Setting up netconsole - endplay/omniplay GitHub Wiki

Follow these steps to set up netconsole on an ubuntu 12.04 desktop test machine.

You probably want to compile your network drivers into the kernel (not as a module). To find the device name:

    lspci | grep Net

Afterwards, find the kernel driver for that device in your .config, and compile it with "y". For styx, acheron, and toybox, just compile in all Broadcom gigabit Ethernet drivers.

To enable debug output on your test machine edit /etc/default/grub and replace the line:

    - GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
    + GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="text debug ignore_loglevel"

First, find the IP address of your test machine:

   ifconfig -a

Now, find the IP address of your non-test machine, and its mac (to receive the netconsole messages)

    ifconfig -a (on non-test machine)

Enable the netconsole module at boot

    echo "netconsole" | sudo tee /etc/modules &> /dev/null
    echo "options netconsole netconsole=6666@<test ip>/eth0,6666@<non-test ip>/<non-test mac> > /etc/modprobe.d/netconsole.conf"

Make sure your non-test machine has port 6666 open to receive messages

Now, run netcat on your non-test machine to get your netcat messages

    nc -u -l 6666

If netconsole is not working for some reason, debug that its started on the test machine:

    dmesg | grep netconsole

If it has, ensure your firewall allows port 6666 on the non-test machine:

    non-test: $ nc -u -l 6666 & 
    test:     $ nmap <non-test ip>

If it still doesn't work... panic

Fore more info: Ubuntu Netconsole Guide