Syslinux - Dec 2008 - Having problem with menu.c32 on serial console

Hi all:

I am running pxelinux 3.72 with the corresponding menu.c32.
I am setting up console access via:

  serial 0 38400
  console 0

The rest of the config file entries should be safe enough:

  display pxelinux.cfg/helpfile
  say .       Type any key for manual boot. <F1> or <Ctrl-F> 1 for
help
  F1 pxelinux.cfg/helpfile

then the usual MENU/label commands.

When I use the same config file without the two serial settings, it
works fine (on VGA).

When I try to use it with the serial settings all I see is the one
character that draws the top left corner of the menu against a blue
background and that's it. Nothing I type seems to have any effect. ESC
doesn't do anything either.

I am using rxvt (over an ssh session to a console server) or teraterm
in vt100 mode (with a null modem cable) to display the console. In
both cases the non-menu version of the config file works fine.

Has anybody seen a similar issue? Any known mistakes I am making to
cause this? Any workarounds?

Thanks.

-- 
				-- rouilj

John Rouillard
System Administrator
Renesys Corporation
603-244-9084 (cell)
603-643-9300 x 111

John Rouillard wrote:
> 
> When I try to use it with the serial settings all I see is the one
> character that draws the top left corner of the menu against a blue
> background and that's it. Nothing I type seems to have any effect. ESC
> doesn't do anything either.
> 
That is extremely odd.  I'm wondering if rxvt doesn't implement some of 
the mode setting escape sequences that the menu system uses, or does so 
incorrectly.

The fact that you're getting the proper background color indicates that 
*something* is working right.

I would try to seriously lower the baud rate (to, say, 2400) just to 
rule out signal integrity problems or buffering issues.

	-hpa