I'm running an LFS on an old PII300, the problem is I can't serial console into it. In the PII300, which I will call the router from now on, it has two serial entries in /dev: ttyS0 ttyS1. In the router's inittab it states to open up a serial console by using this line:
::respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS0 9600 vt100
and I also stated the following in the lilo.conf for the router
serial=0,9600n8
append = "console=ttyS0,9600"

and in the kernel I have set all the proper serial drivers and support for console over serial


on my laptop im using a palm computing usb-serial converter that is working, here is the output from dmesg | grep usb
usb 4-2: new full speed USB device using address 3
usbserial 4-2:1.0: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter detected
usb 4-2: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB0 (or usb/tts/0 for devfs)
usb 4-2: Handspring Visor / Palm OS converter now attached to ttyUSB1 (or usb/tts/1 for devfs)

so then i enter minicom -s and set the following
serial device: /dev/ttyUSB0
Bps/Par/Bits: 9600 8N1
Hardware Flow Control: No
Software Flow Control: No
VT102

I am using a DB9 F-F null modem cable between the two, NOT a straight thru cable.

Minicom does NOT connect to the router. It either prints garbage on the screen, or just comes to that standard minicom error screen, in booth cases it always says "OFFLINE" in the bottom right hand corner.

My question is why do the linux gods hate me so much? J/K :P
I was thinking that maybe the palm serial convertor does some funky stuff as far as the pin outs and that I need to use a straight thru DB9 instead of a null modem DB9 cable.

If I missed anything please ask, or if I config'd something wrong, plz point it out. thx!

I tried minicom and also get offline. Did you ever figure out how to toggle to online and get it working? I haven't.

Thankyou,

Gary

yeah, i got rid of the usb convertor and used straight db9-db9