This messages has prompted two ideas, though it would be stretching to
call either of them documentation. 

(1) If the various people who install would write scenarios for their
equipment. This is one of the reasons I keep on trying to reinstall on
weekends. The approaches that make the most sense become radically
different depending on what your using. For example the approaches
appear a little different depending on if you are dedicating the
machine as a server running NetBSD exclusively or trying to maintain
one machine that can run as either a Mac or a NetBSD desktop.

My plans change all the time, my original plan for the the PowerMac
6500 was to set it up to run either, then the local Sears mispriced
DVD iMacs last month, so I don't need it as a desktop at all. Now I
just want it to run as a server. Different features seem to require
different approaches. 

(2) A list of the external equipment people use, at least the adaptors
and converters - or how to make them up yourself if your truly an
enginer type - like the paperclip in the mac monitor out to run
headless.(which is in some NetBSD Mac FAQ) The Keyspan usb adapter
mentioned below was the only usb to minidin 8 adapter I could find
with about 30 minutes of web searching. I doubt I would have found
that without the previous e-mail. (There seem to be a bunch on eBay) I
use a lot of Mac to VGA adaptors - because there are so many vga
monitors sitting on trash heaps and because they are the easiest way
to make a Mac (some models?) run headless.

On Mon, May 07, 2001 at 08:48:43PM -0700, Michael Wolfson wrote:
> At 7:22 PM -0400 5/7/01, josh@ssimr.com wrote:
> 
> :)Does anyone know how I could establish a serial connection between the
> :)printer port on my PowerMac 6500/300's mini-din serial printer port
> :)and a USB port on my my iMac. I just realized my life is actually
> :)easier if I don't have to hook up a monitor to get at the Open
> :)Firmware.
> 
> How should I word the docs to imply this (as it really is true when first
> starting out).
> 
> :)Is there a cable? an adapter? do I need one of those usb to serial
> :)converters? How cheap can I do it? Will someone who's done it let me
> :)know.
> 
> You got it.  I use a Keyspan Twin Serial Port Adapter USA28x, which costs
> around US$70.  You could probably get a cheaper "PDA" USB adapter for about
> US$40.  Then you plug in a normal printer cable (it's really a null-modem
> cable) and use Zterm to set up the connection.
> 
> Good luck,
>   -- MW
> 

-- 
Josh Kuperman
josh@ssimr.com
http://www.ssimr.com