Server co-location usage guide

This page gives details on how to manage your co-located server. There are a number of tasks you can perform on your machine:

Reboot

You will have been given a username, password and hostname for your Masterswitch port. You can access the Masterswitch by using either telnet or a web browser. Once connected to the Masterswitch you will be able to control the power to your server. To reboot the server, select "Immediate Reboot". This will turn the power off for 5 seconds, and then turn it back on.

Console access

If you ordered the serial console option, you will have been given a username, password and hostname for accessing the serial console of your machine. You can connect to the terminal server using SSH. Upon connection, you will be connected directly to the serial console of your server. If you press space immediately after connection, the terminal server will replay the last few lines of output from the serial console. Typically this will cause the login screen to be redrawn, but in the event that your server has crashed with a kernel panic, this may display details of the crash.

The serial console is set to a "lowest common demoninator" default of 9600bps, No parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit (9600 N81) with hardware flow control, but we recommend configuring your serial consoles to use a higher speed such as 57600bps or 115200bps.

Remote hands

If your server is unavailable and you are unable to revive it using the Masterswitch or serial console, the next step is to have a Redbus engineer investigate the problem. You will have been given an email address to use to contact us on for remote hands requests in an emergency. Please include your name and contact phone number in the subject. This email address will contact us by SMS, and we endeavour to answer this at all times although we are at the mercy of mobile network coverage. Please note that we are human and we do sleep sometimes, so if your request does not require immediate attention, please use our standard support@mythic-beasts.com email address.

When we receive your request, we will call you back and put you in touch with a Redbus engineer who will attach a screen and keyboard to your server, describe what is on the screen and will carry out your instructions. Straight-forward remote hands requests, such as guiding your server through a reboot, will not be charged. If you machine requires extensive attention, Redbus may charge us for their time, in which case we will pass the charge on to you at cost.

Physical access

If you require physical access to your server, please contact support@mythic-beasts.com. We will try to arrange a mutually convenient time for you to access your machine. We would prefer to accompany you when you visit, although if you require immediate access to your machine, we will always try to accomodate you.