Networking & High Speed Internet For The Commodore ComputerUsing the document below , you can create an interface for high speed Internet and complete networking for your Commodore Computer (or any other computer that has a serial interface and the ability to act as a dumb terminal)Use your Linux box as a terminal server Mini How to This is not an all inclusive document , this 'how to' assumes that your are somewhat able to build and configure a basic computer. The specifications I use are only for sake of ease . Almost any computer can be made to work. First your Linux terminal server should be a Pentium or better computer , simply for the 'Plug and Play' benefit . Hardware detection is much easier with a 'Plug and Play' Bios. Use a 1 gig or larger hard disc and 32 mb or more of ram . Use a common network network card to ensure it is supported by your Linux distro. I am using Red Hat Linux v 6.2 , any 2.2 Linux kernal distro should work with little or no changes to this document . Put the computer together , Install Linux . Now make the following changes. /etc/inittab Open the file in a text editor and add the following line to the end S1:23:respawn:/sbin/getty ttyS1 DT38400 vt100 Save the file . Note 'ttyS1' = com 2 'ttyS0' = com 1 /etc/gettydefs Open the file in a text editor and check for the following line. DT38400# B38400 CS8 CLOCAL # B38400 SANE CRTSCTS CLOCAL #@S login: #DT38400 Check to see if there is a line to match the baud rate you want to use. If one does match , then close the file with no changes.If none match , then change all of the numbers in the line to match your desired baud rate ie DT38400 - if your desired baud rate is 2400 then change to DT2400 /etc/pam.d/shutdown If you want to be able to shut down the computer remotely from the terminal , then you will need to alter this file . Change the word 'required' in each line to 'sufficient' Save the file . This will allow you to shutdown the machine from a terminal , removing the need for a moniter or keyboard on the terminal server. *** Important note , altering this file makes the computer much less secure than it was , because this is an older distro , and the changes reduce security , you should keep this machine protected behind a firewall ! The termainl server can now be shutdown remotely with the command shutdown -h now Sutdown the Linux computer , hook up and configure your terminal , turn the terminal server back on . When booting has completed , you should see a login prompt on your terminal screen. Good Luck. Blaine Popp |