How To Change the Baud Speed On an Exalytics X2-4 or X3-4 Server

Asset ID:	1-71-2154405.1
Update Date:	2017-06-14
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 2154405.1 : How To Change the Baud Speed On an Exalytics X2-4 or X3-4 Server

Applies to:

Exalytics In-Memory Machine X2-4 - Version All Versions and later
Oracle Exalytics Software - Version 1.0.0.1.0 and later
Information in this document applies to any platform.

Goal

Detailed steps to change the baud speed on an Exalytics X2-4 or X3-4 server?

Solution

The baud speed can be changed by following the configuration changes in How to configure the ILOM serial console on Exalytics systems <Document 2117758.1>. This note was written and tested on an Exalytics X5-4 server.
There are a few items that are different on an Exalytics X2-4 or X3-4 server and this note addresses the full steps for X2-4 or X3-4 servers.

The example described below will change the baud speed from the default of 9600 to 115200. If you wanted to make this change, you would follow all steps listed below.

1. Review How to configure the ILOM serial console on Exalytics systems <Document 2117758.1>.

2. Then login to ILOM web console and change serial port settings in ILOM -> Administration -> Connectivity -> Network -> Serial Port. Set Baud rate on both Host and External port to 115200. Click Save when done.

3. Make a backup copy and then edit existing /boot/grub/grub.conf to update the speed (from default of 9600 to 115200). This must be changed in three or four places - everywhere you see "9600" change it to "115200". Also add the "console=tty1" option to each line of the kernel command (if not already present).

NOTE: It is also recommended that you remove the 'quiet' from the linux kernel command line in at least the first line of the kernel settings. By removing the 'quiet' parameter, you will see machine status and feedback when the server is rebooting.
This is recommended as it will provide debug clues if the changes fail for some reason. The modified grub.conf should show look similar to the text below. The grub.conf file is truncated here just to show the changed settings.

NOTE: When listing changes for grub.conf and inittab, (step 4), you will see text enclosed in open bracket "[" and that starts with "[Support note ...". Text within the brackets is not part of the required changes but is shown for clarity.

grub.conf

...
serial --unit=0 --speed=115200                                             [Support note: Change speed here.]
terminal --timeout=5 serial console
title Oracle Linux Server (2.6.39-400.128.17.el5uek)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.39-400.128.17.el5uek ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol0 0 rhgb console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty1    [Support note: Change speed, remove 'quiet' and add 'console=tty1' here.]
initrd /initrd-2.6.39-400.128.17.el5uek.img

title Oracle Linux Server (2.6.32-400.11.1.el5uek)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-400.11.1.el5uek ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty1 [Support note: Change speed and add 'console=tty1' here.]
initrd /initrd-2.6.32-400.11.1.el5uek.img

title Enterprise Linux (2.6.32-100.23.1.el5)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-100.23.1.el5 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhg b quiet console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty1    [Support note: Change speed and add 'console=tty1' here.]
initrd /initrd-2.6.32-100.23.1.el5.img

4. As root user, cd to /etc and make a backup copy of the 'inittab' file to change speed from 9600 to 115200. Modified file should include the following:

# Run gettys in standard runlevels
co:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty ttyS0 115200 vt100-nav [Support note: Change speed here.]

5. Go to ILOM web interface -> expand -> Host Management -> Host Control -> in drop down for 'Next Boot Device' - select BIOS and save changes.

6. Use putty or other terminal tool and SSH to the Exalytics server (ILOM or ADM network interface) and navigate to the command line. Leave session up but don't do anything.

7. While still in ILOM web interface -> go to Host Management -> Power Control -> Restart server

8. Within the same ILOM web session launch the java remote console session.

9. Monitor both sessions (SSH putty and remote console). After several minutes (depending on speed of your server and network), you will see the BIOS setup utility display. Use navigation keys to navigate to Advanced tab -> navigate to Remote Access.
Change speed from 9600 to 115200 and save and exit.

10. Continue to monitor server start up in the two sessions (SSH session in putty and remote control session in ILOM web interface).

11. After some time, the server should successfully load and now be working with a baud rate of 115200.

References

<NOTE:2117758.1> - How to configure the ILOM serial console on Exalytics systems

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