kernel-image-2.6.10 and required console changes
A 2.6.10 ia64 kernel has just been accepted into sid. This kernel contains
some changes to the console detection code, and will require system
configuration changes for some systems.
Please read the following message from Bjorn Helgaas before upgrading:
http://www.gelato.unsw.edu.au/linux-ia64/0411/11717.html
Attached is the NEWS.Debian file I've included in the source package, which is
basically an excerpt from Bjorn's message. The NEWS.Debian file is in in
the binary packagse yet since I haven't found the best way to do that with
kernel-package.
kernel-image-2.6.10-ia64 (2.6.10-1) unstable; urgency=low
WARNING: Upgrading to 2.6.10 may require console configuration changes.
Please read the following information provided by Bjorn Helgaas:
If you have an HP machine and you're using the MP serial console port
(the connector labelled "console" on the 3-headed cable), this patch
will break your console!
HOW TO FIX IT:
1) The console device will change from /dev/ttyS0 to /dev/ttyS1,
ttyS2, or ttyS3, so:
1a) Edit /etc/inittab to add a getty entry for
/dev/ttyS1 (rx4640, rx5670, rx7620, rx8620, Superdome),
/dev/ttyS2 (rx1600), or
/dev/ttyS3 (rx2600).
1b) Edit /etc/securetty to add ttyS1, ttyS2, or ttyS3.
1c) Leave the existing ttyS0 entries in /etc/inittab and
/etc/securetty so you can still boot old kernels.
2) Edit /etc/elilo.conf to remove any "console=" arguments (see [1]).
3) Run elilo to install the bootloader with new configuration.
4) Reboot and use the EFI boot option maintenance menu to select
exactly one device for console output, input, and standard error.
Then do a cold reset so the changes take effect.
For the MP console, be careful to select the device with
"Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(...)/Uart" in the path (see [2]).
DETAILS:
- Prior to this patch, serial device names depended on the HCDP,
which in turn depends on EFI console settings. After this patch,
the naming always stays the same, regardless of firmware settings.
For example, an rx1600 with a single built-in serial port plus
an MP has these ports:
Old Old
MMIO (EFI console (EFI console
address on builtin) on MP port) New
---------- ------------ ------------ -----
builtin 0xff5e0000 ttyS0 ttyS1 ttyS0
MP UPS 0xf8031000 ttyS1 ttyS2 ttyS1
MP Console 0xf8030000 ttyS2 ttyS0 ttyS2
MP 2 0xf8030010 ttyS3 ttyS3 ttyS3
MP 3 0xf8030038 ttyS4 ttyS4 ttyS4
- If you want to have multiple devices in the EFI console path, you
can, but Linux won't be able to deduce which console to use, so it
will default to using VGA. You can use "console=hcdp" (the UART
device from the EFI path) or "console=ttyS<n>" to select the
device directly.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
- No kernel output after "Uncompressing Linux... done":
-> You're using an MP port as the console and specified
"console=ttyS0". This port is now named something else.
Remove the "console=" option.
-> Multiple UARTs selected as EFI console devices, and you're
looking at the wrong one. Make sure only one UART is
selected (use the EFI Boot Manager "Boot option maintenance"
menu).
-> You're physically connected to the MP port but have a
non-MP UART selected as EFI console device. Either move
the console cable to the non-MP UART, or change the EFI
console path to the MP UART (the MP UART is the one with
"Acpi(HWP0002,700)/Pci(...)/Uart" in it.)
- Long pause (60+ seconds) between "Uncompressing Linux... done"
and start of kernel output:
-> No early console, probably because you used "console=ttyS<n>".
Remove the "console=" option.
- Kernel and init script output works fine, but no "login:" prompt:
-> Add getty entry to /etc/inittab for console tty. Use the table
in (1a) above or look for the "Adding console on ttyS<n>" message
that tells you which device is the console.
- "login:" prompt, but can't login as root:
-> Add entry to /etc/securetty for console tty.
[1] When the EFI console path contains exactly one device (either
serial or VGA), 2.6.6 and newer kernels default to that device
automatically. So if you remove "console=" arguments, you can use
the same elilo configuration to boot any 2.6.6 or newer kernel
with or without this patch.
If you need to boot kernels older than 2.6.6 (including RHEL3 and
SLES9), keep an 'append="console=ttyS0"' line in those elilo.conf
stanzas.
Non-HP machines will still need "console=" for serial consoles
because they don't supply the HCDP table.
[2] The HP management card (MP) causes confusion because it is always
active as an EFI console, even if it doesn't appear in the EFI
console path. If your console path is set to a non-MP UART, and
you happen to be attached to the MP UART, everything works in EFI,
but the kernel will think the non-MP UART is the console, so you
won't see any kernel output.
-- dann frazier <dannf@debian.org> Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:19:00 -0700
Reply to: