From owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Sep 22 06:52:18 2007 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 506EB16A417 for ; Sat, 22 Sep 2007 06:52:18 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from eugen@www.svzserv.kemerovo.su) Received: from www.svzserv.kemerovo.su (www.svzserv.kemerovo.su [213.184.65.80]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A48AD13C455 for ; Sat, 22 Sep 2007 06:52:17 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from eugen@www.svzserv.kemerovo.su) Received: from www.svzserv.kemerovo.su (eugen@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by www.svzserv.kemerovo.su (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id l8M6P147029721 for ; Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:25:01 +0800 (KRAST) (envelope-from eugen@www.svzserv.kemerovo.su) Received: (from eugen@localhost) by www.svzserv.kemerovo.su (8.13.8/8.13.8/Submit) id l8M6P1ZI029720 for freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org; Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:25:01 +0800 (KRAST) (envelope-from eugen) Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:25:01 +0800 From: Eugene Grosbein To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20070922062501.GA26284@svzserv.kemerovo.su> References: <20070921161917.GA65081@eos.sc1.parodius.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20070921161917.GA65081@eos.sc1.parodius.com> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.3i X-Mailman-Approved-At: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:25:07 +0000 Subject: Re: Serial console/remote install discussion X-BeenThere: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Technical Discussions relating to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 06:52:18 -0000 On Fri, Sep 21, 2007 at 09:19:17AM -0700, Jeremy Chadwick wrote: > I'd like to open up a discussion regarding FreeBSD serial console and > the aspect of installation via serial console. > > There seem to be quite a few surprises in regards to installing (or even > using!) FreeBSD this way. I thought I'd mention some of them, in hopes > that by bringing them to light we can work towards making the > installation process easier, or at least more headless-friendly. > > 1) Administrators are required to "build their own installation disks" > (the Handbook goes over this with regards to floppy disks) if they want > FreeBSD installs to support serial console. Based on what I've read, > the procedure is required because the stock installation disks lack a > /boot.config that contains -h. > > Has anyone ever proposed including a /boot.config on all the > installation mediums that contains -P by default? I don't know how > reliable -P is, but I've used it for years on numerous servers (all > different hardware) without any issues; others may have different > experiences. See also: http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/query-pr.cgi?pr=bin/58951 > Which brings me to the next item... > > 2) FreeBSD's serial vs. VGA concept (keyword: versus) is disheartening. > The whole "one or the other" concept is unrealistic in this day and age, > and this was more or less admitted by the Dragonfly folks when they > re-wrote whatever code to get simultaneous dual console (VGA+serial) > working. This seems to be wrong: FreeBSD has dual console support for quite long time. Eugene Grosbein