Greetings

I´ve been trying for quite some time now to connect to a switch console port using a linux notebook (it´s a serial to RJ-45 cable).

I´ve tried both Kermit-C and Minicom, but none seen to work. Here is what I´ve done:

Kermit-C:

set line /dev/ttyS0
set flow-control /direct-serial none
set parity none
set stop-bits 1
set serial 8N1
set speed 9600

When I type connect, I receive the following message:

Connecting to /dev/ttyS0, speed 9600
Escape character: Ctrl-\ (ASCII 28, FS): enabled
Type the escape character followed by C to get back,
or followed by ? to see other options.
?Carrier required but not detected.
****************************
Hint: To CONNECT to a serial device that
is not presenting the Carrier Detect signal,
first tell C-Kermit to:

SET CARRIER-WATCH OFF

****************************

When I do as it says, and type ´SET CARRIER-WATCH OFF´, followed by connect again, I receive the same message, but without the Hint part, and it stays there. Then I´m obligated to use the old "kill -9" to unstuck my kermit.


Minicom:

At its main menu, I call "O", for Configure Minicom, and then I set:

Serial Device: /dev/ttyS0
Bps/Par/Bits: 9600 8N1
Hardware Flow Control: No

Then I save it as default.
Next I call "P", for Comm Parameters:

Speed: 9600
Parity: None
Stopbits: 1
8-N-1

Next is "Add Linefeed" (sometimes I do this part, sometimes I don´t, in the end it´s the same result).
Then I try "Initialize Modem" and then... that´s where I stop, cause I don´t know how to continue :P
I tried also letter "K", Run Kermit, but nothing happened.

I checked with a Windows notebook (yack) using HyperTerminal and it worked fine. I´d like to know what am I doing wrong

Your configuration looks okay, although I don't recognize the details of the line I always just use Have you tried this as root? Perhaps the permissions on /dev/ttyS0 are not sufficient as a mortal user.
Minicom always seems to get in the way for direct serial applications, as it seems to assume that a modem is present, and wants to initialize it. I know you can work around this, but I prefer C-Kermit for use as a comm's tool over serial links.

--- rod.

Is what I did (minicom is probably in a different location on your system). Just make sure you do once first (before setting the alias) to select the correct serial device (and save the file as .dfl when it prompts). I think it defaults to /dev/modem. Use CTRL + A -> Q to quit. It will ask you if you're sure you want to quit w/o hanging up (yes).

After you save the config with the right serial device, and set the alias, you can just do and it will prompt you for your password, then connect w/o trying to initialize the modem.