Appendix E. Terminal server configuration
Terminal servers were originally designed for connecting
terminals to minicomputers. Each terminal would have an
RS-232 port. The connection to the minicomputer
usually used an ethernet port. Connecting terminals would be
connected to a command line interface where they could select from a
list of predefined machines. A Telnet
session would then be started to that machine.
Over time terminal servers gained more features. For example,
modems could be connected. These initially allowed people to dial
in to the minicomputer but grew in features until most terminal
servers became routers with a great number of serial ports.
As well as allowing the connection of many console to a single
terminal, the terminal server can be configured with user accounts
and passwords, preventing unauthenticated access to the console
whilst still allowing the console to be reached from any
modem.
This remainder of this section lists the considerations when
purchasing terminal servers and the cabling pinouts and basic
software configuration needed for differing types of terminal
servers.
Further contributions are welcome and should be e-mailed to
the maintainer of this HOWTO.