Commit c2ffd5da authored by Mauro Carvalho Chehab's avatar Mauro Carvalho Chehab

Documentation/serial-console.txt: convert it to ReST markup

- Fix identation for the document title;
- use monotonic fonts for paths;
- use quote blocks where needed;
- adjust spaces to properly format paragraphs;
- use :menuselection: for the menu item;
- add it to the user book.
Signed-off-by: default avatarMauro Carvalho Chehab <mchehab@s-opensource.com>
parent 5902981b
Linux Serial Console Linux Serial Console
====================
To use a serial port as console you need to compile the support into your To use a serial port as console you need to compile the support into your
kernel - by default it is not compiled in. For PC style serial ports kernel - by default it is not compiled in. For PC style serial ports
it's the config option next to "Standard/generic (dumb) serial support". it's the config option next to menu option:
:menuselection:`Character devices --> Serial drivers --> 8250/16550 and compatible serial support --> Console on 8250/16550 and compatible serial port`
You must compile serial support into the kernel and not as a module. You must compile serial support into the kernel and not as a module.
It is possible to specify multiple devices for console output. You can It is possible to specify multiple devices for console output. You can
define a new kernel command line option to select which device(s) to define a new kernel command line option to select which device(s) to
use for console output. use for console output.
The format of this option is: The format of this option is::
console=device,options console=device,options
...@@ -28,11 +32,11 @@ The format of this option is: ...@@ -28,11 +32,11 @@ The format of this option is:
You can specify multiple console= options on the kernel command line. You can specify multiple console= options on the kernel command line.
Output will appear on all of them. The last device will be used when Output will appear on all of them. The last device will be used when
you open /dev/console. So, for example: you open ``/dev/console``. So, for example::
console=ttyS1,9600 console=tty0 console=ttyS1,9600 console=tty0
defines that opening /dev/console will get you the current foreground defines that opening ``/dev/console`` will get you the current foreground
virtual console, and kernel messages will appear on both the VGA virtual console, and kernel messages will appear on both the VGA
console and the 2nd serial port (ttyS1 or COM2) at 9600 baud. console and the 2nd serial port (ttyS1 or COM2) at 9600 baud.
...@@ -44,61 +48,61 @@ first looks for a VGA card and then for a serial port. So if you don't ...@@ -44,61 +48,61 @@ first looks for a VGA card and then for a serial port. So if you don't
have a VGA card in your system the first serial port will automatically have a VGA card in your system the first serial port will automatically
become the console. become the console.
You will need to create a new device to use /dev/console. The official You will need to create a new device to use ``/dev/console``. The official
/dev/console is now character device 5,1. ``/dev/console`` is now character device 5,1.
(You can also use a network device as a console. See (You can also use a network device as a console. See
Documentation/networking/netconsole.txt for information on that.) ``Documentation/networking/netconsole.txt`` for information on that.)
Here's an example that will use /dev/ttyS1 (COM2) as the console. Here's an example that will use ``/dev/ttyS1`` (COM2) as the console.
Replace the sample values as needed. Replace the sample values as needed.
1. Create /dev/console (real console) and /dev/tty0 (master virtual 1. Create ``/dev/console`` (real console) and ``/dev/tty0`` (master virtual
console): console)::
cd /dev cd /dev
rm -f console tty0 rm -f console tty0
mknod -m 622 console c 5 1 mknod -m 622 console c 5 1
mknod -m 622 tty0 c 4 0 mknod -m 622 tty0 c 4 0
2. LILO can also take input from a serial device. This is a very 2. LILO can also take input from a serial device. This is a very
useful option. To tell LILO to use the serial port: useful option. To tell LILO to use the serial port:
In lilo.conf (global section): In lilo.conf (global section)::
serial = 1,9600n8 (ttyS1, 9600 bd, no parity, 8 bits) serial = 1,9600n8 (ttyS1, 9600 bd, no parity, 8 bits)
3. Adjust to kernel flags for the new kernel, 3. Adjust to kernel flags for the new kernel,
again in lilo.conf (kernel section) again in lilo.conf (kernel section)::
append = "console=ttyS1,9600" append = "console=ttyS1,9600"
4. Make sure a getty runs on the serial port so that you can login to 4. Make sure a getty runs on the serial port so that you can login to
it once the system is done booting. This is done by adding a line it once the system is done booting. This is done by adding a line
like this to /etc/inittab (exact syntax depends on your getty): like this to ``/etc/inittab`` (exact syntax depends on your getty)::
S1:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS1 9600 vt100 S1:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS1 9600 vt100
5. Init and /etc/ioctl.save 5. Init and ``/etc/ioctl.save``
Sysvinit remembers its stty settings in a file in /etc, called Sysvinit remembers its stty settings in a file in ``/etc``, called
`/etc/ioctl.save'. REMOVE THIS FILE before using the serial ``/etc/ioctl.save``. REMOVE THIS FILE before using the serial
console for the first time, because otherwise init will probably console for the first time, because otherwise init will probably
set the baudrate to 38400 (baudrate of the virtual console). set the baudrate to 38400 (baudrate of the virtual console).
6. /dev/console and X 6. ``/dev/console`` and X
Programs that want to do something with the virtual console usually Programs that want to do something with the virtual console usually
open /dev/console. If you have created the new /dev/console device, open ``/dev/console``. If you have created the new ``/dev/console`` device,
and your console is NOT the virtual console some programs will fail. and your console is NOT the virtual console some programs will fail.
Those are programs that want to access the VT interface, and use Those are programs that want to access the VT interface, and use
/dev/console instead of /dev/tty0. Some of those programs are: ``/dev/console instead of /dev/tty0``. Some of those programs are::
Xfree86, svgalib, gpm, SVGATextMode Xfree86, svgalib, gpm, SVGATextMode
It should be fixed in modern versions of these programs though. It should be fixed in modern versions of these programs though.
Note that if you boot without a console= option (or with Note that if you boot without a ``console=`` option (or with
console=/dev/tty0), /dev/console is the same as /dev/tty0. In that ``console=/dev/tty0``), ``/dev/console`` is the same as ``/dev/tty0``.
case everything will still work. In that case everything will still work.
7. Thanks 7. Thanks
......
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