Make headless server beep when ready to login?

**flatland2d** · August 23rd, 2009

I recently setup a headless home server that runs Jaunty (desktop version) to act as a file/backup/media server and the only annoying this is waiting around for the login screen to come up. Since there is no screen, I just wait about a minute and try logging in. I know I can hit the backspace key, which should cause a system beep if it is ready for me to log in (like when asking for username) but I was wondering if there was a way to make it beep automatically. So basically, when you would normally here the drum sound (if you had speakers) I would like a system beep. Is this possible?

Is there a better way to do this? Is it possible to remotely log in through SSH?

Thanks for any advice!

**RetchingRabbit** · August 23rd, 2009

If it is doing server duty, why isn't it ALWAYS ready? Are you shutting it down at night or something?

**flatland2d** · August 23rd, 2009

I'm still in the process of getting it set up, and have to do an occasional reboot for testing. The "why" is really irrelevant though. I just want to know how.

**nerr** · August 23rd, 2009

Actually this is very easy to do!

Code:

sudo apt-get install beep

Then just add a command to your crontab to have the system beep at reboot!

Code:

@reboot beep -r 5

For example, the above code makes your machine beep five times when ready. You can tweak beep a lot, or even use many beep commands together to play a melody when the machine is ready.

**inobe** · August 23rd, 2009

had an intel board that did this, it really depends on hardware and system bios features, really has nothing to do with operating systems.

it's a bios setting and the motherboard needs a speaker.

when entering the wrong password' it would also beep...

i have no more knowledge.

edit: haha, nice one nerr

**flatland2d** · August 23rd, 2009

Originally Posted by nerr

Actually this is very easy to do!

Code:

sudo apt-get install beep

Then just add a command to your crontab to have the system beep at reboot!

Code:

@reboot beep -r 5

For example, the above code makes your machine beep five times when ready. You can tweak beep a lot, or even use many beep commands together to play a melody when the machine is ready.

That is awesome! It will be a very useful tool for monitoring a lot of other automated things I want to do. Thanks for sharing!

**3rdalbum** · August 23rd, 2009

On my home server (headless), X doesn't come up unless there is a monitor plugged in and turned on. How do you accomplish it?

**inobe** · August 23rd, 2009

xorg detects the monitor i presume, basically the server should text base CLI.

xserver/xorg may need editing or removed.

no graphical interface.

**nerr** · August 23rd, 2009

Originally Posted by flatland2d

That is awesome! It will be a very useful tool for monitoring a lot of other automated things I want to do. Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome! A friend and I actually enjoyed playing around with beep so much that we wrote a few little scripts that play some melodies. You can use these as you please, but they're just a little more fun than the average beep.

https://nerr.ath.cx/sftp/

**HermanAB** · August 23rd, 2009

Howdy,

I'm just wondering why you want need to log in?

If your machine is headless, then it should be running in runlevel 3. It should boot up all the way and no login should be necessary. to connect to it for remote administration, use SSH or Webmin.