Example for linux on Intel x86
Use the following /etc/lilo.conf as example :-
prompt
timeout=50
boot=/dev/sda1
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
message=/boot/message
linear
serial=1,9600n8
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.7-10
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.7-10.img
read-only
root=/dev/sda1
append="console=ttyS0,9600n8"