nic to console access

joelkeeble · 08-11-2005, 04:09 PM

Any body know how i might go about connecting an rj45 cable on an xp machine to the serial console port on my linux box i have the cable and db9 connector.

I guess this is more of a xp question as the linux box automaticall transfers data to and from the console via the serial port, Im just not sure how to recieve and send commands from the xp end. I guess i need some software to read/write signals from my nic.

thanks for any help

orgcandman · 08-11-2005, 04:15 PM

It won't work, most likely. RJ-45, while not unheard of for serial transfers, is used mostly for Ethernet. Serial uses RS-232.

You need a serial -> serial connection (which means if you don't have a DB-9 port on your PC you need a USB->serial adapter) and probably a null-modem cable.

Here's a better question: Since you have a NIC in the XP machine, and it's probably a safe assumption that the linux machine has a port for a NIC, or a NIC, why not put them on a network together and use SSH?

joelkeeble · 08-11-2005, 07:10 PM

They will both be on my private network, however I need remote access to the machine when the network card is not operational. e.g in single user mode or when i need to bring the interface down. I know it is possible using a Digi however that is pointles as I only have one machine (not multipul). but any further sugestions would be helpful. thanks

joelkeeble · 08-11-2005, 07:11 PM

Oh, and to avoid confusion, i am using a standard NIC card for the console and a wirless one for the network. thanks

orgcandman · 08-12-2005, 11:25 AM

I don't think you read the important part of my post. You can't go from RS-232 to Ethernet. They're not compatible.

Matir · 08-12-2005, 11:43 AM

As orgcandman pointed out, Ethernet and Serial are two completely different things. You cannot connect a NIC and a serial port. That would be like connecting your monitor and a NIC... hardly compatible.

Get a null modem cable and hook the two serial ports together. Get Linux to boot with a serial console, and use a terminal emulator under windows (HyperTerminal, for one) to access the Linux serial console.

Or, of course, you could use a KVM switch.