I like to document things that seem to be harder to find on the Internet than expected. One such piece of information I needed the other day was the connection information for a serial console connection to an IBM pSeries server.

Step 1: Dig around in your server room storage bins until you are lucky enough to find a cable labeled "pSeries Serial" like this:



This special console cable plugs into the front of the server. I used a DB-9 serial cable of some variety to extend the cable reach.


Step 1 (alternate): Connect a DB-9 serial cable (possibly just a standard null modem cable) into the Serial 1 port on the rear of the server.


Step 2: Configure your terminal software (such as HyperTerminal on Windows) with the following settings:

9600 Baud, 8-N-1, hardware flow control, terminal type = VT100