From owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Jul 27 22:13:40 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B1E4916A4E4 for ; Tue, 27 Jul 2004 22:13:40 +0000 (GMT) Received: from freebee.digiware.nl (dsl390.iae.nl [212.61.63.138]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 543F543D55 for ; Tue, 27 Jul 2004 22:13:39 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from wjw@withagen.nl) Received: from dual (dual [212.61.27.71]) by freebee.digiware.nl (8.12.10/8.12.10) with SMTP id i6RMDbsF003295; Wed, 28 Jul 2004 00:13:37 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from wjw@withagen.nl) Message-ID: <015201c47426$f80e9120$471b3dd4@digiware.nl> From: "Willem Jan Withagen" To: "Marc G. Fournier" , References: <20040727131512.B68882@ganymede.hub.org> Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 00:13:38 +0200 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1437 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1441 Subject: Re: portmaster serial/terminal servers with FreeBSD ... X-BeenThere: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion of FreeBSD hardware List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 22:13:40 -0000 > Anyone have any warnings about these? I'm thinking of picking one up so > that I can monitor the remote servers, especially through a reboot, better > ... looking at the PM-25 model (25 port through fan-out cables) ... my > understanding, on the FreeBSD side, is that I just need to add -P to > /boot.config, and it will probe the serial port for a serial console ... > anything else on a 4.x machine that needs to be done? Used to be > something in the kernel, if I recall correctly, but think that was removed > ... ? Although the PM25 are cheap, nice and small, the cables with them are very specific, and are sort of a mess to keep undamaged. Pinning is too fine, so they bend easily. You really need to thighten then well in their sockets, which usually results in destroying the plastic top of the connector-screws when undoing them... So I would suggest getting a proper fresh set of cables with them. Other than that Portmasters were a great thing, to bad they had to be ruined by guys that wanted to dominate the market by killing competitors. --WjW