[Arm-netbook] Cannot get uart o/p from kernel at bootup/shutdown

[Barry Kauler]

There was some discussion on setting up the serial-usb converter in
the "ultra beginner guide" thread of this list:

http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/pipermail/arm-netbook/2012-March/thread.html

I had a go at compiling the 2.6.36 kernel, but it didn't work. So, I
decided that I needed to setup the serial-usb converter to log what
happens at bootup.

Tom very kindly included a serial-usb converter with my Mele order,
and I connected it from the uart socket to my laptop. It must be
connected correctly, because it does work, kind of.

Using Tom's Ubuntu SD image...

I have to go through a careful sequence. I plug in the usb cable from
the converter to my laptop and start Gtkterm. I then plug in the power
to the Mele, and this is what I get:

http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/test/uart-boot.png

...but notice the cursor has frozen, there is no log of the kernel
bootup. In fact, nothing more comes through.

If I quit Gtkterm. unplug the usb cable, replug it, then choose to
shutdown the Mele, I get this:

http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/test/uart1.png

But again it just freezes at that point shown by the cursor.

This is just Tom's SD image, his kernel. It includes the recommended
boot param "console=ttyS0,115200"

Can anyone suggest anything to fix this? It would seem the kernel o/p
is not going to the uart?

Regards,
Barry Kauler