Exclusive port use

Hi.

My application is using a 9260 and I need to use all the available serial ports for protocol functions. I have worked around the console port sending bootup information by including an 'opening key' sequence to the attached interface board. The problem is that when the ethernet cable is connected or removed, a burst of status information gets blasted into the middle of my protocol stream.

I am currently launching my application from a call at the very end of 'rc.sysinit'. If it cannot establish a connection with the interface board it times-out, exits, and the script falls through to the BusyBox shell. Is this the best approach to running in a 'no console' setting while maintaining the ability to get to a console level for development? If not, please recommend an alternative.

The main question: How can I get exclusive use of what is normally the console port while my application is running, and, get back to normal console behavior when my application exits?

Thanks for your assistance,
David S.