Autologon of W2k3 sbs

Hello,
Someone wrote in this forum that it is not recommended for security reasons to have the autologon option for a server (windows sbs 2003).
I agree but I have a server localized at 200km and I cannot go each time there is a power failure. For personal reason, I don't install an UPS.
In that case, how to restart my server by keeping a good level of security ?

 

The question was for w2k3 ...
The BIOS restart the PC after power failure. Then w2k3 is starting. But if w2k3 doesn't restart correctly, I am obliged to go ...

 

My servers have resume last state after power failure option in the BIOS. In other words, I pull the plug on the server, plug it back in and it fires up on it's own. All four of my servers have that. One is a custom built, three are Dells. I'd be surprised if your box didn't.

 

so have it auto login with a non admin user. Not much of a security problem there.

Can you please say why you don't install a ups? That is the minimum you should be doing, you should have two upses ... one for each power supply.

Just so you know, not having a ups is a common cause of why servers don't boot correctly after a power failure.

If its a dell / hp server why not buy a remote access card ... will let you login even if the server is crashed or powered off.

 

Are you sure you need to log in? A decent server will run all its applications as services and services boot up at start up without a user logging in! If you have one or two apps that need to started from the desktop, it may be worth getting them to run as a service:

How To Create a User-Defined Service

 

Yup, why do you need to auto login?

 

I can access by vpn to my server. On site, when I start my w2k3 I log as admin.
If I am not on site, w2k3 stays on this login window. Then I must be in autologon mode.
Am I wrong ?
About UPS: it was an economic reason
It is not a Dell or HP ... could you say more about this remote access card ?

My goal is to always have the possibility to restart the server whatever my position on Earth ! (during travels or holidays). Restart for me means start the machine and the OS, and, of course, the services, whatever the state of the machine.

 

do you need to login due to a program that will not run as a service?

Just get a 50$ UPS, if you cant cost justify that then i can't help you. Show your boss the cost of you going out there due to a power failure and a server crash that causes the server not to reboot. With a ups the server ca be set to shutdown safely when the power drops. then a local person can just power it back on.

Remote access cards are added to real servers for out of band remote control. Google DRAG or ILO2.

if your server is a cheap one, or a desktop made a server then look at a IP KVM, it will do the same thing and can control more then one server.

With a RAC or a IP KVM you will never have to go onsite, unless something gets unpluged, or hardware is broken.

 

Thank you for the explanation. In fact, it's not important that the server stops !
The most important is that it restart correctly. It is in an industrial context and they is no local person.
My VPN data link is useless if the OS doesn't restart correctly.
One remote access card seems to be the solution.