Debian Linux: Set a Serial Console

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To set a serial console in Debian Linux, you’ll need to make a few configuration changes to your system. Here’s an overview of the steps involved:

  1. Connect a serial cable between the Debian system and a serial terminal or another computer.
  2. Determine the name of the serial port. In Debian, serial ports are usually named /dev/ttyS0, /dev/ttyS1, etc. You can use the dmesg command to see the names of all serial ports detected by the system:
$ dmesg | grep tty
  1. Edit the /etc/default/grub file to configure the GRUB boot loader to use the serial port for console output. Add the following line to the file, replacing /dev/ttyS0 with the name of the serial port you determined in step 2:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="console=ttyS0,38400n8"
  1. Regenerate the GRUB configuration file by running the following command:
$ sudo update-grub
  1. Configure the serial port settings in the /etc/inittab file. Add the following lines to the file, replacing /dev/ttyS0 with the name of the serial port you determined in step 2:
T0:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS0 38400 vt100
  1. Restart the system to apply the changes:
$ sudo shutdown -r now

After restarting the system, you should be able to use a serial terminal connected to the specified serial port to access the system console. If you’re using a serial terminal connected to another computer, make sure that the terminal settings match the settings specified in the /etc/inittab file (38400 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit).

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