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Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 14:13:21 -0500
From: "Simon Chang" <simonychang@gmail.com>
To: "Jonathan McKeown" <jonathan+freebsd-questions@hst.org.za>
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References: <20080304153700.GA26045@panix.com>
	<200803041848.39935.jonathan+freebsd-questions@hst.org.za>
Cc: Jesse Sheidlower <jester@panix.com>, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: Installing FreeBSD remotely via serial console
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Hi,

>  Not sure whether Dell hardware has any special management features, but on
>  generic server hardware, I always make sure BIOS console redirection is
>  enabled (gives you BIOS access), and that it's set to stop redirecting once
>  the OS boots.

If it is one of the newer Dells, there is a feature called Remote
Access Server that is built-in and has a special Ethernet port for it
(the symbol above the physical port is that of a wrench).  Read the
documentation, but I believe it will get you BIOS messages, etc.

What model of Dell server is it?

SC