tree 9686a914e4337f3d78c8b324729774f74fc9ce05
parent c84d83097d49f589486a599525fb97b92df11713
author Sean Anderson <sean.anderson@seco.com> 1652999165 -0400
committer Tom Rini <trini@konsulko.com> 1654552881 -0400

bootm: Fix Linux silent console on newer kernels

Linux determines its console based on several sources:

1. the console command line parameter
2. device tree (e.g. /chosen/stdout-path)
3. various other board- and arch-specific sources

If the console parameter specifies a real console (e.g. ttyS0) then that is
used as /dev/console. However, if it does not specify a real console (e.g.
ttyDoesntExist) then *nothing* will be used as /dev/console.
Reading/writing it will return ENODEV. Additionally, no other source will
be used as a console source.

Linux commit ab4af56ae250 ("printk/console: Allow to disable console output
by using console="" or console=null") recently changed the semantics of the
parameter. Previously, specifying console="" would be treated like
specifying some other bad console. This commit changed things so that it
added /dev/ttynull as a console (if available).  However, it also allows
for other console sources. If the device tree specifies a console (such as
if U-Boot and Linux share a device tree), then it will be used in addition
to /dev/ttynull. This can result in a non-silent console.

To avoid this, explicitly set ttynull as the console. This will disable
other console sources. If CONFIG_NULL_TTY is disabled, then this will have
the same behavior as in the past (no output, and writing /dev/console
returns ENODEV).

[1] and [2] have additional background on this kernel change.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20201006025935.GA597@jagdpanzerIV.localdomain/
[2] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20201111135450.11214-1-pmladek@suse.com/

Signed-off-by: Sean Anderson <sean.anderson@seco.com>