Re: NetBSD-7.0 boots OK and NetBSD-8.0 hangs/crashes during boot on a MacBook7,1

[Brian Buhrow <buhrow%nfbcal.org@localhost>]

	hello.  In my case, there are times when I want a serial console, for
set up or troubleshooting, but cannot use the built-in display for various
reasons.  So, I think it would be useful in more situations than might
first appear.  Yes, it wouldn't give you DDB on that console, but for
environments where the kernel loads and runs, it would give you access to
everything else over a serial port.
-Brian

On Jul 6,  6:05am, Mouse wrote:
} Subject: Re: NetBSD-7.0 boots OK and NetBSD-8.0 hangs/crashes during boot 
} > I agree with Mouse, except that I also think it would be very helpful
} > and useful to have a serial console on USB only devices.
} 
} Oh, sure, it'd be helpful/useful.  Lots of difficult things would be.
} 
} > I wonder if we could make the console a virtual device which is
} > attached dynamically to a USB serial port if and when available.
} 
} I have no doubt that could be done.
} 
} I'm not sure how useful it would be.  It seems to me that the set of
} times when it's most important to have a serial console overlaps
} heavily with the set of times when the USB stack is least likely to
} work.
} 
} So I guess my reaction is "probably better than nothing - but not by
} all that much".
} 
} Reworking the USB stack so serial ports can run polled would probably
} help, but my own experience echos Mike Pumford's.  I've even had times
} when I've had boot troubles and a *PS/2* keyboard didn't work - and at
} least half the times when I've used a USB keyboard as console keyboard
} (which != a USB serial port as serial console) it's worked because the
} BIOS and hardware have collaborated to give the illusion of a PS/2
} keyboard.
} 
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