Jim Carlson points out that I'm still backward with "importing" the SPCR spec (it should be "exporting"). Assuming I change that, any more comments I can address?
Jim, are the other two interfaces that I'm "providing" also "exports" in ARCese? Dan Mick wrote: > Here's a revised version, with the following diffs: > --- a/spcr Tue Dec 22 19:36:31 2009 -0800 > +++ b/spcr Tue Dec 22 19:50:54 2009 -0800 > @@ -57,9 +57,19 @@ > > SUMMARY OF CHANGE > > -1) new keyword for use on Grub menu lines '$CONSOLE' > -2) new Grub command 'spcr' > -3) removal of baud rate from console: line in /etc/ttydefs > +Imported interface: > > +SPCR table, defined in Microsoft document "Windows Platform Design > +Notes, Serial Port Console Redirection Table (Version 1.00, January 11, > +2002)". See > http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/spcr.mspx > +for a clickthrough-license-protected version of this document. > > +New exported interfaces: > > +- New keyword for use on Grub menu lines '$CONSOLE': Committed > +- New Grub command 'spcr': Uncommitted, human-readable diagnostic command > + > +Non-interface changes worthy of note: > + > +Removal of baud rate from console: line in /etc/ttydefs > + > > > > Template Version: @(#)sac_nextcase 1.68 02/23/09 SMI > This information is Copyright 2009 Sun Microsystems > 1. Introduction > 1.1. Project/Component Working Name: > Serial Port Console Redirection > 1.2. Name of Document Author/Supplier: > Author: Daniel Mick > 1.3 Date of This Document: > 23 December, 2009 > 4. Technical Description > > PROBLEM: > > x86 platforms have been able for some time to redirect BIOS and early > boot output to a serial port, as has the Solaris kernel; however, > configuration of both is separate, and error-prone. This has been > unavoidable, because, until recently, there's been no interface to > query the BIOS settings for serial console. > > Further, OpenSolaris now tries to enter graphics mode immediately in > Grub, and stay there during kernel boot until Xorg takes over > (so-called "happy face" boot). This works well on workstations with > VGAs and displays, and not so well on remote servers with serial > consoles (the graphics output is at least garbage to the serial > console, and in worse cases, can wedge the console). > > SOLUTION: > > Microsoft has defined an ACPI table to transmit this information called > SPCR (Serial Port Console Redirection). Many machines support this > table, and its contents are sufficient to allow Grub and the kernel to > match their configuration to the BIOS configuration. Using this > information, Grub can automatically avoid graphics mode when serial > console is configured, and we can remove the requirement for manual > configuration of serial parameters for the kernel in Grub's menu.lst. > > IMPLEMENTATION > > Grub has been modified to read and use the information in SPCR. A new > keyword $CONSOLE is added for use on the kernel$ boot line in menu.lst; > it will expand to properties which select either the appropriate serial > port and mode (for example, > "console=ttya,ttya-mode=19200,8,n,1,-,ttya-ignore-cd=true") or the > normal text or graphics console ("console=text" or "console=graphics") > as the Solaris release requires. (Currently Nevada uses text, > OpenSolaris uses graphics.) A typical use in menu.lst would look > like: > > kernel$ /platform/i86pc/kernel/$ISADIR/unix -B $ZFS-BOOTFS,$CONSOLE > > In addition, a new "spcr" command has been defined, to display the > settings in the SPCR table (if it exists). This command is useful for > diagnostic purposes. > > This requires no change in the kernel to use; however, one file is also > changed in the Solaris system image: /etc/ttydefs, which currently > configures ttymon(1) to force the console to 9600 baud. It turns out > that if the baud rate setting is removed, ttymon simply uses the > preexisting baud rate without change. This is exactly what we'd like > for the x86 case, as it means that baud rate choice is done in exactly > one place: the BIOS. It also allows one fewer configuration step on > SPARC systems, where the ttya-mode variable can be set in OBP, and then > ttydefs will not need change. (Unfortunately, the SPARC serial drivers > take it upon themselves to initialize the baud rate from settings in > /kernel/drv/options.conf, ignoring ttya-mode, so on SPARC we haven't > yet made it a one-step process...but this does at least remove one step > on SPARC). > > SUMMARY OF CHANGE > > Imported interface: > > SPCR table, defined in Microsoft document "Windows Platform Design > Notes, Serial Port Console Redirection Table (Version 1.00, January 11, > 2002)". See http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/spcr.mspx > for a clickthrough-license-protected version of this document. > > New exported interfaces: > > - New keyword for use on Grub menu lines '$CONSOLE': Committed > - New Grub command 'spcr': Uncommitted, human-readable diagnostic command > > Non-interface changes worthy of note: > > Removal of baud rate from console: line in /etc/ttydefs > > 6. Resources and Schedule > 6.4. Steering Committee requested information > 6.4.1. Consolidation C-team Name: > ON > 6.5. ARC review type: FastTrack > 6.6. ARC Exposure: open
