Re: USB console or other alternatives
On Thu, Apr 26, 2007 at 04:24:23PM -0400, Lowell Gilbert wrote: > Doug Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > > On Thu, Apr 26, 2007 at 11:14:26AM -0400, Lowell Gilbert wrote: > >> What do you hook up to that serial port, anyway? > > > > A desktop Windows machine with a serial port, until said machine > > suddenly ceased to function entirely. Now it would be a laptop > > with a USB-to-serial adapter except the one I bought also seems > > unwilling to function. I tend to run short of PCMCIA slots for > > such things on my laptop, my one-and-only PCMCIA slot being occupied > > pretty permanently by an EVDO card. > > So the problem is a lack of serial ports on your laptop "terminal", > not on the FreeBSD machine? That sounds easier to work around than > the other way around. Lack of serial ports on laptop yes; the FreeBSD hardware hasn't been chosen yet, but I predicted difficulty getting a modern machine with a serial port. Perhaps not. > There are some other possibilities, but I don't think they will work > as early in the boot process. I *think* you can use a USB serial port > as a console, but the loader doesn't seem to understand it. There's > also dcons(4), but that needs firewire, and I don't know if that knows > how to talk to anything on a Windows machine. I predicted the USB problem you mention. I have firewire on this laptop but I've never tried to use it. -- Doug Lee [EMAIL PROTECTED] SSB + BART Group [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.ssbbartgroup.com "There are no guarantees. From a standpoint of fear, none are strong enough. From a standpoint of love, none are necessary." - from Emmanuel's Book II ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
Re: USB console or other alternatives
Doug Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > On Thu, Apr 26, 2007 at 11:14:26AM -0400, Lowell Gilbert wrote: >> Doug Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> >> > Can modern hardware and a modern FreeBSD version provide console >> > access before the kernel loads via USB or via anything other than an >> > actual on-board or PCI serial port? > >> I am not sure, but I would expect that you would need BIOS support for >> something like that. Personally, I would stick with serial ports as >> long as possible, because they are much more simple than any >> alternatives. > > More simple once found at least. :-) More simple electrically, I was thinking. >> What do you hook up to that serial port, anyway? > > A desktop Windows machine with a serial port, until said machine > suddenly ceased to function entirely. Now it would be a laptop > with a USB-to-serial adapter except the one I bought also seems > unwilling to function. I tend to run short of PCMCIA slots for > such things on my laptop, my one-and-only PCMCIA slot being occupied > pretty permanently by an EVDO card. So the problem is a lack of serial ports on your laptop "terminal", not on the FreeBSD machine? That sounds easier to work around than the other way around. There are some other possibilities, but I don't think they will work as early in the boot process. I *think* you can use a USB serial port as a console, but the loader doesn't seem to understand it. There's also dcons(4), but that needs firewire, and I don't know if that knows how to talk to anything on a Windows machine. Good luck; sorry I can't be more help. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
Re: USB console or other alternatives
On Thu, Apr 26, 2007 at 11:14:26AM -0400, Lowell Gilbert wrote: > Doug Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > > I'm one of these guys running FreeBSD 4.11 on very old hardware (a > > Pentium 166, specifically), and I want to upgrade to FreeBSD 6 or 7 > > soon but with new hardware. Being blind, I need to use something > > other than the video card for a console. I've been using a serial > > console for a long time, but serial ports are getting scarce. I need > > the console to become active during the boot sequence in case of > > problems, as it can with a serial console. As I did with FreeBSD 3 > > and 4, I will also want to activate this console during FreeBSD > > installation if possible, so I don't have to have someone else be here > > when I install it. > > > > Can modern hardware and a modern FreeBSD version provide console > > access before the kernel loads via USB or via anything other than an > > actual on-board or PCI serial port? > I am not sure, but I would expect that you would need BIOS support for > something like that. Personally, I would stick with serial ports as > long as possible, because they are much more simple than any > alternatives. More simple once found at least. :-) > What do you hook up to that serial port, anyway? A desktop Windows machine with a serial port, until said machine suddenly ceased to function entirely. Now it would be a laptop with a USB-to-serial adapter except the one I bought also seems unwilling to function. I tend to run short of PCMCIA slots for such things on my laptop, my one-and-only PCMCIA slot being occupied pretty permanently by an EVDO card. Sounds like I'll need a *functional* USB-to-serial adapter on the laptop end, an actual serial port on whatever new box of parts ends up running FreeBSD 6/7, and my old trusty null modem conglomerate of cable and adapters. I guess I'll collect recommendations for a good USB-to-serial adapter. I've seen prices range from around $30 to around $120.00 if memory serves, and the last one I bought was closer to the former. -- Doug Lee [EMAIL PROTECTED] SSB + BART Group [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.ssbbartgroup.com "A mailing list is a crude but effective cross between a chain letter and a shouting match." -Andrew Kantor ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
Re: USB console or other alternatives
Doug Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > I'm one of these guys running FreeBSD 4.11 on very old hardware (a > Pentium 166, specifically), and I want to upgrade to FreeBSD 6 or 7 > soon but with new hardware. Being blind, I need to use something > other than the video card for a console. I've been using a serial > console for a long time, but serial ports are getting scarce. I need > the console to become active during the boot sequence in case of > problems, as it can with a serial console. As I did with FreeBSD 3 > and 4, I will also want to activate this console during FreeBSD > installation if possible, so I don't have to have someone else be here > when I install it. > > Can modern hardware and a modern FreeBSD version provide console > access before the kernel loads via USB or via anything other than an > actual on-board or PCI serial port? I am not sure, but I would expect that you would need BIOS support for something like that. Personally, I would stick with serial ports as long as possible, because they are much more simple than any alternatives. What do you hook up to that serial port, anyway? Sorry I can't be more helpful, but I wanted to make sure you got *some* help. Good luck. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
