Sun Fire V445 Server Administration Guide - SCN Research

Reference for System Console OpenBoot
Configuration Variable Settings
The Sun Fire V445 system console is directed to the serial management and network
management ports (SERIAL MGT and NET MGT) by default. However, you can
redirect the system console to the serial DB-9 port (TTYB), or to a local graphics
monitor, keyboard, and mouse. You can also redirect the system console back to the
serial management and network management ports.
Certain OpenBoot configuration variables control from where system console input
is taken and to where its output is directed. The table below shows how to set these
variables in order to use the serial management and network management ports,
TTYB, or a local graphics monitor as the system console connection.
TABLE 2-4
OpenBoot Configuration Variables That Affect the System Console
System Console Output
OpenBoot Configuration
Variable Name
Serial and
Network
Local Graphics
Management Ports Serial Port (TTYB) * Monitor *
output-device ttya ttyb screen
input-device ttya ttyb keyboard
* POST output will still be directed to the serial management port, as POST has no mechanism to direct its output
to a graphics monitor.
The serial management port and network management port are present in the
OpenBoot configuration variables as ttya. However, the serial management port
does not function as a standard serial connection. If you want to connect a
conventional serial device (such as a printer) to the system, you need to connect it to
TTYB, not the serial management port. See “About the Serial Ports” on page 90 for
more information.
The sc> prompt and POST messages are only available through the serial
management port and network management port. In addition, the ALOM system
controller console command is ineffective when the system console is redirected to
TTYB or a local graphics monitor.
In addition to the OpenBoot configuration variables described in TABLE 2-4, there are
other variables that affect and determine system behavior. These variables are
created during system configuration and stored on a ROM chip.
56 Sun Fire V445 Server Administration Guide • August 2006