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Date:      Thu, 5 Jul 2001 10:25:27 -0600 (MDT)
From:      Fred Clift <fclift@verio.net>
To:        freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   'joining' two com ports...
Message-ID:  <Pine.BSF.4.21.0107051013010.19557-100000@vespa.dmz.orem.verio.net>

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Quick question - I've got some hardware that allows 'serial console
redirection' to either com1 or com2 (Intel ISP2150 2u server with LB440GX+
mb).  I've got a lot of these in use (hundreds).  I'm looking to start
replacing some of these with Intel STL 2100 based 2u systems that also
allow 'serial console redirection'.

The problem is that the STL 2100 boards only allow redirection to com2,
and every box we currently have is set up to use serial bios/comconsole on
com1.

The problem being that if I want to use the same os config and binaries
for both older and newer boxes, I either use two serial ports (com2 for
bios access, com1 for freebsd loader/kernel comconsole) which isn't really
an option, or I loose access to either comconsole or to serial bios.

Is there some way to configure the comconsole stuff to work with 'both'
simutaenously or rather to 'autodetect' which com port I have wires
plugged in?  I realize that in general, with rs232 that you dont know if
there is something on the line or not till it speaks to you. 


I'm not sure if this is doable with the software as it is, but perhaps I
could make it happen the 'right way'.  

I see some comments in /usr/src/sys/boot/common/console.c like

 * XXX Add logic for multiple console support.

and

 * XXX Note that the console system design allows for some extension
 *     here (eg. multiple consoles, input/output only, etc.)


Should I be looking somewhere else?  Anyone with better knowlege of this
part of the code want some help from me?  I'm not aware of what the
future plans for this part of the code hold -- anyone?


Fred

--
Fred Clift - fclift@verio.net -- Remember: If brute 
force doesn't work, you're just not using enough.


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