At 17:12 -0500 9/8/05, Jack Gallemore wrote: >Actually, I'm wanting to use my CC (or even a plain, old Classic) to act as a >serial console for a couple of Sparc IPCs that I picked up recently rather >than a Mac to Mac type connection.
Now we're making more sense. We need the actual specifications for the Sparc interface. Knowing Sun I suspect that they followed RS232 specs pretty carefully providing either a DCE (Data computing equipment) or DTE (Data terminal equipment) standard 25 pin "D" connector. The last time I actually did it I was connecting to a Heathkit Z80 which had both kinds of connectors available on different ports. Apple to RS232 modem cables are OK for that but the modem will have sockets and the cable will have pins. If they fit the Sparc it should be OK. A line in the RS232 spec says that it must be possible to connect any pin to any other pin without damage to anything. Note that Apple to RS232 printer cables will NOT work. It seems that early printer manufacturers ignored the RS232 spec and used the wrong sex connector for the way they wired the pins. Others followed. Sigh. If the Apple modem cable doesn't fit because of the wrong sex you can solder up a 25 pin connector or you can get a "gender changer" but all of those are NOT the same. Some swap the transmit and receive pins and others don't. The modem cable will look like this: Modem Mac 6 DSR 2 Hsk in Handshake to Mac 20 DTR 1 Hsk out Handshake from Mac 3 TxD 5 RxD- Data to Mac 7 GND 4 GND Logic ground 2 RxD 3 TxD- Data from Mac 7 GND 8 RxD+ Ground the Rs422 RxD+ line nc 6 TxD+ Ignore RS422 TxD+ from the Mac 1 DCD 7 GFI Carrier detect if Mac is a server shell CHASSIS Overall shield Note that the minus items in the Mac are tied to the single ended RS232 lines. Software may need to do things like "toggle DTR" to wake up the Sparc interface. Synergy Software's Versaterm was good at things like that. -- --> From the U S of A, the only socialist country that refuses to admit it. <-- -- Compact Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/>. Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Compact Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/compact.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:compact.macs@mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/compact.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
