> > I got the login prompt after I modified /etc/inittab (via a linux > > install I had on another disk). > > OK, your report did not really make that clear. It was probably not really > necessary to include the login prompt then. I understood that that is > what you saw when it appeared to be hanging.
Sorry, yes I was a little terse. Just wanted to indicate that I finally was able to get the login prompt. > > > > How exactly did you boot the installer (with what parameters)? > > > I tried both 'install64' and 'expert64'. > > So you did not add any 'console=...' parameter? No, I added no kernel parameters. > > Did the installer itself correctly use the serial console despite that? Yes, the installer used the serial port correctly. > > > Nothing else was echo'ed to the screen. At the time, I did not realize > > that with Etch the sshd server is not enabled by default. > > Correct, it is not. Unless you use the network-console component of the > installer which enables you to do the main part of the installation over > ssh. In that case sshd is installed. > > > I later understood that the system was up an running just fine, except > > for this serial port console issue. > > OK. > > > Yes there was and it was commented out. > > Right. All this means that the installer, even though it may have been > using serial console (I'd still like that confirmed), did not recognize > that fact and thus did not set up the installed system for it, which > explains the problems on the reboot. Yes, the install went just fine via the serial port. It was not until the subsequent reboot from disk when I could not interact with the serial console. > > > By other systems you mean Apple computers or prior generation IBM > > workstations? What has changed on IBM System p5 servers is that the > > serial ports or console on the HMC is virtualized via the onboard > > service processor. > > No, I mean HPPA and SPARC systems mostly as that is what I have experience > with for serial console installs. > > So, the next step is to find out why the installer does not recognize that > you are on serial console. > Can you please boot the installer again and activate a debug shell (there > is an option in the installer's main menu, or alternatively you can use > that network-console component). Yes, I will give that a shot. > > Please provide the output of 'cat /proc/cmdline'. > > Next, run 'nano /usr/lib/finish-install.d/90console'; this will start an > editor for that file: > > - add a line 'set -x' below 'set -e' > - delete all lines between (not including) 'ttyterm="$TERM"' and ';;' > - save and exit > > And then run the script and provide the full output. If you load the > optional openssh-client-udeb, you can scp a file to another system. > > TIA, > > FJP