i386 pxelinux netboot + serial console
Hello...
I have just been trying pxelinux netbooting of d-i rc1 and d-i sarge
20040820.
I have been doing this on a serial console and would like to suggest 2
additions to the files in pxeboot.tar.gz.
(1) ./pxelinux.cfg/serial-9600 alongside ./pxelinux.cfg/default.
The current ./pxelinux.cfg/default needs editing to force a serial console
both for pxelinux and the d-i(ie linux kernel). I suggest that the default
file is left untouched and a second file is added to the tarball called
serial-9600 or serial-console (or something). A patch to default to turn
it into serial-9600 is attached. (default-serial.patch). Of course this is
a patch to show the end results not a patch to the build system I'm
afraid. (sorry!)
(2) Help text explaining how to get the F1-F10 screens correct for serial
console.
pxelinux alows the user to press F1-F10 to get usefull information. On a
serial console the user must type ctrl and F then a digit 1-9 (or 0 for
F10).
pxelinux also allows codes to be embeded into its boot-screen text files
to tell it to print diferent things on the serial console to the VGA
console. Therefore by updating the files
debian-installer/boot-screens/syslinux.txt and
debian-installer/boot-screens/f1.txt we can give users of serial consoles
proper instructions.
As these codes are non-printing I don't think patch files will work...
However I attache my modified syslinux.txt and f1.txt files as examples.
The wording and spacing may need to be tidied up but the concept should be
clear enough. Users of the VGA console should not notice any diference
while users of serial consoles should get the correct information!
Thanks for all your efforts... d-i is great!
Alex Owen
PS: I also add another stanza to my serial-9600 pxelinux config:
LABEL disk
LOCALBOOT 0
as this lets me boot the new install without having to mess with bios
settings to disable PXE. 0fWelcome to Debian GNU/Linux sarge!07
This is a Debian installation netboot image, built on 20040801.
0fHELP INDEX07
0fKEY TOPIC07
<09F107> This page, the help index.
<09F207> Prerequisites for installing Debian.
<09F307> Boot methods for special ways of using this netboot image
<09F407> Special boot parameters, overview.
<09F507> Special boot parameters for special machines.
<09F607> Special boot parameters for selected disk controllers.
<09F707> Special boot parameters for the install system.
<09F807> How to get help.
<09F907> About the Debian project.
<09F1007> Copyrights and warranties.
For F1-F9 type control and F then the digit 1-9
For F10 type control and F then the digit 0
Press F2 through F10 for details, or ENTER to
debian-installer/boot-screens/splash.rle
Press F1control and F then 1 for help, or ENTER to
--- default 2004-08-20 23:18:09.000000000 +0100
+++ serial-9600 2004-08-21 18:51:08.000000000 +0100
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+SERIAL 0 9600 0
display debian-installer/boot-screens/syslinux.txt
default linux
@@ -14,16 +15,16 @@
label linux
kernel debian-installer/linux
- append vga=normal initrd=debian-installer/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=9169 root=/dev/rd/0 devfs=mount,dall rw --
+ append vga=normal initrd=debian-installer/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=9169 root=/dev/rd/0 devfs=mount,dall rw console=ttyS0,9600n8 --
label expert
kernel debian-installer/linux
- append DEBCONF_PRIORITY=low vga=normal initrd=debian-installer/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=9169 root=/dev/rd/0 devfs=mount,dall rw --
+ append DEBCONF_PRIORITY=low vga=normal initrd=debian-installer/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=9169 root=/dev/rd/0 devfs=mount,dall rw console=ttyS0,9600n8 --
label linux26
kernel debian-installer/2.6/linux
- append vga=normal initrd=debian-installer/2.6/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=10369 root=/dev/rd/0 devfs=mount,dall rw --
+ append vga=normal initrd=debian-installer/2.6/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=10369 root=/dev/rd/0 devfs=mount,dall rw console=ttyS0,9600n8 --
label expert26
kernel debian-installer/2.6/linux
- append DEBCONF_PRIORITY=low vga=normal initrd=debian-installer/2.6/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=10369 root=/dev/rd/0 devfs=mount,dall rw --
+ append DEBCONF_PRIORITY=low vga=normal initrd=debian-installer/2.6/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=10369 root=/dev/rd/0 devfs=mount,dall rw console=ttyS0,9600n8 --
prompt 1
timeout 0
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