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
Explanation
TTY-ID:RUN-LEVELS:respawn COMMAND -SWITCHES PORT TERMINAL-EMULATION (For greater detail on inittab or agetty see the References Section below)
General Notes
1) 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. 2) 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. 3) I prefer to redirect TTY6 so that if I do login locally TTY1 (the default console) is available.
References
Linux Serial Console HowTo Linux Journal - Serial as a Console inittab Man Pages agetty Man Pages