I was digging through my old Blogger blog deciding whether to let it live on or to kill it when I came across this gem. The instructions still work, even on the new Intel macs, and can be a lifesaver if you need a serial console on OSX.

I’m in my cisco networking class, and we’re working on our 2600 series routers. After getting frustrated with having to drag out hold laptops and desktops to do serial, I decided to hook my Mac up with a USB to serial adapter.

Here’s how I did it and what advice I have:

1. Purchased a generic USB to serial with a Prolific 2303 chipset. Most usb-to-serial adapters have this.

2. Googled A BUNCH! (you’ll be able to skip this step if you’re reading this)

3. Installed the opensources PL2303 drivers for OS X from here.

4. Reboot. Don’t bother with trying to kextload, while it says it works it doesn’t seem to.

5. Plug in USB to Serial adapter.

6. In terminal type ls -l /dev/tty.* Look for the one that has PL2303 in it. If it’s there, you’re golden!

7. Download ZTerm. Here’s your terminal emulator

-OR-

8. Use screen. type this in terminal: screen /dev/tty.PL2303-(your device ID here) 9600 You get your device ID from your ls -l /dev/tty.* 9600 is the baud rate.

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Ok, so it isn’t really Neil Young, but its still pretty damn cool.

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While this isn’t the clearest video or the most impressive of a USN vessel, it is damn inspirational.  The video above shows the USS New York, the fifth San-Antonio class transport, sailing up the Hudson River.  For those that haven’t yet heard, the USS New York(LPD-21) was built using seven and a half tons of salvaged steel from the World Trade Center towers. The steel was used to make the “stem bar” of the ship, part of the bow.  The vessel, and the stem bar in particular, were reportedly treated with “reverence usually accorded to religious relics”, gently touching it as they walked by. Indeed, one worker delayed his retirement after 40 years’ work to be part of the project.

It is moments like these that make me proud to be an American. Queue the National Anthem

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