serial console vs. graphical console

[Jeff Hoevenaar]

I have a Alpha server running Tru64 5.x Unix.

It currently has a graphical console /keyboard/mouse. I have connected a serial console to the system. I can login to the serial console but it does not act as the console. How can I make the serial port the system console and remove the graphical console?

Thanks.

[Evert Jan van Ramselaar · Accepted solution]

If you remove the graphical screen, the system will switch to the serial console automatically at reboot.

If you don't want to remove the graphical screen, use the consvar command.
From the top of my head:
# consvar -s console serial

(But check that before you try it, because I have no tru64 box at hands right now.)

EJ

[Michael Schulte zur Sur]

Hi,

what do you mean by not act as console?
Disconnect mouse and keyboard. This should switch to serial.

greetings,

Michael

[Jeff Hoevenaar]

will the consvar command make that a permit change or will it reset on reboot if the graphical monitor is still in place?

[Michael Schulte zur Sur]

The monitor does not so much matter as keyboard and mouse.
The console variable, once set to serial will not revert to graphics upon reboot.
You will have to do this.

hth,

Michael

[Jeff Hoevenaar]

Can I unplug the keyboard and mouse while the system is up and running or will that cause the system to hang? (I know on a Sun system the system will crash if the keyboard is unplugged.)

[Michael Schulte zur Sur]

Hi,

yes, you can unplug them both without crashing the machine.

greetings,

Michael

ps. does the Sun have also two different console types? It sounds a little stupid to me to crash a machine because of that.

[Jeff Hoevenaar]

The SUN systems can have either graphical or serial consoles. But if you unplug the keyboard the system will halt. Most of the SUN systems I have worked on have had graphical consoles. Probablly becuase of the special SUN keyboard.