RedHat Serial Port Console Install

Terminology

Machine #1, for these instructions, will be running Windows or Linux and will run a terminal program from which we will control the installation on Machine #2.

Machine #2, for these instructions, is the machine where we will be installing Linux to, but we will be controlling the install through the serial port.

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TERMINOLOGY STEP1 STEP2 STEP3 NOTES REFERENCE

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Step 1. Attach the Null Modem Cable

The first step is to attach the null modem cable between the serial ports of Machine #1 and Machine #2.

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TERMINOLOGY STEP1 STEP2 STEP3 NOTES REFERENCE

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Step 2. Set up the Terminal Program on Machine #1:

On the system you are controlling the install (Machine #1), type the following:

For Linux:

miterm -s 9600 -l /dev/ttyS0

If you want to capture output of the installation then use the script command:

script

miterm -s 9600 -l /dev/ttyS0

exit

Note: minicom, kermit, and others should work just as well as miterm.

For Windows:

HyperTerminal 9600, 8, N, 1

HyperTerminal can capture output if you need it to.

Other terminal programs will work as well.

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TERMINOLOGY STEP1 STEP2 STEP3 NOTES REFERENCE

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Step 3. Begin the Linux Install on Machine #2:

At the RedHat Installer Boot Prompt, type one of the following lines:

linux console=ttyS0,9600

or

linux serial

or

linux console=tty0 console=ttyS0,9600

If you watch closely (and you have a monitor and video card on Machine #2) you will see a couple of lines show up on Machine #2, but all following lines will show up through the serial port to the terminal on Machine #1. This behavior is normal.

On a headless machine (a machine without a video card nor monitor), you can modify one of the boot disks found in the /images directory on the RedHat CD. Create the floppy, then find the file named syslinux.cfg and add the console=… parameters there. Then when you boot the headless machine on that floppy you will be able to control the install through the serial port.

You can make the serial port the permanent default console by reading up on serial-console.txt