At Thu, 8 Feb 2024 09:31:27 -0800, Steve Rikli <sr%genyosha.net@localhost> wrote:
Subject: Re: serial console device, and installboot vs. /boot.cfg
>
>
> Well, what I really want :-) is to be able to switch between a COM serial
> port and a Pc keyboard without re-configuring NetBSD, and that's what I
> was hoping for with auto.
Do you mean (also) for boot, or just for normal logins?
Personally I find having a permanent serial console ideal, and I then
configure logins on Kbd+VGA for normal use when in front of the physical
machine (if the machine has such hardware).
However I do have my serial ports "permanently" connected to a terminal
server (which are then managed by conserver), so I always have logs of
everything on the console (as well as easy access to the console port
via any other local system on my LAN).
This is also what I used to do with my older Sun and DEC Alpha systems
as well, i.e. those that also had a framebuffer and keyboard.
Terminal servers were ultra-cheap back when small ISPs were either
turning off their modem banks, and/or being absorbed by giant ISPs.
There are still lots available on eBay, for example, but they're not
quite as low-priced as they were when the market was flooded.
> "auto" activates the serial console in my config, but the Pc keyboard+VGA
> sees no boot messages or menus, which feels like "auto" and "com0" are
> effectively the same in my setup. More experiments warranted.
See x86/boot_console(8).
Auto tries to use the first working COM port, and if they all fail it'll
resort to "consdev=PC".
--
Greg A. Woods <gwoods%acm.org@localhost>
Kelowna, BC +1 250 762-7675 RoboHack <woods%robohack.ca@localhost>
Planix, Inc. <woods%planix.com@localhost> Avoncote Farms <woods%avoncote.ca@localhost>