Set up serial console to view system log

To set up a serial console to, for instance, capture kernel panic information ...

Set up system to do the monitoring

• Start minicom -s -o
  • Under Serial Port Setup:
    • Set Serial Device (A) = /dev/ttyS0
    • Set BPS/Par/Bits (E) = 115200 8N1
    • Set Hardware Flow Control (F) = Yes
    • Set Software Flow Control (G) = No
  • Under Modem and dialing clear out:
    • Init String (A)
    • Reset String (B)
    • Hang-up string (K)
  • Save profile with a name like "ttyS0"

Set up system to be monitored

• Edit /etc/grub.conf and add kernel boot parameters console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty0

Start monitoring

• Get a null modem serial cable and connect the systems to each other. (I assume the use of COM1/ttyS0 here but that isn't required)
• Start minicom on the monitoring system with minicom ttyS0 (using the name of the minicom profile you saved above)
• Reboot monitored system, the console should be displayed in minicom on the monitoring system