During install, I somehow forgot to put sshd into default runlevel and to uncomment the console entries in /etc/inittab. After the device reloaded, it was not accessible and required a power cycle. I would expect that the installation handbook could include a suggestion for the user to check he will be able to access the computer once reloaded. Reproducible: Sometimes Steps to Reproduce: 1. Follow the installation handbook on a remote server working with serial console 2. Forget about steps specific to console access 3. Reload the device Actual Results: After reboot, there is no prompt on the serial console. Network responds to ping but ssh server is also not enabled. Expected Results: At http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-amd64.xml?part=1&chap=10#reboot I expect to see a suggestion to double check the device will be accessible before unmounting the partitions. Something like: You are about to reload the system. If it is not next to you, make sure you can access it once it boots. For serial console you need to uncomment a line in /etc/inittab and check the speed. For ssh access you need to start the server. livecd # nano /etc/inittab livecd # rc-update add sshd default Actually, the "Quick Install Guide" http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-x86-quickinstall.xml contains this additional step in section Configure networking: (If you want to reconnect via ssh after you have rebooted your new box) livecd conf.d # rc-update add sshd default This explains for me why I avoided this problem so far. Here the last server is not physically accessible I wanted to play safe and used the detailed guide :-) There is a note about removing the bootable CD, I would perhaps update the note with an alternative to change boot device order. In any case that is a bit less useful as the times out to disk boot after 150 seconds.
we already have a section on making sure you've installed any additional tools and adding them to the appropriate runlevels. it's right before the chapter you linked: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-amd64.xml?part=1&chap=9
The chapter "Installing Necessary System Tools" mentions things like File Indexing that are truly optional. There is no mention of sshd that 99% of users will want to enable, or serial getty that is required for 100% of users with x86 or amd64 platforms who do not have local keyboard and monitor. Is it really not worth to consider these users? Would the hint I am requesting to add make the documents grow over some size limit or confuse some people?
Thanks. I've updated the system tools section to include one for remote access. It covers both adding sshd to the default runlevel as well as uncommenting the serial consoles in /etc/inittab. Thanks for reporting!
