[syslinux] isolinux failing on serial console

[Gene Cumm]

On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 3:35 AM, Marc Pascual <marc.m.pascual at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 12:27 PM, Gene Cumm <gene.cumm at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 11:17 PM, Marc Pascual <marc.m.pascual at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> > On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 10:32 AM, Gene Cumm <gene.cumm at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> On Sun, Apr 28, 2013 at 7:47 PM, Marc Pascual <marc.m.pascual at gmail.com
>> >
>> >> wrote:
>> >> > Hi,
>> >> >
>> >> > I have a problem with isolinux failing to boot a kernel whenever I
>> >> navigate
>> >> > and trigger the menu via serial console. My test machine is a DL585
>> G2,
>> >> > with iLO2. Navigating and booting the kernels off of the video console
>> >>
>> >> How are you accessing the serial console?  Directly, via an external
>> >> serial console server, or the iLO?  Do you have any serial-related iLO
>> >> options enabled like redirecting the standard console to serial?
>> >>
>> > I used putty to connect to telnet to the serial console (used ssh as
>> well,
>> > same result).
>> > I don't have any iLO options/settings as you've described.
>>
>> So you used PuTTY to connect via a physical serial port over a null
>> modem cable to the physical serial port on the machine?  The
>> "telnet"ing to a serial console part seems a little confusing.
>>
>
> sorry I misunderstood your first question. *Do you have any serial-related
> iLO options enabled like redirecting the standard console to serial? *->
> yes, iLo creates a "virtual serial port" which *"send its output and
> receive its input from the server's serial port.". *So I have iLo
> configured with an IP and attached to the network, with telnet and ssh
> enabled (in addition to the traditional http/https access).

Have you checked for any new firmware?  Seeing as it's likely over 5
years old, I'd assume that you've already updated this to the latest
on everything.

How far are you from the physical server?  Tried putting yourself on
the same switch and VLAN as your iLO?  Tried using a physical serial
port and a null modem cable?  Tried a lower bit rate like 9600 or
38400?  There may also be some combinations of these options that are
more prone to errors or less prone to errors.

Aside from the virtual serial port, are there any other serial-related
configuration items in the iLO that are configured to anything but
ignore/disable?

Where is the ISO located?  Is it burned and loaded into the physical
drive in the server?  Is it a virtual CD mounted from local media in
the iLO?  Is it accessed remotely (ie either an ISO file or physical
CD/DVD in your PC)?

When you've seen the COM32R error, is it only certain burned copies of
your ISO?  Certain iterations of the ISO?  Is it seemingly random with
no other event/data corresponding to it?

--
-Gene