Linux Serial Console HOWTO

On my STB simply uncomment the line below in /etc/inittab:

s0:23:respawn:/sbin/agetty -L 115200 ttyS0 vt100

Or on Ubuntu Karmic and newer:

  1. Create a file called /etc/init/ttyS0.conf containing the following:
    # ttyS0 - getty
    #
    # This service maintains a getty on ttyS0 from the point the system is
    # started until it is shut down again.

    start on stopped rc or RUNLEVEL=[12345]
    stop on runlevel [!12345]

    respawn
    exec /sbin/getty -L 115200 ttyS0 vt102
  1. Ask upstart to start the getty
sudo start ttyS0

This preserves during reboot.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SerialConsoleHowto http://www.vanemery.com/Linux/Serial/serial-console.html