I have a machine with linux installed but no way of accessing/controling it...

The console is default on serial port 1 (9600/8/1/no parity), so I connected a serial cable from the box to my PC (running RedHat 6.2) but then???

I found a program/tool called minicom but haven't got a clue how to run and connect it.

getting there....
 

Figured it out, so I guess I can reply my own post now :o)

Stupid me was trying to connect with minicom to /dev/ttyS1, but ofcourse the first serial port is called /dev/ttyS0....

got the machine running now, its an HP PARISK workstation (715/100) and its got a "customised" Debian 2.4.0-test6 kernel on it, with still lots of work in progress...

Glad to see you got it fixed (and before I even got a chance to reply :) ). This is a very good lesson that I think a lot of people have a hard time adjusting to. Counting almost always starts at 0 not 1. Thanks for the followup.

SUNs and PC's
 

Hello
Given the abundance of SUN sparcs in my house at present, I'm trying to connect one to the serial port of my main PC, which is what SUNS are supposed to do (apparently). I'm a trifle confused by all the howto's! I've got what appears to be a null modem cable, and have connected it to the serial a of my sparc, and the serial port of the PC. The howto's mention minicom, which machine is this on, and what do I need to tell it to do??? I need an idiots guide, not a howto!
HELP!
Jim

If the PC is running windows, you can use the built-in (terrible) app HyperTerminal. I do.

launch it (start->accessories->communications->hyperterminal on win2k), and give it a name to make it happy (I usually give 'a'). Then, select which com port, etc.

You should now be able to type to it, and see the console output.

Ctrl-Break in HyperTerminal is the same as Stop-A on a Sun console.

My PC's run linux, but my laptops don't. Will give it a try! It's all a bit academic, as I have webmin running on the sparcs, and can use that to control them, but it's the principle of the thing I guess!!
Thanks for the help.
Jim