Remote Serial Console HOWTO
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# 7.7. Configure Red Hat Linux

Red Hat Linux stores parameters concerning system start up in the file `/etc/sysconfig/init`.

Alter the parameter `BOOTUP` to use terminal-independent commands to write the `OK`, `PASSED` and `FAILED` messages. These messages will no longer appear in green, yellow or red. The comments in `/etc/sysconfig/init` suggest that any value other than `color` will do, but it seems that `BOOTUP` must be set to `serial`.

Alter the `PROMPT` parameter to disallow interactive start up. Allowing an unauthenticated keystroke to stop system services is not robust against line noise and allows anyone that dials in during system boot to deny services.

Figure 7-14. Alterations to `/etc/sysconfig/init` for Red Hat Linux

    BOOTUP=serial
    PROMPT=no

Red Hat Linux runs a hardware discoverer, named kudzu. When attempting to identify a serial port Kudzu resets the serial port. This stops the serial console. Kudzu is configured from the file `/etc/sysconfig/kudzu`.

Kudzu can be prevented from resetting hardware by setting the configuration parameter `SAFE` to `yes`.

Figure 7-15. Alterations to `/etc/sysconfig/kudzu` for Red Hat Linux

    SAFE=yes

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