Enable Serial Console on Boot

How to Enable the Serial Console on Boot (1.10.x)

When using syslinux to boot, you'll need to modify the syslinux.cfg file in the root directory of the boot device. If using a disk-based Alpine, modify the /boot/extlinux.cfg file.

Add the following:

• serial 0 9600
• add console=ttyS0,9600 to the append parameter
• optionally, remove quiet from the append parameter

Example syslinux.cfg

serial 0 9600
timeout 20
prompt 1
default grsec
label grsec
        kernel /boot/grsec
        append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev=sda1:vfat modules=sd-mod,usb-storage console=ttyS0,9600

Example update-extlinux.conf (2.5+)

The update-extlinux.conf apparently can't set the SERIAL parameters in the /boot/extlinux.conf file. But it can at least set the kernel console line.

To do so, change the default entry: default_kernel_opts="quiet" to read like this: default_kernel_opts="console=ttys0,9600"

Notice, if you want to use this for a Xen VM, you need to configure the speed at 115200 bps and enable the "serial=pty" setting in the VM config file.