[wuug-list] [wuug-forum] ezod: Re: Distro for OLD machine for serial port capture

[Windsor UNIX Users Group]

Author: ezod
Username: ezod (d38-230-195.home1.cgocable.net)
Subject: Re: Distro for OLD machine for serial port capture
Forum: Operating Systems
Link: http://www.wuug.org/read.php?12,44,45#msg-45
Approved: Yes

The easiest thing for something like that would probably be NetBSD -- installs very quickly and painlessly, doesn't require much space or other resources, and will definitely support x86 hardware of that era. Plus, in particular, I found BSD's parallel port interface easier to work with than the Linux kernel's (this was back in like 1998 though).

But if it's going on the plant floor, why not just dig up an old PLC (or buy a new one) and use either a DB25 input or an 8-input digital I/O card wired to the lines directly? Easier and much more reliable than a PC...