Hitchhiker's Guide to Openbsd

SPARC and UltraSPARC
These machines are designed to be completely maintainable with a serial console. Simply remove the 
keyboard from the machine, and the system will run serial. 
SPARC and UltraSPARC notes
●
The serial ports on a SPARC are labeled ttya, ttyb, etc. 
●
Unlike some other platforms, it is not necessary to make any changes to /etc/ttys to use a serial 
console. 
●
The SPARC/UltraSPARC systems interpret a BREAK signal on the console port to be the same 
as a STOP-A command, and kicks the system back to the Forth prompt, stopping any application 
and operating system at that point. This is handy when desired, but unfortunately, some serial 
terminals at power-down and some RS-232 switching devices send something the computer 
interprets as a break signal, halting the machine. Test before you go into production. 
●
If you have a keyboard and monitor attached, you can still force the serial console to be used 
instead by using the following commands at the 
ok
prompt: 
ok setenv input-device ttya
ok setenv output-device ttya
ok reset
If the keyboard and monitor (ttyC0) are active in /etc/ttys (
above
), you can use the keyboard and 
monitor in X. 
MacPPC
The MacPPC machines are configured for a serial console through OpenFirmware. Use the commands: 
http://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq7.html (6 of 14)9/4/2011 10:02:08 AM

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7 - Keyboard and Display Controls
ok setenv output-device scca
ok setenv input-device scca
ok reset-all
Set your serial console to 57600bps, 8N1. 
MacPPC notes
●
Unfortunately, serial console is not directly possible on most MacPPCs. While most of these 
machines do have serial hardware, it isn't accessible outside the machine. Fortunately, a few 
companies offer add-on devices for several Macintosh models which will make this port 
available for use as a serial console (or other uses). Use your favorite search engine and look for 
"Macintosh internal serial port". 
●
You will have to change 
tty00
in /etc/ttys to 
on
and set the speed to 57600 instead of the 
default of 9600 as detailed 
above
in single user mode before booting multi-user and having the 
serial console functional. 
Mac68k
Serial console is selected in the Booter program, under the "
Options
" pull-down menu, then 
"
Serial Ports
". Check the "Serial Console" button, then choose the Modem or Printer port. You 
will need a Macintosh modem or printer cable to attach to the Mac's serial ports. If you wish to have this 
as default, tell the Booter program to save your options. 
Mac68k Notes
●
The modem port is tty00, the printer port is tty01. 
●
The Mac68k doesn't turn on its serial port until called upon, so your breakout box may not show 
any signals on the Mac's serial port until the OpenBSD boot process has started. 
●
You will have to enable the port (tty00 or tty01) as indicated 
above
.