Serial Console With Boot and Kernel Messages

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-- HOW DO I: CONFIGURE SERIAL CONSOLE WITH KERNEL MESSAGES                   --
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[CONFIGURE SERIAL CONSOLE WITH KERNEL MESSAGES]

This applies to kernel versions 2.2 - 2.4 and specifically to distributions
with serial support already in the kernel.  Examples are Mandrake, Redhat,
and Debian.

For the GRUB boot loader:

1.) edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and add support for grub to display the boot 
menu to a serial console after the timeout or splashimage line. 
  serial --unit=0 --speed=19200 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1 
  terminal --timeout=10 serial console

2.) continue to edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and a kernel parameter to utilize
kernel support for the serial console.  This is not necessary, however, it is
useful in that it displays kernel boot messages on the serial console.
Otherwise boot and service start-up messages will not be displayed.

This should be appended to the kernel line after root=LABEL=/
  console=ttyS0,19200n8

3.) steps 1 & 2 applied to boot.  now the serial console must be configured
for use.  first edit /etc/inittab and after 6:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty6
add the following line:
  S0:2345:respawn:/sbin/mgetty ttyS0

4.) edit /etc/mgetty+sendfax/mgetty.config and add to the configuration end:
  port ttyS0
    direct y
    speed 19200
    toggle-dtr n

Use a Null Modem cable between your serial console and the pc serial port.  

IMPORTANT NOTES:
  *Determine which serial port number is assigned to the port to which your
  cable is connected.
  *The example provided here for serial 1, there are (4) places which 
  require modification to use serial 2.
    1. in grub.conf change --unit=0 to --unit=1  (0 is for serial 1 and 1
       is for serial 2)
    2. in grub.conf kernel line change to console=ttyS1,19200n8
    3. in mgetty.config don't forget to change the port number at the 
       BEGINNING 
    4. and END of the line as follows:
       S1:2345:respawn:/sbin/mgetty ttyS1

example serial boot configuration: /boot/grub/grub.conf

default=0
timeout=8
#splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
serial --unit=0 --speed=19200 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1
terminal --timeout=10 serial console

title Linux Boot (2.4 custom)
        root (hd0,0)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.cust ro root=LABEL=/ console=ttyS0,19200n8
        initrd /initrd-2.4.cust.img

* the splashimage line should be omitted since the graphic will not display
  on either console after these modifications.
* 19200 is a good serial speed. 9600 lags yet can be used for compatibility

TROUBLESHOOTING:
  Q: System displays to serial during boot up until init V then nothing 
  happens, appears to freeze.
  A: Check mgetty.config, there is likely a mismatch, see IMPORTANT NOTES
  items #3 and #4.  Also, disable KUDZU, it may cause issues during serial
  boot if it detects a hardware change.
  Q: Not sure which serial port assigned to the physical port, or if the 
  port is working.
  A: Grab an old serial mouse, great for testing!  Connect serial mouse to
  Linux and start 'minicom -s' set to ttyS0 2400 and move mouse, then try
  ttyS1.  Funny characters indicate serial port receiving information from
  mouse and you have located the active working serial port.

For Lilo boot loader:

1.) edit /etc/lilo.conf and add support for grub to display the boot 
menu to a serial console after the timeout or splashimage line.

2.) And a kernel parameter to utilize kernel support for the serial 
console.  Exit the editor and execute the 'lilo' command.

( steps 3 & 4 same as above for grub )

example serial boot configuration: /etc/lilo.conf

prompt
timeout=10
default=LINUX
boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
# message=/boot/message
# linear
serial=0,19200n8

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.cust
        label=LINUX
        initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.cust.img
        read-only
        append="root=LABEL=/ console=ttyS0,19200n8"

SOFTWARE:
  minicom is useful for serial connection to the machine. Microsoft Windows
  users may want to avoid Microsoft HyperTerm, the emmulation is poor.  
  Use Tera Term to connect to the Linux machine from a Windows host.
  home page: http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002416/teraterm.html
  local ftp: ftp://ftp.robotz.com/pub/modem/TeraTerm/ttermp23.zip 
  To connect from MSDOS use KERMIT 
  local ftp: ftp://ftp.robotz.com/pub/modem/KERMIT/KERMIT.EXE

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Additional Configuration and Information:  FOR GRUB BOOTLOADER
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Define Serial port as (COM1), for COM2 specify --unit=1 and so on. After
this define terminal for throwing display

  serial --unit=0 --speed=9600

15 seconds timeout and both console(Monitor or tty0) and serial port (ttyS0 or
COM1) as display. For 15 seconds it will allow  to select either Monitor or
Serial port selection depending upon where you press key. Otherwise after 15
seconds it will select first entry ('console').

  terminal --timeout=15  console serial 

Pass kernel option in 'kernel' line directing kernel messages to  selected
devices. You can select both Monitor and Serial port to get kernel messages   

  kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.17 ro root=/dev/sda3 console=ttyS0 console=tty0

EXAMPLE: Single user mode for Monitor

  kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.17 ro root=/dev/sda3 console=ttyS0 console=tty0

EXAMPLE: Single user mode for Serial Port
            
  kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.17 ro root=/dev/sda3 console=tty0 console=ttyS0

In order to login as single user mode, at Grub boot selection menu, select
kernel image by arrow (UP, DOWN keys) and then hit 'e'  key to edit, which
will show grub entry for image, select kernel line and append  word 'single'
and <Enter>,

  kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.17 ro root=/dev/sda3 console=tty0 console=ttyS0 single

Press 'b' to boot this image now. This edit is only temporary and won't
overwrite /etc/grub.conf. By this way you can always edit grub entries for
boot time temporarily.

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Additional Configuration and Information:  FOR MULTI USER MODE
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Use mgetty to attach login process to Serial line, modify /etc/inittab and 
it will run mgetty in as direct line (-r) (i.e no modem chat initiated), in
block mode (-b), with speed as 9600 baud (-s 9600), login prompt as specified
by -p option and device is ttyS0 (Serial port device /dev/ttyS0).

  S0:2345:respawn:/sbin/mgetty -b -r -s 9600 -p "Serial Console Login: " ttyS0

TIP: You can type 'init q' to reread inittab as opposed to rebooting the 
     system.

TIP: Add Serial device entry (ttyS0) in your /etc/securetty file to allow
     root login from the serial console.

If you setup mgetty(8) process as above, even if you select Monitor as your
display console (which allows single user and OS messages on Monitor) still
you will get Serial port login: on serial line. This is because after OS boot,
mgetty will run irrespective of any selection and wait for login.