In the loader.efi(8) man page, the hw.uart.console variable is briefly explained. The page states that the format of this variable should be documented in uart(4) but it is not. However, the current version of uart(4) does document the format of this variable(which probably means that bug #277848 should also be closed as fixed). I encountered this issue when attempting to set up an embedded device with a UART terminal, and it would probably be good to let future readers know that the documentation does exist. I first discovered this wording on 15.0 but have confirmed that it still exists in 16.0-CURRENT. Existing wording: The FreeBSD kernel will look at the hw.uart.console variable to set its serial console. Its format should be described in uart(4) but is not. Suggested wording: The FreeBSD kernel will look at the hw.uart.console variable to set its serial console. Its format is described in uart(4). Or, if a diff is more helpful: --- stand/man/loader.efi.8 2026-06-08 15:21:01.454615000 -0500 +++ stand/man/loader.efi.8 2026-06-08 15:21:25.305200000 -0500 @@ -150,9 +150,8 @@ kernel will look at the .Dv hw.uart.console variable to set its serial console. -Its format should be described in -.Xr uart 4 -but is not. +Its format is described in +.Xr uart 4 . Set it to .Dq io:0x3f8,br:115200 with the proper port address.
^Triage: note that this Problem Report contains an inline diff. (These days, we do prefer Attachments having been made with git diff.)
Created attachment 271633 [details] Patch equivalent to the one in the original comment, generated with `git diff`. Adding a git-formatted version of that diff. Sorry, I'm new here.
^Triage: to be fair, we are trying (slowly) to modernize our processes.
Thanks!
A commit in branch main references this bug: URL: https://cgit.FreeBSD.org/src/commit/?id=a641aa1c80f80e44cd9212b95e6584db9533712c commit a641aa1c80f80e44cd9212b95e6584db9533712c Author: Caleb Harper <calebharp2005@gmail.com> AuthorDate: 2026-06-15 22:51:05 +0000 Commit: Alexander Ziaee <ziaee@FreeBSD.org> CommitDate: 2026-06-15 22:56:01 +0000 loader.efi.8: hw.uart.console is explained in uart PR: 295944 MFC to: 15 MFC after: 3 days stand/man/loader.efi.8 | 5 ++--- 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
A commit in branch stable/15 references this bug: URL: https://cgit.FreeBSD.org/src/commit/?id=fa550b255e957a3ec0707cf1308eac92cf4b2e08 commit fa550b255e957a3ec0707cf1308eac92cf4b2e08 Author: Caleb Harper <calebharp2005@gmail.com> AuthorDate: 2026-06-15 22:51:05 +0000 Commit: Alexander Ziaee <ziaee@FreeBSD.org> CommitDate: 2026-06-28 00:36:10 +0000 loader.efi.8: hw.uart.console is explained in uart PR: 295944 MFC to: 15 MFC after: 3 days (cherry picked from commit a641aa1c80f80e44cd9212b95e6584db9533712c) stand/man/loader.efi.8 | 5 ++--- 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)