>> The Problem...
>> We're running a UNIX box at work, which controls all the internal stuff
>> as well as the various outlets (on terminals) around the city via modem
>> lines. We want to put more than one terminal (and a couple of printers)
>> in larger stores, all connected to the box...
>> The Question...
>> We've been told we can multiplex the modem line to get the terminals to
>> run on one line, but those of us thinking a little laterally thought of
>> putting a Linux box into the store which which could effectively double
>> as a second server and a terminal thru which all the other terminals and
>> printers could be connected to the original box.
>> Is this a viable situation, or are we just dreaming??? - and if it
>> sounds reasonable, where could we get info on going about our business?
You may need some extra ports; your average PC has a couple of serial
ports (one probably used by the mouse if you want X or gpm), and one
parallel port. Linux supports a number of multi-port serial cards though;
check out the Hardware-HOWTO.
Make sure the serial ports are correctly configured - if you have a
Slackware system like mine, the script to look at is /etc/rc.d/rc.serial.
This I think varies from distribution to distribution, though.
You will need to set up the ports to allow logins; to do this, make sure
a copy of some version of "getty" is run on each port, by ensuring
your /etc/inittab file contains lines something like:
s2:45:respawn:/sbin/agetty 9600 -hL ttyS1
(better check man inittab and man agetty [or whatever] - it's a while
since I did this and I can't remember what all that means)
Quote:>Terminals as I beleave act almost indenticle to the unix console on
>their host
Quite correct - I've an old 286 PC connected to my home machine, so if
I have any problem with the console (like my son is playing Doom on it :)
there's another terminal available. It can run text based applications
quite effectively, though of course not X based stuff.
Quote:>Which means that if you have ppp down the modem lines you should be able
>to
>telnet on a terminal from a remote location to the main server down the
>phone
>line
Yes, I can vouch for this - I've connected to my ISP that way on
occasion. Incidentally, to save on phone bills, you may want to take a
look at diald if your terminals will have longish inactive periods. It's
supposed to drop the line when you don't use it for a while, and dial
again automatically when next there is some data to send. I haven't used
it, but I hear it works. This assumes of course you are contemplating
using the public phone network.
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