install 6.1-release through serial terminal?

[Stefan Bethke]

Am 27.07.2006 um 09:17 schrieb Tyler Spivey:

> Hello. I'm a blind user, and was wondering how to get 6.1-release to
> install over serial. I've tried everything - hitting option 6, space,
> boot -h <cr>, but nothing happens. unplugging the keyboard, nothing
> happens. hitting space and typing boot -h - nothing. This is using a
> cdrom disc1.
> Any help would be appreciated.

When the boot menu appears, exit out of it by typing 6. At the loader  
prompt, enter
set console="comconsole"

The console should switch to COM1; then you should be able to boot  
using the "boot" command. You can change the speed of the serial port  
by setting comconsole_speed to the desired baud rate. The loader man  
page has more info on these two variables: http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/ 
man.cgi?query=loader&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+6.1- 
RELEASE&format=html

After having finished the install, you can use the same method to  
temporarily switch to the comconsole on first boot. Then, you  
probably want to a a file /boot.config with a single line "-Dh" to  
enable dual console (video+serial).

Also useful: if you decide to install FreeBSD's master boot record  
(boot0) in sector 0 of your disk (that gives you the opportunity to  
select which of the foour primary partitions to boot from by pressing  
F1 to F4), there's also a variant that works over the serial console.  
You can put this on using FreeBSD boot0cfg(8): http://www.freebsd.org/ 
cgi/man.cgi?query=boot0cfg&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+6.1- 
RELEASE&format=html


HTH,
Stefan

-- 
Stefan Bethke <stb at lassitu.de>   Fon +49 170 346 0140