in initrd "exec sh /dev/console 2>&1" does not respond to keyboard

[David Mathog]

On 27-Feb-2019 14:01, David Mathog wrote:
> This is really frustrating!  Perhaps there is some kernel parameter
> for 3.10.108 kernels which needs to be set (or unset)???  These are
> built into the kernel, seems like they should be enough
> 
> CONFIG_HID=y
> CONFIG_HID_GENERIC=y
> CONFIG_USB_HID=y
> CONFIG_USB_SUPPORT=y
> CONFIG_USB_COMMON=y
> CONFIG_USB=y

It is definitely the kernel. If the custom (based on "make menuconfig" 
of boel)
3.10.108 kernel is replaced with a stock Centos 7 kernel then

setsid /bin/cttyhack /bin/sh

(and for all I know even just "exec sh") work.  There are hundreds, if 
not thousands, of differences between the config's for those two 
kernels, and they are not even exactly the same 3.10 variant.  Very 
difficult to determine what to change.  (Cannot use the Centos 7 kernel 
in the intended application as it lacks built in network and other 
needed drivers.)

Regards,

David Mathog
mathog at caltech.edu
Manager, Sequence Analysis Facility, Biology Division, Caltech