Serial Console on x86 Platform

After several hours of searching online documentation I have been unable to find any information on using the serial port as the console on x86. I'm working on drivers for x86 and of my realmode drivers panics during the install. The system then reboots itself. The messages scroll to fast to read, but if I could get serial console working, I would have them saved off. If anyone know to get this working, I would appreciate a hint. If it's even supported.
-bmb-

Recently, I faced a similar situation that I have to get serial console from x86 machine on sparc machine.
By setting up a tipline, you can access a console from x86 remotely.
1. Setting on x86
First, you should set "serial console" on x86 Configuration Assistant Screen.
Please refer to docs.sun.com(http://docs.sun.com).
Solaris 7:
"x86: Menus Displayed During
the Device Identification Phase"
in System Administration Guide, Volume I
Solaris 8:
"Menus Displayed During the Device
Identification Phase"
in System Administration Guide, Volume I
As other way, you can use the following eeprom command also,
or you can edit /boot/solaris/bootenv.rc file directly to have an effect permanently.
(in case of using COM1)
# eeprom input-device=ttya
# eeprom output-device=ttya
2. Get console output
If you connect serial cable between x86 machine and sparc machine and executed the tip command,
# tip hardwire
you can get console output from x86.
As default, you can connect COM1(x86) to serial port A(sparc). If you use port B on sparc, you have to modify /etc/remote file.
If you can not succeed, there is a possibility that the serial cable is not suitable.
Although I've not tried between two x86 machines, the same way might be applicable.
Thanks,
- Hidenobu

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I've recently purchased an Ultra5 that I'm using to learn a bit more about SPARC Solaris (previously used x86). However, my cheapo PC VGA monitor can't handle the Sun resolutions, particularly the one used by the console on boot-up (everything from the OpenBoot banner to dtlogin, at which point I can use my monitor). I'm intending to update the system from Solaris 8 to 9 once I get my media pack - but I'll have to do it via the serial console.
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