[luau] Linux Console

[Daniel J Nishimura]

Thanks Brian and Monmotha.... I hooked up my workstation to my linux box
with a null-modem cable, but as Brian said, it still isn't a true console.
The boot messages don't show up and the login prompt is the first thing to
pop up.  Brian, do you recommend any motherboards with a true console
port?  Thanks.

-dan

On Thu, 25 Jul 2002, Brian Chee wrote:

> 1.    don't use hyperterminal....it's had LOTS of wierd side effects.  We've
> especially had problems with it on embedded devices.  Use teraterm
> instead...still free, but MUCH better terminal emulation. Hyperterminal
> actually prevented a linux based router from booting until I removed the
> serial cable.  It's also given me MUCH gas pain with QNX and VXworks based
> RTOS machines. (real time operating systems for stuff like video appliances,
> access points, switches, etc)
>
> 2.    You're just needing a standard cross over cable...you can purchase one
> from just about any computer store or make one.  They're also called "lap
> link serial cables" and that's what I tend to use all over my lab.  They
> have both a DB-25 and  DB-9 at both ends so that I don't have to worry about
> what kind of connector I have.
>
> 3.    The technical term is a DTE to DTE cable.....
>
> 4.    Typically these are the pinouts normally used in cross over cables
> (DB9 female to female):
>
> PC side:        Server Side:
> pin 2                pin 3
> pin 3                pin 2
> pin 4                pin 6
> pin 5                pin 5
> pin 6                pin 4
> pin 7                pin 8
> pin 8                pin 7
>
> Wacky Willy's on Kawaihao street has DB-9 to RJ-45 shells for under a buck
> each....best price in town.  Just make sure you get the gender correct and
> use a multimeter to check which pin goes where.
>
> 5.    Lastly, most motherboards do not have the capability of using a serial
> port as a true console device.  (ala Sun sparcs) and thusly you don't get a
> console until the linux/bsd/etc is up and running.  Some of the Intel
> motherboards do have a true serial console...the cool part about that is
> that you can actually connect a terminal/console server (like the Lantronix
> SSH terminal servers) to the console.  I've created a airgapped network
> (separate from the world) just for console devices (Networld+Interop calls
> it "Access Ether") so that even if I'm getting dos'ed I can get into the
> console and deal with it. I've done some of my servers and almost all of my
> switches.  That way I can get into a serial console without having to walk
> all over my building....even better when you have to deal with a campus.
>
> /brian chee
>
> University of Hawaii ICS Dept
> Advanced Network Computing Lab
> 1680 East West Road, POST rm 311
> Honolulu, HI  96822
> 808-956-5797 voice, 808-956-5175 fax
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Daniel J Nishimura" <djnishim at hawaii.edu>
> To: "LUAU" <luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 12:33 PM
> Subject: [luau] Linux Console
>
>
> > I was wondering if anyone could help me out here.  I want to be able to
> > console into my linux box via the COM port with window's hyperterminal
> > program.  I know I probably need a rj-45/serial port tranceiver and a
> > rollover cable, or just use a serial cable, but are there special settings
> > that I have to configure on the linux system?  My linux OS is debian
> > by the way.  Thanks in advance.
> >
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