[ale] System Management Card

[Chris Fowler]

> From: "Jim Lynch" <ale_nospam at fayettedigital.com>
> To: "Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts" <ale at ale.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2015 5:29:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [ale] System Management Card

> I've been thinking along the lines of ...

> Connect a Rpi USB port to a an RS232 converter to a null modem to a
> serial port on my system (yep, it's got one). Configure the system
> (kernel) to use the serial port as a console. Open a port to the Rpi on
> the router and ssh into the Rpi and run a terminal program to connect to
> the serial port of the main machine. Then connect a circuit containing
> a 115V solid state switch (normally on) to a pin on the Rpi so you can
> bounce the power remotely when all else fails.

> Not exactly what you want, but you might be able to adapt it somehow.

Probably the best solution for access and control of a consumer grade system. 
Relay modules can be purchased on eBay cheap from China. 

You need to verify the computer will support a BIOS setting of "Power State after Power Loss: Previous State". 

Many times my desktop does not really lock up. Chrome can make Xorg go to 99% CPU and it feels like a lockup. I can SSH in and kill Chrome. In your case you can't even SSH in. 

The great thing about a serial console is that if you are logging that serial connection on the RPi 24x7 and your system locks there may be some history captured of a kernel panic that will shed some light as to why. 
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