "." to exit.