Remote Serial Console HOWTO
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# 5.1. Configure Linux kernel using LILO

For each `image` entry in `/etc/lilo.conf` add the line:

Figure 5-4. Recommended kernel parameters, LILO configuration

    append="console=tty0 console=ttyS0,9600n8"

Sometimes the `append` line will already exist. For example

    append="mem=1024M"

In this case, the existing `append` line is modified to pass all the parameters. The result is:

    append="mem=1024M console=tty0 console=ttyS0,9600n8"

As a complete example, a typical `/etc/lilo.conf` configuration from Red Hat Linux 7.1 is:

Example 5-1. Complete LILO configuration, as installed by vendor

    boot=/dev/hda
    map=/boot/map
    install=/boot/boot.b
    prompt
    timeout=50
    message=/boot/message
    default=linux

    image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
      label=linux
      read-only
      root=/dev/hda6
      initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.2-2.img

This is modified to

Example 5-2. Complete LILO configuration, modified for serial console

    boot=/dev/hda
    map=/boot/map
    install=/boot/boot.b
    prompt
    default=linux
    # Changes for serial console on COM1: in global section
    #   Deleted: message=/boot/message
    serial=0,9600n8
    timeout=100
    restricted
    password=de7mGPe3i8

    image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
      label=linux
      read-only
      root=/dev/hda6
      initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.2-2.img
      # Changes for serial console on COM1: in each image section
      append="console=tty0 console=ttyS0,9600n8"

Now that we have finished configuring LILO, use the lilo command to install the new boot record onto the disk:

    bash# chown root:root /etc/lilo.conf
    bash# chmod u=rw,g=,o= /etc/lilo.conf
    bash# lilo
    Added linux *

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