Re: Apple //e <-> UNIX system was:Abandonware petition

[William Katz <wkatz@nyx.net>]

Justin Scott <djnospam@impakt.net> wrote:
: William Katz <wkatz@nyx.net> wrote:
:> By 'console', do you mean one of your comm ports on your FreeBSD machine?
:> (Since FreeBSD runs on x86 computers, just as SCO OpenServer does) Or do
:> you mean some sort of software application running on FreeBSD to emulate a
:> real console port. ie: console port on Cisco routers/switches, terminal
:> boxes such as the old IOS Chase Terminals, etc..)

: Real honest to goodness console.  From the moment the boot-block is loaded off
: the disk, all control of the computer's "console" (normally video/keyboard) is
: redirected through the serial port @ 9600bps.  My motherboard (server-grade
: dual-P2/P3) also supports redirection of the bootup console thru the serial
: too, so I could change BIOS etc. 

That's quite interesting. Maybe my newer computer (P3 600Mhz ASUS P2B-D)
supports this too? :)

:> Well, my SCO box is configured for my modem (com2), as /dev/tty2A
:> I believe I have to configure the modem to run a getty, like you mention.
:> I'll play around with tty2A in /etc/inittab and see how it goes. Maybe
:> i'll even ask the people in comp.unix.sco.misc about this as well, as they
:> might have more insight on getting tty2A/tty2a (com2) to accept getty.

: Sounds like you're barking up the right tree.  Don't forget a null modem
: adaptor/cable.

Without even posting to comp.unix.sco.misc I got it working!! Actually I
am using a standard straight-through 25pin modem cable. I achieve the
'null modem' on the Apple //e end, via pointing the Jumper Block on my
Apple Super Serial Card to TERMINAL.
In SCO, i simply use the enable(C) command:  /usr/bin/enable tty2a
Poof... SCO is awaiting an incoming connection for tty2A (com2). Of course
before this, I already had my modem/serial comm port 2 configured, when I
originally set it up a few years ago.
I load up Proterm, and have the 'modem' set for Null Modem Driver (in the
oppen-apple-I Install screen), and naturally port set for Apple Super
Serial Card, and slot 2.
I create a system with no phone number, 8n1, full duplex, dec vt-100
emulation, etc..  One caveat though, I have to set the baud rate to 9600.
When I use Telix for msdos, I can use 19200 on my Apple //e.  I think it's
just some simple tweaking I have to do on the SCO end, to get my //e to
connect to the login: prompt at 19200 (/etc/inittab and /etg/gettydefs)
SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.2 can only go up to 38,400 bps on the serial
ports *cough*  SCO wised up, and since OSR5.0.4, increased the speed
settings on serial ports. You might be thinking I'm crazy for using sco
unix lol.. heck, I don't know why i use it sometimes either ;)  I picked
it up (FreeSCO) at UNIX Expo in 1995 or 1996 (I forget). If I didn't get
it for free back then, I probably wouldn't have it on one of my partitions
on one of my computers. I also run Solaris 8 (x86), and Linux.

viola, while writing this post, I got SCO to accept incoming connections
at 19,200 bps on tty2a :)  I just had to edit /etc/inittab and re-issue
the enable(C) command in SCO. 19,200 on a //e aint too shabby, eh? I got
around 1760 cps on a zmodem (sz) transfer I just tested.