Add VM Serial Port
1. Edit VM Settings and select "Add.." to add new hardware:2. Select "Serial Port" from the Device Type:
3.Select "Output to file" for Serial Port Type:
4. Specify the file name to output as, on the desired Datastore: (I recommend an NFS share for easy access)
5. Finish saving your changes. Now ready to configure the VM. Example of a finished Serial Port configuration:
Redirect Linux Console to Serial
1. Test serial out with: (should appear in serial output file specified above)echo "hello" > /dev/ttyS02. Modify Grub to have Linux Kernel also send console output to Serial: (/boot/grub/grub.conf)
- Comment out splash screen (optional)
- Add serial and terminal settings below "hidden menu" (optional)
- Add kernel options (this is the important part)
# splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
serial --unit=1 --speed=19200
terminal --timeout=8 console serial
title CentOS3. (Optional) Create serial virtual console, append to /etc/inittab: (useful for login through serial)
...
kernel ... console=tty0 console=ttyS0,19200n8
S0:23:respawn:/sbin/agetty -h -L ttyS0 19200 vt100
- Note: This would be useful if you change the output type from file to something bidirectional (physical serial, pipe, network) that you could login from (if needed)
Test a Kernel Panic
To quickly test a kernel panic:echo c > /proc/sysrq-trigger
Auto Answer Append/Replace Question
To auto answer the append/replace question that occurs when you now power on this VM: (http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1027096http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1027096)2. In the vSphere Client, right-click the virtual machine and choose Edit Settings.
3. Click the Options tab.
4. Under Advanced, select General and then click Configuration Parameters.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJMAncRu6K0kmzOj31Vh2E2TmpcV8Tew9KYRAo8dTxU4f53UeoYzWZ7jDd3TilWMxHaYMgh9cviloaCn5T4vhYnmeYZk1AmcMMoIXZTm7iiiEaiYr4JOsofb5GEmb7h6JysTNTi6F7P_g/s200/auto1.png)
5. Click Add Row.
6. In the new row, enter "answer.msg.serial.file.open" for the Name and enter a Value of either "Append" or "Replace".
answer.msg.serial.file.open = Append
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOrXY7SVAv2KJcEo0PDGhgajB1iiEXKWM75zGcWgzUToTWD5tmj6Rodsh-dnoOYWqpJfbCRpVH76LGGke5kx0edlw5LNfYMYMHJBmxKFmdN-yAKKvtTKl-haKJrSVCVJCU6bMHjRqL-PY/s320/auto2.png)
7 .Click OK in the Configuration Parameters window, then click OK in the Virtual Machine Properties window.
References:
- Add a Serial Port to a Virtual Machine in the vSphere Client - http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vsphere.vm_admin.doc_50%2FGUID-A779C84D-4324-4D32-AF43-BBD962ABC9E3.html
- VMware vSphere 4 - ESX and vCenter Server - Add an Output Serial Port - http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-4-esx-vcenter/index.jsp?topic=/com.vmware.vsphere.webaccess.doc_40/adding_hardware_to_a_virtual_machine/t_add_an_output_serial_port.html
- Linux: Configure / Enable Serial Console By Editing GRUB Boot Loader - http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-serial-console-howto/
- VMware KB: Powering on a virtual machine pauses at 95% while waiting for a question to be answered - http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1027096
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