In message <Pine.GSO.4.05.10007281204370.3258-100000@parka.winternet.com> Kurt Bloom writes:
: I tried both the COMCONS and PCCONS version of the ecoff.

OK.  You'll get no output from COMCONS unless you connect the serial
port to something...

: I don't know how to connect a terminal emulation program to a serial
: port...the only terminal emulation I'm familiar with is telnet,
: hyperterminal etc. Like
: telneting from a windows machine to a unix box. Could you point me to any
: good resources on the web? I guess I don't want to ask you how to do this
: unless it's easier to explain than it sounds.

Hmmm.  Don't know if I know good resources on the web for this.  I
learned all of this in the early 1980's...

You will need a null modem cabnle (DB-9 to DB9, both ends female).
I'm assumnig the serial ports on the machine are db-9.  Adjust for db9
vs db-25 accordingly.

You connect the null modem cable.  You then use a terminal emulation
program that can connect to the serial port.  I know that hyper term
can be configured to do that, but I don't have step by step
instructions (I usually wing it and then forget when I have to use
it).  Be sure that the communications settings are set to 8bits, 9600
baud, no parity (the so called 9600, 8, N setting).

: Also do you know if Bob Meader is right about this NEC RISCserver 2200 not
: being able to run NetBSD? Am I going to have to basically develop this
: from scratch? If so maybe I need to find some resources about
: compiling/customizing kerenels etc for newbies. I'm interested in getting
: this thing going, but am wondering if I'm in over my head and need to stop
: and read a book or something. Any advice is greatly appreciated. 

I don't know if Bob is right.  I do know that some people have
reported that some flavors of the NEC Riscstation/Riscserver worked on
OpenBSD/arc.  Checking the web pages shows that this is serial console
only.

Bob did used to be correct.  For a long time the OpenBSD/arc port
didn't support any of the NEC risc* machines.

As for kernel hacking, I don't know a good resource either.  :-(

Warner