On Sat, 17 Sep 2005 11:40:42 +0100, Stuart Henderson wrote: >--On 17 September 2005 09:39 +1000, Rod.. Whitworth wrote: > >> My question is: Will this be a relaible set-up for both purposes? >> Usually we have the console port running 9600 no handshakes. I'll bet >> RDP looks very sad on that setting. > >You probably know or can guess most of this anyway but it doesn't hurt >to say ... > >If you're running console and PPP through the same port, you'll want to >make sure syslog isn't logging to /dev/console.
I've been turning that off for years where it is pointless and now that's the default. > Running a modem on the >bootup console, you'll want to make sure that dmesg and comBIOS initial >output don't confuse the modem (comBIOS can be told to shut up, 'set >fastboot=enabled' in 1.28 works nicely for this). > Yes, I'm on that one. >> The 4801 docs say that we should use a terminal set at 19200N81 with >> no flow control. I know we can change the speed - I always set it to >> 9600 just to match the OpenBSD default. What the docs don't say is >> whether handshaking works in initial console access or after boot or >> both. > >comBIOS doesn't use handshaking - after the OS is in control, it's a >standard serial port to use as you like. There's always the slightly >messy option of setting comBIOS at a lower speed to cope with the lack >of handshaking and setting 115200 in /etc/ttys to improve modem >performance. That <will> take some testing. 8-) > >There's always the option of putting the modem onto a different port >(either the second onboard port, though you'll have to hack the case, >or USB serial), this doesn't let you leave the modem on auto-answer and >remotely fix an early failure, though you probably don't want that from >a security point-of-view. Well, case hacking isn't the end of the world but losing the ability to get to the boot process is not my idea of a win. The security issue is a judgement call. I'm trying to get one of the modems that waits for a number string before proceeding. Nearly every modem can do the call-out side of that with the wait-for-5-seconds-silence option. The answering side is a bit less common. In any case with the modem set to answer after several rings & needing a login/password to get anywhere either for a shell or ppp we think we'll risk it. The existing system needs a chap login anyway. > >fwiw, the second onboard port is one of two 'industry standard' >pinouts, the one for use where the 9-pin connector is IDC rather than >soldered. Yep. I even have some old "planks" with DE9 connectors on a 10wire ribbon ready for that but, as I said before, I don't want to lose boot console access. I'm half tempted to jig up a smarty box with one RS232 input and two rs232 outputs and do some sneaky switching stuff. Maybe I should... and sell it to Soekris. If only I was not so busy, my old circuit design and PCB layout skills could get recycled. ;-) Hmmm,.... make that one eighth tempted. Thanks for the input. I'll eventually report on what goes and what does not. >From the land "down under": Australia. Do we look <umop apisdn> from up over? Do NOT CC me - I am subscribed to the list. Replies to the sender address will fail except from the list-server.
