I locked myself out of my Home Server

Support and Troubleshooting
1

I locked out myself from my home server. what can I do?

I first successfully implemented the ssh login with PUBKEY
I successfully managed to mount a USB SSD for backups
I decided to make the SSD a permanent device so I have added a line to the file /etc/fstab as follows:
/dev/sda1 path for mount ext4 defaults 0 0

I suppose there must be an error in the fstab, so the Home Server probably boots in “recover” mode with just a terminal prompt.

My ssh login now does not work anymore, not even trying to override pubkey:

illing-MBP:.ssh illing$ ssh -vvvv -i /dev/null -o PubkeyAuthentication=no umbrel@10.1.1.71
OpenSSH_7.8p1, LibreSSL 2.6.2
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 48: Applying options for *
debug2: resolve_canonicalize: hostname 10.1.1.71 is address
debug2: ssh_connect_direct
debug1: Connecting to 10.1.1.71 [10.1.1.71] port 22.
debug1: connect to address 10.1.1.71 port 22: Operation timed out
ssh: connect to host 10.1.1.71 port 22: Operation timed out
illing-MBP:

How can I get access to the terminal console of a Home Server? Is there a way to connect a monitor?

2

how are you logging in?

I use a rpi but log in with my local ip

ssh umbrel 192.168.x.x

Are you sure you are not trying to log into the proxy address?

3

10.1.1.71 is my local LAN address.
The point is that I likely made an error in the fstab and saved it, then rebooted.
What happens is that usually a linux/debian box coes into emergency console mode, where you can log in single user and correct the errors.
At this time, there is no ssh daemon running, nor any http access. One needs the “console” to fix the issue.

Is there ay way to do this? Or did I just brick my Home server?

4

Can I open the Home server, and if I so, is there a port for a monitor? The USB likely works for the keybooard.

5

Hey @Samara, Have you tried booting with the drive unplugged?

6

If you mean without the LAN, I just did, and of course it does not even ping:
illing-MBP:.ssh illing$ ping 10.1.1.71
PING 10.1.1.71 (10.1.1.71): 56 data bytes
Request timeout for icmp_seq 0
Request timeout for icmp_seq 1
Request timeout for icmp_seq 2
Request timeout for icmp_seq 3

Perhaps I should explain to everyone that the Home Server is theUmbrel device, a small black box 2 inches by 2 inchess, 1 inch tall, that has only an on/off switch and 3 USB ports on one side. The power and the LAN are at the back. Nothing else. There is NO CONNECTION for a monitor.

7

I solved the issue in this way:

  1. opened the bottom of the home server
  2. moved the SSD from the server onto a USB external holder
  3. mounted partition 2 (of the 4 on the disk) and edited the fstab file.
    Probably the problem was that I did not add a ",nofail’ after the “defaults”

Of course this voids the warranty,

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8

@Samara Glad you got this solved. I have messed up an fstab or two before they can def throw a wrench into a system if they aren’t just right.

9

be sure to save a backup of your fstab settings in case they are deleted during an update.

Its unclear what all is deleted during an update on the new system.

The instructions say customized settings will not persist…Or somthinng along those lines