[PLUG] Sparc 20 Console

[alan]

You will need a couple of things to get that working.

A dumb terminal with keyboard should be enough to get it bootable.  The 
serial port is a db25.  You may need a null modem box to get the dumb 
terminal to talk to the Sparc. 

As for getting past the login prompt...  There are a couple of ways to 
hack a Sparc system. The easiest is to mount the drive under a properly 
configed Linux box and edit the /etc/passwd file.

On Sat, 7 Sep 2002, todd.sarratt wrote:

> Caveat : I am a computer idiot.  But I can troubleshoot the bejesus out of a T1.
> 
> Got me a Sparc 20 with no keyboard / monitor / etc.  It's got a CD-ROM.  I bought it out of the back of a van, or something.
> 
> Looking at the back on the CPU (from left to right) there's a power switch and some power connections.  A stamp of serial numbers .  
> 
> Then the top row has a blank space with a filler plate.  Next slot has what looks like a parallel port with a symbol over it that's a diamond with a line coming out of the east side (or 0 deg on a cartesian plane etc.)  Next to that is a RJ-45 plug labelled TP <...> with the dots being vertically centered.  Next slot is empty with a filler plate.
> 
> Middle row has three empty slots, one is covered with a plate and the other two are gaping dust sucking holes.
> 
> Bottom row has a funky port with pins and what look almost like small RCA connectors.  That's the video?  Labelled |O|
> Next to that is a 25 pin female serial connector labelled A/B.  Next to that is a circular 8 pin female labelled | |  | |.  
> 2nd card slot has two female ports stacked atop each other, they're thin like USB ports but with 30 or so square holes each.  Labelled // / <...>  Next port is an RJ45 labelled <...>
> Third slot looks like another parallel port and has that diamond with a line label.  Next to that are 4 headphone jack type connections.
> 
> (P.S.  Taking donations for a digital camera.)
> 
> So the real meat here : I want to console into the beast.
> 
> How do I console into it?  I got a Windows box which I figure I'll run Hyperterm or something off COM1 and hook a 9 pin female connector into the port labelled |O|O| A/1.  The other end of the cable goes into... the A/B slot on the Sparc?  Straight serial or null modem?  
> 
> I spent about an hour searching through Google newsgroups and finding conflicting or unhelpful info.
> 
> Thanks!
> Todd
>