Virtual machine console

    For virtual machines, a console has been added to the Selectel cloud. It is available in the control panel in the "console" tab.
    Console in the cloud Selectel
    Here are the key differences from the primitive "here you have VNCterm, figure it out for yourself":
    • text console - low traffic
    • no plugins (flash / java, etc.) - works with html / ajax tools.
    • the console can be viewed simultaneously from multiple browsers.
    • the console is undergoing reboot and migration
    • the console can be seen on the machine turned off (the input does not work for obvious reasons - but you can see how the machine turned off).
    • Copy-paste - select with the mouse and copy, paste Shift-Ins or Cmd-V for poppies.
    • Surviving the migration of a virtual machine without breaks and troubles.
    • Automatic regulation of the speed of work - during interactive work, the speed increases, on an idle machine it decreases.
    • Almost 100% linux_console support - colors, scrolling, etc. All major programs - ncurses-based, mc, vim, emacs, nano, a bunch of console toys - adom, nethack, tetris, etc., were tested for operability. Only exotic types such as “download fonts”, “managing VESA modes, etc.” are not supported.
    • Support for most key combinations (browser dependent) - Ctrl-combinations, Alt-combinations, function buttons, etc.
    • Full support for unicode (as much as your browser supports it), like minmum, pseudo-graphics and Russian language work without any problems.

    What has not been done:
    • glitches with copy-paste in the opera (we understand). It should work fine in chrome, safari and FF (3.6, 4.0). Now works in opera, FF and chrome
    • IE ... well, you get the point. On the move, it did not take off, and did not want to waste time on it.
    • The opportunity to see history - in work, will appear in the near future.
    • Virtual keyboard - write right now.
    • Support for G0 / G1 / G2 (qqqjk letters instead of frames in centos / suse installers) - will be repaired in the next updates

    How is it arranged inside? We refused all ready-made solutions and wrote the correct console for xen on our own. It is called 'selecon' (selectel console), consists of ... it seems 5 or 6 components. We parse console codes ourselves, draw a virtual display, store it in a database (!), Send it via an http browser.

    In order to see all the tastes, you first need to set the correct locale in the virtual machine (dpkg-reconfigure locales for debian), and secondly enable WebSockets (it will work without them, but not so fast).

    In the near future I will write a heartbreaking story about how a console turns out of the unnatural crossing of a pingivn with a typewriter - how much is funny, sad and strange.

    PS And also it works on iPhones, Maemo and (probably, not tested) on android. While in RO, RW will do a little later.

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