How to Get a Serial Console on the new Debian 5 CDROM

[Martin McCormick]

Those who need to do a serial install of Linux or to fix a
broken system by serial console can use the rescue mode of the
latest Debian 5 CDROM.

	Here's the short version of how:

Connect a keyboard to the system you are working on.
	Boot the CD.
Listen for a long beep or if none, for the disk to stop.
Type a lower-case h and then Enter.
The disk will whirr some more and stop at which point you type:

rescue console=ttyS0

It defaults to 9600n81
	When your Braille display or terminal system begins to
talk, the rest of the typing must be done on that keyboard. You
can, of course, set different baud rates by adding them to the
console definition as in console=ttyS1,2400e72

	After that, you should be in control and be receiving
prompts as to what to do next.

	It will let you run a root shell so you can finish
destroying your system to your heart's content. Hopefully not.

Martin McCormick WB5AGZ  Stillwater, OK 
Systems Engineer
OSU Information Technology Department Telecommunications Services Group