Note the following information when using auxiliary console messaging during run level transitions:
Input cannot come from an auxiliary console if user input is expected for an rc script that is run when a system is booting. The input must come from the default console.
The sulogin program, invoked by init to prompt for the root password when transitioning between run levels, has been modified to send the root password prompt to each auxiliary device in addition to the default console device.
The user should never directly invoke sulogin. The user must have the solaris.system.maintenance authorization to use this utility.
When the system is in single-user mode and one or more auxiliary consoles are enabled using the consadm command, a console login session runs on the first device to supply the correct root password to the sulogin prompt. When the correct password is received from a console device, sulogin disables input from all other console devices.
A message is displayed on the default console and the other auxiliary consoles when one of the consoles assumes single-user privileges. This message indicates which device has become the console by accepting a correct root password. If there is a loss of carrier on the auxiliary console running the single-user shell, one of two actions might occur:
If the auxiliary console represents a system at run level 1, the system proceeds to the default run level.
If the auxiliary console represents a system at run level S, the system displays the ENTER RUN LEVEL (0-6, s or S): message on the device where the init s or shutdown command had been entered from the shell. If that device also has no carrier, you will have to re-establish the carrier and enter the correct run level. The init or shutdown command will not display the run-level prompt again.
If you are logged in to a system using a serial port and an init or shutdown command is issued to transition to another run level, the login session is lost regardless of whether this device is the auxiliary console. This situation is identical to releases without auxiliary console capabilities.
Once a device is selected as an auxiliary console using the consadm command, it remains the auxiliary console until the system is rebooted or the auxiliary console is deselected. However, the consadm command includes an option to set a device as the auxiliary console across system reboots. For more information, see the following procedure.