Serial Console HowTo
Overview
Sometimes it is handy to be able to redirect a TTY Console to a serial port. One such example might be that your server is headless (No VGA, Keyboard, or Monitor) The info on this page will help you enable console access via a serial port.
Instructions
To redirect a Linux Console to a serial port edit /etc/inittab
6:12345:respawn /usr/sbin/agetty -hL ttyS0 38400 vt100
When done issue this command to make the changes take effect:
init q
NOTE: There will most likely already be a 6:12345, if that is the case comment out the old 6:12345 with a # like this #6:12345. I prefer to redirect TTY6 so that if I do login locally TTY1 (the default console) is available.
Explanation
TTY-ID:RUN-LEVELS:respawn COMMAND -SWITCHES PORT TERMINAL-EMULATION
(For greater detail on inittab or agetty see the references section)
General Notes
1) In this HowTo I used 'agetty' but there are other getty packages, if you use one of the other getty packages keep in mind that the syntax will most likely be different.
References
Linux Serial Console HowTo: [1]
Linux Journal - Serial as a Console: [2]
inittab Man Pages: [3]
agetty Man Pages: [4]