IBM 5120 (was Re: My First S-100 System)

From: vassilip_at_dsl.cis.upenn.edu <(vassilip_at_dsl.cis.upenn.edu)>
Date: Sun Oct 13 19:56:02 2002

"Scarletdown" <SecretaryBird_at_SoftHome.net> wrote:
> I might just build a very minimalist 386 or 486 system from spare parts
> I have lying about here, set it up with FreeDOS or MINIX, and make that
> the console. [...]

Actually the easiest way to build a 386-based terminal is with MSDOS
(or DRDOS) and kermit. Kermit supports most serial cards and even some
ethernet cards (so you can telnet over TCP/IP). There is even
DOS-based software for mouse support (so you can cut & paste text).

Kermit or DOS can take care of most input and output conversions so
you can talk to almost any system that support telnet or async serial.

BTW since most IDE disk have a spin down feature, you can spin down the disk
just after you load kermit, so you don't even have to listen to the hard
disk. Many systems of that era didn't have PSU fans, so spinning down
the disk made the system totally quiet.

**vp
Received on Sun Oct 13 2002 - 19:56:02 BST