From owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Jul 12 14:30:00 2013 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@smarthost.ysv.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C309FE67 for ; Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:30:00 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from gnats@FreeBSD.org) Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (freefall.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206c::16:87]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A9AEE1994 for ; Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:30:00 +0000 (UTC) Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.14.7/8.14.7) with ESMTP id r6CEU0n8018795 for ; Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:30:00 GMT (envelope-from gnats@freefall.freebsd.org) Received: (from gnats@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.14.7/8.14.7/Submit) id r6CEU0J5018794; Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:30:00 GMT (envelope-from gnats) Resent-Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:30:00 GMT Resent-Message-Id: <201307121430.r6CEU0J5018794@freefall.freebsd.org> Resent-From: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org (GNATS Filer) Resent-To: freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.org Resent-Reply-To: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org, Andrew Wright Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 444B9E5D for ; Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:29:52 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from nobody@FreeBSD.org) Received: from oldred.freebsd.org (oldred.freebsd.org [8.8.178.121]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 1C1EC1990 for ; Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:29:52 +0000 (UTC) Received: from oldred.freebsd.org ([127.0.1.6]) by oldred.freebsd.org (8.14.5/8.14.7) with ESMTP id r6CETppx019324 for ; Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:29:51 GMT (envelope-from nobody@oldred.freebsd.org) Received: (from nobody@localhost) by oldred.freebsd.org (8.14.5/8.14.5/Submit) id r6CETp8A019323; Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:29:51 GMT (envelope-from nobody) Message-Id: <201307121429.r6CETp8A019323@oldred.freebsd.org> Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:29:51 GMT From: Andrew Wright To: freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org X-Send-Pr-Version: www-3.1 Subject: docs/180493: Single-user mode console confusion X-BeenThere: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.14 Precedence: list List-Id: Documentation project List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:30:00 -0000 >Number: 180493 >Category: docs >Synopsis: Single-user mode console confusion >Confidential: no >Severity: non-critical >Priority: low >Responsible: freebsd-doc >State: open >Quarter: >Keywords: >Date-Required: >Class: doc-bug >Submitter-Id: current-users >Arrival-Date: Fri Jul 12 14:30:00 UTC 2013 >Closed-Date: >Last-Modified: >Originator: Andrew Wright >Release: 9.1-RELEASE-p4 >Organization: Mount Allison University >Environment: FreeBSD qemg.org 9.1-RELEASE-p4 FreeBSD 9.1-RELEASE-p4 #0: Mon Jun 17 11:42:37 UTC 2013 root@amd64-builder.daemonology.net:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/GENERIC amd64 >Description: I have these lines in /boot/loader.conf in order to enable a sometimes-installed serial console device: boot_multicons="YES" boot_serial="YES" comconsole_speed="19200" console="comconsole,vidconsole" A side effect of these lines is that entering single-user mode produces a prompt only on the external console. This was extremely confusing when attempting to boot single-user, as all messages prior to the single-user prompt are produced on the vid terminal (and on the external console), however at the moment that single-user mode is entered, the mirroring ceases. While it is now clear what happened, the effect is that single-user mode appears to be unavailable. I have no /boot.config file that would indicate which console is meant to be used for messages. >How-To-Repeat: Add these lines to /boot/loader.conf, attempt to boot single user. >Fix: I would suggest adding some text to the handbook page "Setting up the Serial Console" http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/serialconsole-setup.html#serialconsole-loader Currently, these page makes no comment regarding single-user mode whatsoever. Informing the user that configuring the console may well have repercussions on entry to single-user mode will lessen confusion in the future. I would therefore suggest adding the following text into section 26.6.6 "Setting up the Console from the Boot Loader", subsection 26.6.6.1 "Setting Up the Serial Console": Note that entry to single-user mode will only honour input on one console, even if multiple consoles are indicated using the console boot option. Care must be taken that the first named console is available to the system manager entering single-user mode. I will note that the first sentence in this section "The boot loader and the kernel to use the serial console can be specified by writing one line in /boot/loader.conf" seems very poorly written -- I do not understand what this line is attempting to say. Additionally, there is already a section "26.6.7 Caveats"; a note here indicating possible effects on single-user boot would probably not go amiss. >Release-Note: >Audit-Trail: >Unformatted: