Chapter 12
Recovering from Emergencies

Table of Contents
Logging in to the Console
The nwconfig Command
Emergency Firewall Repair

Your NetWinder is designed to be a very stable and reliable standalone device. However, because you configure it using a web browser, there is a possibility that you might mistakenly change an option that makes the NetWinder inaccessible to your browser. In that case, you will be locked out and you will not be able to revert to the original configuration. You have an emergency.

We solve this problem by making it possible to attach a keyboard and monitor to the NetWinder so that you can adjust its network settings without using the network.

Backup NetWinder OfficeServer software is also supplied on the Resources CD-ROM supplied with your NetWinder.

Logging in to the Console

WARNING

If your NetWinder is already powered up, you should power it down before attaching a keyboard and monitor. Otherwise, you could damage your NetWinder hardware.

When you attach a keyboard (use one with a standard PS/2 connector) and SVGA monitor to your NetWinder and turn on the power, you will see many messages go by on the screen. This is the Linux operating system starting up and is normal.

If the network settings have become severely corrupted, some parts of the boot-up process may take a very long time to complete. They are looking for hosts on the network, and will eventually give up and let the boot process continue. Be patient.

When the boot process is complete, the NetWinder displays a screen with a login: prompt. Log in using your root administrator account. Type the word root, and when asked for the password, enter that as well. The default password for root what you set during the Quick Start procedure. If you did not specify a password during Quick Start, it will be rebel You should change this password as soon as you log in; you can do this by typing passwd followed by the Enter key. Then simply follow the prompts.

Once logged in, you will receive a prompt ending with the number sign (#). That tells you that you're the administrator.