If possible, plug an RS-232 breakout box into the serial port. During reboot the Data Terminal Ready line should become active and then the Transmit Data lights should flash as console messages appear.
Attach a modem, or a null modem cable and a terminal. Configure them to match the serial parameters used by the serial console port. If using a modem, dial in to it from a terminal emulator.
Configure the terminal or terminal emulator to match the serial parameters used by the serial console. If using a modern Hayes AT-style modem then the speed need not match. If using a directly-attached terminal then the speed must match.
Reboot the computer.
During reboot the terminal should see the usual boot loader text, and then the default kernel booting, then the init output, and finally the contents of /etc/issue and getty asking you to login.
LILO: Linux version … Kernel command line: auto BOOT_IMAGE=linux ro root=306 BOOT_FILE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.3-12 console=tty0 console=ttyS0,9600n8 … INIT version … … /etc/issue says "All your base are belong to us". remote.example.edu.au ttyS0 login: |
If you do not see the login: message then press Return or Enter.