How to Connect from a Windows Box to a Linux Box via Serial Port

The note is based on the content found here.

Configure the Linux box to accept logins via serial console:

1. vi /etc/inittab:
# Run agetty on COM1/ttyS0
s0:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -L -f /etc/issueserial 115200 ttyS0 vt100
2. vi /etc/issueserial:
Connected on \l at \b bps
\U
3. init q to activate changes without reboot
4. ps -ef | grep agetty to verify the process is running
5. To be able to login as a root, vi /etc/securetty and add the following line right after the console line:
ttyS0

To change agetty settings:

1. vi /etc/inittab
2. init q
3. pkill agetty

Connect your boxes with a serial cable such as this one.

Connect to the Linux box from a Windows box via the serial port:

1. Download and unzip/install putty
2. Start putty and connect to your serial port, select the following connection parameters:
Serial line: COM1
Speed: 115200