[Dell PE 350] installing from a serial console

igor@nospam.invalid · *nix forums addict Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 81

Hello.

It is a basic question (certainly a FAQ style question!), but...
I had been reading boot( Cool

, boot_console( Cool

, and some related threads
without any luck. I have not found information on the installation of
NetBSD using serial ports on the NetBSD Guide and FAQs... it must really
be a frequently asked question! I hope there is a simple fix to the
problem I am describing here.

Let me outline the setup I am using now:

I am trying to install NetBSD (currently 2.0.2) on a Dell PowerEdge 350
server. This machine is redirecting the console to com0 (in the rear
of the computer). I believe that it is a useful feature to start the
operating system installation and change BIOS settings if required and
want to leave it enabled if possible at all.

My goal is installing the operating system on this computer and
redirecting the console to the second serial port (com1) in the front
of the server. I understand that "BIOS console redirection" should
not be done to the serial port in the front side on my setup, as
it will be a conflict with the operating system when configuring
the console on NetBSD. A complete OS install from the serial port
on the rear of the computer is not possible either (as soon as it
changes to protected mode there will be no "BIOS console redirection"
available).

Briefly, I want to start the operating system installation from
the serial port on the rear of the computer (com0), change the
console to the serial port on the front side (consdev com1),
plug the serial cable to com1, and continue installation from
here (as BIOS console redirection is configured to "com0" now,
I understand that the serial port on the front side of the
computer can be freely used by the operating system).

I have configured BIOS console to the same parameters NetBSD
console should use (9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, XON/XOFF),
though.

Well, I have tried all combinations I know (booting with the
console on com0, redirecting console, booting and moving the
serial cable to com1... booting on com0, redirecting console,
moving to com1, and booting -no output here-, etc.) but as soon
as the kernel is loaded I cannot see anything on the console
(a Dell Latitude CPi R400GT with NetBSD 2.0.2 and cu(1)).

In fact, in most cases all "hangs" when booting the kernel:

NetBSD/i386 ustarfs Primary Bootstrap

igor@nospam.invalid · *nix forums addict Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 81

igor@nospam.invalid wrote:

igor@nospam.invalid · *nix forums addict Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Posts: 81

igor@nospam.invalid wrote:

Google