Remote Serial Console HOWTO
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# 7.5. Alter target of `/dev/systty`

In many Linux distributions the file `/dev/systty` is a symbolic link to the device which is used as the by the attached monitor and keyboard. See Section 1.3 for a fuller description.

If there is no attached keyboard and monitor or no wish to give the attached keyboard and monitor greater capabilities then a text terminal, then alter `/dev/systty` to point to the serial console.

Rather than directly altering this symbolic link, it is better to modify the configuration file used by MAKEDEV, which is then run to recreate the symbolic link. The configuration file is in the directory `/etc/makedev.d`. The default configuration will point to the first virtual terminal, as shown in Figure 7-6.

Figure 7-6. Default value of `/dev/systty` in `/etc/makedev.d/linux-2.4.x`

    l systty tty0

Modify this to point to the serial port being used by the console, as shown in Figure 7-7.

Figure 7-7. Alter value of `/dev/systty` in MAKEDEV configuration file

    bash# cd /etc/makedev.d
    bash# fgrep systty *
    linux-2.4.x:l systty tty0
    bash# vi linux-2.4.x

    l systty ttyS0

Now re-create `/dev/systty` using its new definition, as shown in Figure 7-8.

Figure 7-8. Installing new value of `/dev/systty`

    bash# cd /dev
    bash# rm systty
    bash# ./MAKEDEV systty

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