conserver/conserver.html
2002-01-21 02:58:05 -08:00

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stansell,stansell,console server,terminal server,headless">
<META NAME="author" CONTENT="Bryan Stansell &lt;bryan@conserver.com&gt;">
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<TITLE>Conserver</TITLE>
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<TABLE SUMMARY="Logo" BGCOLOR="black" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER"><TR><TD ALIGN="CENTER">
<BR><IMG SRC="conserver.gif" ALT="Conserver"><BR><BR></TD></TR></TABLE><BR>
<TABLE SUMMARY="Conserver Page" WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="CENTER">
<TR><TD>
<H3>What is conserver?</H3>
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<P>
From an email I once sent...
</P>
<P>
Conserver is an application that allows multiple users to watch a
serial console at the same time. It can log the data, allows users to
take write-access of a console (one at a time), and has a variety of
bells and whistles to accentuate that basic functionality. The idea is
that conserver will log all your serial traffic so you can go back and
review why something crashed, look at changes (if done on the console),
or tie the console logs into a monitoring system (just watch the
logfiles it creates). With multi-user capabilities you can work on
equipment with others, mentor, train, etc. It also does all that
client-server stuff so that, assuming you have a network connection,
you can interact with any of the equipment from home or wherever.
</P>
<H3>A FAQ!</H3>
Here's the start of a conserver <A
HREF="http://www.conserver.com/FAQ">FAQ</A>. Got any additions? Let
me know.
<H3>Mailing Lists</H3>
<P>
There are currently two mailing lists available. <A
HREF="mailto:announce@conserver.com">announce@conserver.com</A> is an
announcement-only mailing list for informing of new versions, major
developments, etc. <A
HREF="mailto:users@conserver.com">users@conserver.com</A> is for
general Q&amp;A, discussions, ideas, etc for conserver users. You can
sign up by sending a message to <A
HREF="mailto:announce-request@conserver.com">announce-request@conserver.com</A>
or <A
HREF="mailto:users-request@conserver.com">users-request@conserver.com</A>
with a subject of "subscribe" or head over to the online <A
HREF="https://www.conserver.com/mailman/listinfo">web pages</A>.
</P>
<H3>Origin</H3>
<P>
The console server software found here is a heavily modified version
originally written by <A HREF="http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~fine/">Tom
Fine</A> (<A
HREF="mailto:fine@head-cfa.harvard.edu">fine@head-cfa.harvard.edu</A>)
at Ohio State and then Kevin S Braunsdorf (<A
HREF="mailto:ksb+conserver@sa.fedex.com">ksb+conserver@sa.fedex.com</A>).
Patches from Robert Olson (<A
HREF="mailto:olson@mcs.anl.gov">olson@mcs.anl.gov</A>) were then
applied to get network console support.
</P>
<P>
Arnold de Leon (<A
HREF="mailto:arnold@corp.webtv.net">arnold@corp.webtv.net</A>) then
fixed various bugs and added enhancements while at <A
HREF="http://www.synopsys.com/">Synopsys</A>. I then took the result,
continued fixing things, and added features we found useful.
</P>
<P>
<A HREF="http://www.gnac.com/">GNAC</A> (Global Networking and
Computing - currently
<A HREF="http://www.certaintysolutions.com/">Certainty Solutions</A>)
has been supporting
my coding efforts (in too many ways to list) since 1996.
</P>
<H3>The conserver.com Distribution</H3>
<P>
The result is a combination of many people's work. This version is
being released in hopes that it will help others. There is no warranty
or support implied by the distribution of the software.
</P>
<P>
So, what the heck is up with all the different conserver versions?
Well, the original authors are continuing to distribute their own
threads of the software so you have three main threads (as far as I
know). First, there's Tom Fine's thread at <A
HREF="http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~fine/Tech/console-server.html">http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~fine/Tech/console-server.html</A>.
He isn't actively developing it, however, according to the website.
Next, there's Kevin Braunsdorf's version at <A
HREF="ftp://ftp.physics.purdue.edu/pub/pundits/">ftp://ftp.physics.purdue.edu/pub/pundits/</A>.
Kevin is semi-actively working on his thread. Doesn't look like any
new versions have been out since August 2000 (version 8.5), but maybe
this info will be out of date by the time you read this. Lastly, the
conserver.com version is based on Kevin's "5.21-Beta" distribution, but
since <B>HEAVILY</B> modified and enhanced (more details in the
"Origin" section above).
</P>
<P>
If I were looking for a conserver package I would either use Kevin's
latest distribution or the conserver.com distribution. Which one?
Well, obviously I'm biased and believe the conserver.com distribution
should be your choice, but Kevin's does have UPS (serial port line
toggling bits) that the conserver.com version doesn't have. What does
the conserver.com distribution have? Well, in reality, too many things
to list. You'll have to look at the <A
HREF="http://www.conserver.com/CHANGES">CHANGES</A> file and see the
enhancements, bug fixes, and general development since the original.
Don't let the version numbers fool you - you'll have to compare and
contrast for yourself.
</P>
<H3>Downloading</H3>
<P>
The current version, released on RELEASE_DATE, is <A
HREF="http://www.conserver.com/7.1.4.tar.gz">
7.1.4.tar.gz</A>. You can get it via <A
HREF="ftp://ftp.conserver.com/conserver/7.1.4.tar.gz">FTP</A>
or <A HREF="http://www.conserver.com/7.1.4.tar.gz">HTTP</A>.
See the <A HREF="http://www.conserver.com/CHANGES">CHANGES</A> file for
information on the latest updates.
</P>
<P>
As of version 6.1.7, the packaging and numbering scheme has changed. I
used to package conserver as conserver-GNAC-v.vv. Since <A
HREF="http://ww.gnac.com/">GNAC</A> (now <A
HREF="http://www.certaintysolutions.com/">Certainty Solutions</A>) has
changed it's name I've decided to drop the GNAC portion and use a 3
digit version number (conserver-v.v.v). Why change the version
numbering? I need to differentiate this thread of the code from the
original authors and I couldn't come up with a good replacement for the
GNAC name - sad, but true.
</P>
<H3>Installation</H3>
<P>
Check the
<A HREF="http://www.conserver.com/INSTALL">INSTALL</A>
file for instructions.
</P>
<H3>Systems Tested</H3>
<P>
Here's a list of systems that I've been told can successfully compile conserver. If anyone has more to add to this list, please let me know.
</P>
<UL>
<LI>Solaris 2.5.1 thru 8 (sparc/x86), gcc
<LI>BSDI 3.X, gcc
<LI>MacOS X
<LI>Linux 2.2.18 (x86), gcc
<LI>Linux 2.4.2 (x86), gcc
<LI>FreeBSD 4.2 (x86), gcc
<LI>cygwin (w2k),gcc 2.95.3
<LI>DEC Tru64 4.0, gcc
<LI>DEC Tru64 4.0/5.1, DEC cc
<LI>HP-UX 10.20, gcc
</UL>
<H3>Other Good Information</H3>
<P>
Zonker Harris has fabulous documents regarding the hookup of
consoles to terminal servers and other such devices. His <A
HREF="http://www.conserver.com/consoles/"> Greater Scroll
of Console Knowledge</A> is a great place to start.
</P>
<HR NOSHADE><ADDRESS>Bryan Stansell
(<A HREF = "mailto:bryan@conserver.com">bryan@conserver.com</A>)<BR></ADDRESS>
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