On Thu, 6 Jun 2002, Ian Drake, IT, CIR, SE Dunbartonshire wrote:
> not sure if graphics terminal is the right word, it's a TTY. It's very easy
> to do, the default settings of the sun boxes tended to be 9600,8,N,1
> basically you plug the terminal in via the correct lead (normal serial or
> null modem, depending on wether your terminal is a DCE or a DTE, most tend
> to be DCE). If the sun bios doesn't detect a keyboard or graphics head it
> defaults to serial port A. Debian is fairly easy to get up and running -
> once you have sussed out how the Sun bios works.
If it's a Sparcstation IPX or similar the serial port connection might not
be obvious, being a mini-din socket (aka PS/2 style). But making a cable
up is easy, Maplin sell the plugs, and a copy of the pin out is here:
http://www.pitt.edu/~bdgregg/Cable_Wireing.html#SPARCIPXSERIAL
If you are having problems getting output you can also try plugging in a
Sun keyboard (if you have one!) and holding STOP-A on boot to reset the
prom to defaults.
But if you'd like graphics you can usually pickup Sun monitors on e-Bay,
or you could try these guys:
http://www.speedie.co.uk/
Should be able to pick up an old Sun re-badged Sony in good condition for
50quid or less.
Andrew
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