[ipxe-devel] feature request/proposal

[Ján ONDREJ (SAL)]

It would be better to have ability to change serial console parameters
run time. For example with already present "console" command, which still
don't support serial console parameters.

Then you can use server side scripts to configure required parameters
for machines chainloading ipxe script, which can be generated using PHP
or other scripting languages.

						SAL

On Sat, Apr 26, 2014 at 04:36:05PM -0600, Ben Hildred wrote:
> I would like to add a dummy feature to ipxe called BIOS_SERIAL_CONSOLE.
> This would not be compiled in by default, and would introduce no
> functionality to ipxe, only add another flag to the dhcp options in a dhcp
> request.
> 
> The rationale of this is that when we have a collection of various machines
> that we want to have serial consoles during the ipxe stage of boot
> (probably other times as well) and some of the machines have serial console
> redirection that affects ipxe and some do not, and we wish to introduce
> features into the running ipxe by chain-loading another version of ipxe
> from ipxe either for new versions with new features or to get around small
> roms by using a stripped down ipxe on rom and later loading a full version
> over the network that those machines which already have serial consoles
> would be equipped with a copy of ipxe with this flag to signal the dhcp
> server to return a filename pointing to a ipxe version with/without serial
> support as needed.
> 
> Proposed User Interface: I propose that a compile time define be
> established in a config file (probably general.h or serial.h) which would
> be evaluated for definedness and value with the value being any value which
> can be stored in a single byte. If this is not defined (default) there
> would be no change in behavior. If it is defined it would add a sub-option
> to dhcp code 175 having a length of one and the value defined.
> 
> I am prepared to write the code to do this, but would like
> review/endorsement from the developers and assignment of the sub-option
> code number. (I believe the next available is 42 but my checks have been
> brief.)
> 
> Thank you for your consideration and feedback.
> 
> -- 
> --
> Ben Hildred
> Automation Support Services
> 303 815 6721

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