Linux: Setting up SOL (Serial Over Lan)

Verify BIOS Settings

• Ensure the following is set in the BIOS

Advanced 
 -> Remote Access Configuration
   -> Remote Access            [Enabled]
   -> Serial port number       [Com2]
   -> Serial Port Mode         [115200 8,n,1]
   -> Flow Control             [None]
   -> Redirect After BIOS Port [Always]
   -> Terminal Type            [VT100]

Update inittab

• Edit /etc/inittab
• Add the #enable SOL entry as follows:

id:3:initdefault:

# enable sol
S1:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty ttyS1 115200 vt100

# System initialization.
si::sysinit:/etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit

Update GRUB

• Edit /boot/menu/grub.lst

default=0
timeout=5
serial --unit=1 --speed=115200 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1
terminal --timeout=10 serial console
#splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title CentOS (2.6.18-194.el5)
        root (hd0,0)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-194.el5 ro root=LABEL=/ serial console=ttyS1,115200n8
        initrd /initrd-2.6.18-194.el5.img

Connecting using IPMITool

• Start a SOL session

ipmitool -I lanplus -H x.x.x.x -U [username] -P [password] sol activate

SOL Shortcut Keys

Defined As     F1     F2     F3     F4     F5     F6     F7     F8     F9     F10    F11    F12
Keyboard Entry <ESC>1 <ESC>2 <ESC>3 <ESC>4 <ESC>5 <ESC>6 <ESC>7 <ESC>8 <ESC>9 <ESC>0 <ESC>! <ESC>@@

Defined As     Home   End    Insert Delete PageUp PageDn
Keyboard Entry <ESC>h <ESC>k <ESC>+ <ESC>- <ESC>? <ESC>/