>I'm interested in running a few PC's without any video cards on them (the
>idea here is to make some minimal systems for home to serve as routers or
>home automation controllers, but I digress :-) ).
[...]
>I know, I know .... you can get a video card very cheap, but I'd still like
>to think it was possible somehow.

You need to differentiate between running and installing.

I believe you will need a video card and monitor long enough to
install the operating system.  (Obviously, the BIOS of most PeeCees
does not take kindly to serial "consoles".)

Once you have everything set up the way you want it, and have a kernel
built and installed with a serial console, you should be able to yank
the video card and reboot.

I haven't tried this lately, but I have done it successfully (about a
year ago).

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  Michael L. VanLoon                                 michaelv@HeadCandy.com
       --<  Free your mind and your machine -- NetBSD free un*x  >--
     NetBSD working ports: 386+PC, Mac 68k, Amiga, HP300, Sun3, Sun4,
                           DEC PMAX (MIPS), DEC Alpha, PC532
     NetBSD ports in progress: VAX, Atari 68k, others...
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