From: Christoph Plattner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Grub over serial line - status ! (I did a test version, it runs !)
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 01:56:41 +0200
> As I need the GRUB over serial line @home, I hacked it in.
> As the first try, I used the bios functionality (int 0x14).
> The stuff runs !
Great.
> Of course this is only a quick-test-hack. Many design issues
> have to be discussed. In my version of patched grub, a compile
> option -DGRUB_SERIAL_CONSOLE is used to deside, whether the PC console
> or the serial one is used - not very good !
Very bad. Note that one of the advantages in GRUB is the
flexibility and it is achieved by determining as many things as
possible at the run time.
> Also the baud rate is a issue. At home I use 9600 every where,
> in the company we use 19200 - a compiler option, a runtime option ?
It MUST be a run-time option.
> Are you interested so far in my code for the serial line, or has
> anyone else a better implementation yet ?
Yes and no. I said that I would do it myself but I haven't done. I
have too many things to investigate carefully. (Do you know the fact
that I have to modify or even rewrite almost all patches sent to me
before applying them?)
> I am interested in the status of the design desicions concerning
> the serial line.
We haven't decided anything about it, but I have some vague
thoughts.
1. Don't provide yet another menu interface. That can lead to
inconsistency. Instead, GRUB should enter the command-line interface,
unless it can provide the same interface as the screen interface.
2. The command-line interface should have a few commands to access
menu entries. For example:
grub> menulist
0 = M$ Windoze
1 = GNU/Linux
2 = NetBSD
3 = FreeDOS
grub> menulist 0
root (hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
grub> menuboot 0
[Booting M$ Windoze]
3. It should be specified in the configuration file to turn on the
serial console function. Like this:
console --baudrate=9600 serial # Use serial console (9600bps)
console serial screen # Use both consoles
console --terminal=vt100 serial # vt100-compatible serial console
Okuji
