On Wed, July 30, 2008 15:14, James B. Byrne wrote: >> I have an i686 mono core system configured as a CentOS-5.2 server. >> It has one DB9P RS-232 serial connector and six USB connectors. >> The DB9p is configured as STTY0 for the attached MultiTec MT5638ZBA >> fax modem. I would very much like to connect my MS WindowsXPpro >> laptop, which only has USB connectors, to this server via telnet >> or ssh over a direct connection. On Wed Jul 30 20:19:44 UTC 2008, Les Mikesell lesmikesell at gmail.com wrote: > I can't imagine why anyone would want to do this on any system > capable of using a network connection instead. The availability of the nic cannot be guaranteed since the machine is being configured on one netblock and then being physically transferred to a distant location. It is entirely possible that whatever IP address is assigned to the eth0 connection here as being the one that will be used there may not actually work on the target network. The purpose of the serial connection is to permit a laptop to substitute for a monitor/kb/mouse on site in that eventuality. If it proves too cumbersome to enable direct host to host communications via usb then we will simply ship a 15" flat screen, kb and mouse with the unit and have them returned afterwards. We could, I suppose, reconfigure the available serial port as a tty and then connect that way, establish network connectivity, detach, and reconfigure the DB9p as an STTY for the fax service. Thank you for the cable suggestion. I will look into that. Regards, -- *** E-Mail is NOT a SECURE channel *** James B. Byrne mailto:ByrneJB at Harte-Lyne.ca Harte & Lyne Limited http://www.harte-lyne.ca 9 Brockley Drive vox: +1 905 561 1241 Hamilton, Ontario fax: +1 905 561 0757 Canada L8E 3C3