I don't think the hardware is going to be the issue here. I'm pretty sure it's a config issue.
I have a Soekris Net5501 box I'm installing Etch on. I'm hooked up to the box with a null modem cable for the console and it's also hooked up to my LAN. I've setup a PXE boot on my DNS server using tftpd-hpa. The 5501 starts up and I get data on the console (I'm using either Minicom or the screen command to read/write to the serial port). I do get the boot menu from the netboot, such as it is (since pxelinux seems limited to 15 columns of display) and when I get the prompt, I type "install" and Linux starts to load, including the long row of dots, then the screen clears and the cursor sits on the left side of the screen and nothing happens from then on. My guess is that once Linux loads communication is stopping with the serial port. I don't think it's going at a different baud rate because there's no garbage, but if it had a simple prompt, it could come up so fast I miss it before the screen clears. Here is the file structure in /var/lib/tftpboot: . |-- boot-screens | |-- boot.txt | |-- f1.txt | |-- f10.txt | |-- f2.txt | |-- f3.txt | |-- f4.txt | |-- f5.txt | |-- f6.txt | |-- f7.txt | |-- f8.txt | |-- f9.txt | `-- splash.rle |-- initrd.gz |-- linux |-- orig-bu | |-- debian | | `-- etch | | `-- i386 | | |-- initrd.gz | | `-- linux | |-- pxelinux.0 | `-- pxelinux.cfg | |-- boot.txt | `-- default |-- pxelinux.0 |-- pxelinux.cfg | `-- default `-- pxelinux.cfg.serial-9600 `-- default I thought it might be a baud rate issue. The 5501 starts with 19200 baud, so I altered pxelinux.cfg/default to use the same speed and to specify the right console (before I added "CONSOLE 0" on one line, I'd get double characters). Here's the pxelinux.cfg file: SERIAL 0 19200 CONSOLE 0 DISPLAY boot-screens/boot.txt F1 boot-screens/f1.txt F2 boot-screens/f2.txt F3 boot-screens/f3.txt F4 boot-screens/f4.txt F5 boot-screens/f5.txt F6 boot-screens/f6.txt F7 boot-screens/f7.txt F8 boot-screens/f8.txt F9 boot-screens/f9.txt F0 boot-screens/f10.txt DEFAULT install LABEL install kernel linux append vga=normal initrd=initrd.gz -- LABEL linux kernel linux append vga=normal initrd=initrd.gz -- LABEL expert kernel linux append priority=low vga=normal initrd=initrd.gz -- LABEL rescue kernel linux append vga=normal initrd=initrd.gz rescue/enable=true -- LABEL auto kernel linux append auto=true priority=critical vga=normal initrd=initrd.gz -- PROMPT 1 TIMEOUT 0 I would think this would specify the right baud rate. Linux is loading and so is initrd. It's just that I get no prompt or any screen activity or response after both Linux and initrd load. I tried stopping my term program (in this case screen) and starting it again at 9600, which I saw somewhere should be the default baud rate, but it didn't help and was still unresponsive. I've been using this page (http://wiki.soekris.info/Installing_Debian_Linux_(4.0r1_Etch)) as a guide and had the same problems when I did everything as that page suggested. Then I changed and used the setup files from Debian, which is how it's set up now. What am I doing wrong or what do I need to change so after Linux and initrd.gz load I get a prompt or the Etch installer when it's done? Do I need to include install files as well? I didn't see that mentioned in any of the pages that discussed this. If so, would I just snag a net install CD and copy all the files into a special directory somewhere in /var/lib/tftpboot? Thanks for any help or pointers! Hal -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]