>
> >> > Technically, yes; Lilo and the 2.2.x kernels handle serial port
> >> > console. However, AFAIK no distributions actually have their installs set
> >> > up to use the serial port. As you mentioned, though, Solaris supports
> >> > this along with all the BSD's and most other major Unices.
>
> >> The Red Hat install kernels include serial console support
>
> >Ahhh, I stand corrected. It *would* be nice to see this as a more
> >visible option for installation for those of us who do not tend to have
> >video cards/monitors on their servers.
>
> so how is this option enabled?
>
> for linux/sparc you just give SILO the parameter "linux serial" and it
> knows what to do. but the ability do do this is part of the sparcstation
> design - i.e if it doesnt find a monitor or keyboard it switches to
> using the serial port as user i/o. I haven't seen PCs with this
> capability, or am I wrong?
>
According to linux/Documentation/serial-console.txt, simple specify:
'console=device,options'
(device=ttySx, options may include serial port speed, etc.)
e.g.: 'console=ttyS1,9600'
-or-
'console=ttyS1,9600 console=tty0' to use either serial or the
video card.
Of course, to enter this at the LILO prompt, LILO has to be installed with
the option to display on the serial port:
e.g.: serial = 1,9600n8 (for ttyS1, 9600 baud)
so that you can specify this via the serial port; if not, then you would
need a keyboard/video card/monitor to set this :(
OTOH, similiar to your reference to Suns, FreeBSD's initial loader has an
option to probe the keyboard (-P)...if a keyboard is found, the video
card/keyboard is used; if not, the serial port is used.
-----
Chris D. Faulhaber <jedgar@fxp.org> | All the true gurus I've met never
System/Network Administrator, | claimed they were one, and always
Reality Check Information, Inc. | pointed to someone better.
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