Can't Get Into Server

[rettix]

Hi all, I edited my firewall configuration file (SuSEfirewall2) while trying to configure an ftp server. The good news: ftp server is up and running perfectly. The bad news: all other ports are blocked.

I have full root privileges to this server, but I can't ssh into it now to fix the firewall. The server is off-site, and I was wondering if there is anyway I can remotely restart the firewall or stop it so that I can fix it? I guess my only access is through ftp. I saved a backup of the firewall config file (SuSEfirewall2), and I can replace it, but I still need to restart the firewall. I know what I need to fix, I just can't get to it.

Am I going to have to visit the server, or can this be done remotely in any way, through ftp, etc...?

I would greatly appreciate any help.

[Irithori]

If a firewall could be remotely deacivated without authentication or root,
I would consider that a bug, not a feature

Afaik, there is no way of executing files via ftp.

Do you have another server in the same network?
I do not know your firewall rules, but maybe access from the same network is still possible?

Does your server have a out-of-band management? And is it configured?
That is: a (secured) webinterface to a small server in the actual server, that lets you power off and on the machine, and also gives you a local console.
Second best would be a external KVM (keyboard, video,mouse) solution, that is reachable via net.

Another option: you could call your provider and ask for "remote hands": someone, who does a cold reboot of the machine. Yeah, that's not a nice thing to do. Also you have to make sure somehow (via ftp?) that the fire wall does not get started

Last option is to go to that datacenter yourself.