User manual

ATHENA CPU User Manual V1.40 Page 27
6.3 Console Redirection to a Serial Port
In many applications without a video card it may be necessary to obtain keyboard and monitor
access to the CPU for configuration, file transfer, or other operations. Athena supports this
operation by enabling keyboard input and character output onto a serial port (console redirection).
A serial port on another PC can be connected to the serial port on Athena with a null modem
cable, and a terminal emulation program (such as HyperTerminal) can be used to establish the
connection. The terminal program must be capable of transmitting special characters including F2
(some programs or configurations trap special characters).
The default Athena BIOS setting disables console redirection.
There are three possible configurations for console redirection:
♦ POST only (default)
♦ Always On
♦ Disabled
To modify the console redirection settings, enter the BIOS, select the Advanced menu, and then
select Console Redirection. In Com Port Address, select Disabled to disable the function, “On-
board COM A” for COM1, or “On-board COM B” for COM2.
If you select Disabled, you will not be able to enter BIOS again during power-up through the serial
port. To reenter BIOS when console redirection is disabled, you must use a monitor connected to
the onboard VGA and a keyboard connected to J3 or remove the CMOS battery jumper to reset
the BIOS to the default ‘POST only’ condition.
More detail on BIOS settings for console redirection can be found on page 31.