Added config option CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE.  See doc/README.silent
for more information
diff --git a/common/cmd_bootm.c b/common/cmd_bootm.c
index 79b763e..8bac1be 100644
--- a/common/cmd_bootm.c
+++ b/common/cmd_bootm.c
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@
 #else
 extern boot_os_Fcn do_bootm_linux;
 #endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE
+static void fixup_silent_linux (void);
+#endif
 static boot_os_Fcn do_bootm_netbsd;
 static boot_os_Fcn do_bootm_rtems;
 #if (CONFIG_COMMANDS & CFG_CMD_ELF)
@@ -378,6 +381,9 @@
 	switch (hdr->ih_os) {
 	default:			/* handled by (original) Linux case */
 	case IH_OS_LINUX:
+#ifdef CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE
+	    fixup_silent_linux();
+#endif
 	    do_bootm_linux  (cmdtp, flag, argc, argv,
 			     addr, len_ptr, verify);
 	    break;
@@ -432,6 +438,40 @@
  	"        'arg' can be the address of an initrd image\n"
 );
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE
+static void
+fixup_silent_linux ()
+{
+	DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
+	char buf[256], *start, *end;
+	char *cmdline = getenv ("bootargs");
+
+	/* Only fix cmdline when requested */
+	if (!(gd->flags & GD_FLG_SILENT))
+		return;
+
+	debug ("before silent fix-up: %s\n", cmdline);
+	if (cmdline) {
+		if ((start = strstr (cmdline, "console=")) != NULL) {
+			end = strchr (start, ' ');
+			strncpy (buf, cmdline, (start - cmdline + 8));
+			if (end)
+				strcpy (buf + (start - cmdline + 8), end);
+			else
+				buf[start - cmdline + 8] = '\0';
+		} else {
+			strcpy (buf, cmdline);
+			strcat (buf, " console=");
+		}
+	} else {
+		strcpy (buf, "console=");
+	}
+
+	setenv ("bootargs", buf);
+	debug ("after silent fix-up: %s\n", buf);
+}
+#endif /* CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE */
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_PPC
 static void
 do_bootm_linux (cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int flag,
diff --git a/common/console.c b/common/console.c
index 3ef60fd..da49c96 100644
--- a/common/console.c
+++ b/common/console.c
@@ -365,10 +365,16 @@
 	DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
 	gd->have_console = 1;
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE
+	if (getenv("silent") != NULL)
+		gd->flags |= GD_FLG_SILENT;
+#endif
+
 	return (0);
 }
 
-#if defined(CFG_CONSOLE_IS_IN_ENV) || defined(CONFIG_SPLASH_SCREEN)
+#if defined(CFG_CONSOLE_IS_IN_ENV) || defined(CONFIG_SPLASH_SCREEN) || defined(CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE)
 /* search a device */
 device_t *search_device (int flags, char *name)
 {
@@ -494,6 +500,12 @@
 		outputdev = search_device (DEV_FLAGS_OUTPUT, "nulldev");
 #endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE
+	/* Suppress all output if "silent" mode requested		*/
+	if (gd->flags & GD_FLG_SILENT)
+		outputdev = search_device (DEV_FLAGS_OUTPUT, "nulldev");
+#endif
+
 	/* Scan devices looking for input and output devices */
 	for (i = 1;
 	     (i <= items) && ((inputdev == NULL) || (outputdev == NULL));
diff --git a/common/main.c b/common/main.c
index d08bc47..73f8ff9 100644
--- a/common/main.c
+++ b/common/main.c
@@ -193,6 +193,18 @@
 {
 	int abort = 0;
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE
+	{
+		DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
+
+		if (gd->flags & GD_FLG_SILENT) {
+			/* Restore serial console */
+			console_assign (stdout, "serial");
+			console_assign (stderr, "serial");
+		}
+	}
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_MENUPROMPT
 	printf(CONFIG_MENUPROMPT, bootdelay);
 #else
@@ -207,13 +219,13 @@
 	if (bootdelay >= 0) {
 		if (tstc()) {	/* we got a key press	*/
 			(void) getc();  /* consume input	*/
-			printf ("\b\b\b 0\n");
-			return 1; 	/* don't auto boot	*/
+			printf ("\b\b\b 0");
+			abort = 1; 	/* don't auto boot	*/
 		}
 	}
 #endif
 
-	while (bootdelay > 0) {
+	while ((bootdelay > 0) && (!abort)) {
 		int i;
 
 		--bootdelay;
@@ -237,6 +249,21 @@
 
 	putc ('\n');
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE
+	{
+		DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
+
+		if (abort) {
+			/* permanently enable normal console output */
+			gd->flags &= ~(GD_FLG_SILENT);
+		} else if (gd->flags & GD_FLG_SILENT) {
+			/* Restore silent console */
+			console_assign (stdout, "nulldev");
+			console_assign (stderr, "nulldev");
+		}
+	}
+#endif
+
 	return abort;
 }
 # endif	/* CONFIG_AUTOBOOT_KEYED */