net4801 (x86) headless system grub serial console improvement

[anonymous]

The problem with the default settings for net4801 grub is that it stops and waits for the serial console, if no attached the system doesn't boot until connected (grub is paused). I don't know if it has been done with a special idea behind (if yes - sorry for my report).

The original GRUB menu.lst

serial --unit=0 --speed=38400 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1
terminal --timeout=10 console serial

default 0
timeout 5

title   OpenWrt
root    (hd0,0)
kernel  /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 rootfstype=ext2 init=/etc/preinit  noinitrd console=tty0 console=ttyS0,38400n8 reboot=bios
boot

title   OpenWrt (failsafe)
root    (hd0,0)
kernel  /boot/vmlinuz failsafe=true root=/dev/hda2 rootfstype=ext2 init=/etc/preinit  noinitrd console=tty0 console=ttyS0,38400n8 reboot=bios
boot

The version I am using and works perfectly:

default 0
timeout 3

serial --unit=0 --speed=38400 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1
terminal --dumb --timeout=6 serial
           
title   OpenWrt
root    (hd0,0)
kernel  /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 rootfstype=ext2 init=/etc/preinit  noinitrd console=tty0 console=ttyS0,38400n8 reboot=bios
boot                                                                            
    
title   OpenWrt (failsafe)
root    (hd0,0)           
kernel  /boot/vmlinuz failsafe=true root=/dev/hda2 rootfstype=ext2 init=/etc/preinit  noinitrd console=tty0 console=ttyS0,38400n8 reboot=bios
boot 

[nico]

Any reason you removed the "console" option from the "terminal" line?
It will prevent grub from interacting with anything else than a serial console.

Have you tried adding the "--dumb" option while keeping both "console serial" or flipping them?

[spawn]

I tried --dump, also switching serial with console - the same grub waits for serial console to be attached. net4801 is a headless system - for grub there will never be something else than serial console
P.S. for any other x86 the menu.lst what comes with openwrt is OK, I think this problem is only for headless systems (might be I am wrong - the sorry). I also found ​http://www.linuxvillage.ca/support/soekris4801.html#grub they use the same these settings I think they had the same problem.

[jan]

Replying to nico:

Any reason you removed the "console" option from the "terminal" line?
It will prevent grub from interacting with anything else than a serial console.

Have you tried adding the "--dumb" option while keeping both "console serial" or flipping them?

I have exactly the same problem with grub as spawn. If 'console' is present, even with --dumb, grub waits. This is a problem on headless systems, since it's then impossible to reboot without a physical access to the machine. spawn's suggestion works (ie 'terminal --dumb serial').

[I have soekris net5501 (more-less the same hardware as net4801).]

[MASHtm <wbreyha@…>]

And even if the serial cable is attached grub slows down output like 300 baud. Removing "console" was the only solution that helped speeding up grub to serial line speed.

I've changed it to
terminal serial
only on my net4801.

[jow]

See r19681

[jow]

Milestone Attitude Adjustment 12.09 deleted