SUSE SLES 8.0 configuration

Note: This procedure is based on a default installation of SUSE SLES 8.0. The file names, structures, and commands might be different for other versions of SUSE Linux.

Complete the following steps to configure the general Linux parameters for SOL operation when using the SUSE SLES 8.0 operating system.

Note: Hardware flow control prevents character loss during communication over a serial connection. You must enable it when using a Linux operating system.
  1. Add the following line to the end of the # getty-programs for the normal runlevels section of the /etc/inittab file. This enables hardware flow control and enables users to log in through the SOL console.
                      7:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -h ttyS1 19200 vt102
                   
  2. Add the following line after the tty6 line at the bottom of the /etc/securetty file to enable a user to log in as the root user through the SOL console:
                      ttyS1
                   
  3. Complete the following steps to modify the /boot/grub/menu.lst file:
    1. Comment out the gfxmenu... line by adding a # at the beginning of the line.
    2. Add the following line before the first title... line:
                              # This will allow you to only Monitor the OS boot via SOL
                           
    3. Add the following text to the end of the first title... line:
                              SOL Monitor
                           
    4. Add the following text to the end of the kernel... line of the first title... section:
                              console=ttyS1,19200 console=tty1
                           
    5. Add the following lines between the first two title... sections:
                              # This will allow you to Interact with the OS boot via SOL
      title linux SOL Interactive
          kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 acpi=oldboot vga=791
      console=tty1 console=ttyS1,19200
          initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd
                           
Note: The entry beginning with kernel (hd0,1) is shown with a line break after vga=791. In your file, the entire entry must all be on one line.

The following samples show the original content of the /boot/grub/menu.lst file and the content of this file after modification.

Original /boot/grub/menu.lst contents Notes
                              gfxmanu (hd0,1)/boot/message
                           
 
                              color white/blue black/light-gray
                           
 
                              default 0
                           
 
                              timeout 8
                           
 
   
                              title linux
                           
 
                                kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 acpi=oldboot vga=791
                           
 
                                initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd
                           
 
                              title floppy
                           
 
                                root
                           
 
                                chainloader +1
                           
 
                              title failsafe
                           
 
                                kernal (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz.shipped root=/dev/hda2 ide=nodma apm=off vga=normal nosmp
                           
1
                              disableapic maxcpus=0 3
                           
 
                                initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.shipped
                           
 
Note 1: The entry beginning with kernel (hd0,1) is shown with a line break after nosmp. In your file, the entire entry must all be on one line.
Modified /boot/grub/menu.lst contents Notes
                              #gfxmanu (hd0,1)/boot/message
                           
 
                              color white/blue black/light-gray
                           
 
                              default 0
                           
 
                              timeout 8
                           
 
   
                              # This will allow you to only Monitor the OS boot via SOL
                           
 
                              title linux SOL Monitor
                           
 
                                kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 acpi=oldboot vga=791 console=ttyS1,19200 console=tty1
                           
 
                                initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd
                           
 
                              # This will allow you to Interact with the OS boot via SOL
                           
 
                              title linux SOL Interactive
                           
 
                               kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 acpi=oldboot vga=791 console=tty1 console=ttyS1,19200
                           
 
                               initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd
                           
 
                              title floppy
                           
 
                                root
                           
 
                                chainloader +1
                           
 
                              title failsafe
                           
 
                                kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz.shipped root=/dev/hda2 ide=nodma apm=off vga=normal nosmp
                           
1
                              disableapic maxcpus=0 3
                           
 
                                initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.shipped
                           
 
Note 1: The entry beginning with kernel (hd0,1) is shown with a line break after nosmp. In your file, the entire entry must all be on one line.

You must reboot the Linux operating system after completing these procedures for the changes to take effect and to enable SOL. You must also install device drivers for your Ethernet controller (see Installing the Ethernet controller device driver for Linux operating systems).