Bug#420820: no console set IBM p5 server

[Sven Luther <luther@debian.org>]

On Tue, May 15, 2007 at 08:03:13AM +0200, Frans Pop wrote:
> On Monday 14 May 2007 23:55, Rolf Brudeseth wrote:
> > > On Monday 14 May 2007 22:29, Rolf Brudeseth wrote:
> > > > - Step 1:
> > > > $ cat /proc/device-tree/options/output-device
> > > > /vdevice/vty@30000000
> > > > ==> hvsi0 or hvc0
> > > >
> > > > $ cat /proc/device-tree/options/output-device
> > > > /vdevice/vty@30000001
> > > > ==> hvsi1
> > >
> > > Do these pseudo files always exist, or just if a serial console is
> > > used?
> >
> > These three device files should always be present in /dev. It is just a
> > matter of specifying the correct one in /etc/inittab, regardless of how
> > the console is accessed.
> >
> > > If they do always exist, what is their value if "the other device" is
> > > used, or if a regular console is used?
> >
> > I am not sure I understand the question so let me try to explain it as
> > follows. IBM System p5 servers can be configured in two mutually
> > exclusive ways as far as consoles are concerned.
> 
> You misunderstand me. I'm not concerned about the device files in /dev, 
> but about the files in /proc.
> 
> We are going to be using the presence/content of the files
> /proc/device-tree/options/output-device/vdevice/vty@30000000,
> /proc/device-tree/options/output-device/vdevice/vty@30000001 and 
> /proc/device-tree/vdevice/vty@30000000/compatible to determine which type 
> of console is being actually used, right?
> 
> My question is: if hvsi1 is being used, what is the output of
>     cat /proc/device-tree/options/output-device/vdevice/vty@30000000
> or does that file just not exist in that case?

Frans, forget about those existential questions.
/proc/device-tree/chosen is what you want. It will contain a copy of all
the relevant information used during booting, provided to you by the
underlying firmware.

Friendly,

Sven Luther