Add a Serial port to the PowerPC Linkstation

Originally by frontalot and nix from linkstationwiki.org The console is the text output device for system administration messages. These messages come from the kernel, from the init system and from the system logger. On modern small computers the console is usually the computer's attached monitor and keyboard. The LinkStation, however, doesn't have monitor output; instead, it uses a serial connection for console output. Not only does the serial console provide valuable debugging output, it also allows root access!

Most of this information courtesy of http://www.type-g.com, http://www.kurobox.com, http://www.tldp.org, http://www.larwe.com, and John Taylor.

Also look at: How to attach a serial port to the Kurbox/KuroboxHG

Prerequisites

 * (1)Electronic-grade soldering iron
 * (1) 0.015", 1 oz silver-bearing solder
 * (1) Desolder braid, solder sucker, or Servisol Soldamop
 * (1) 0.1” series PCB header plug, 4-way
 * (1) Serial converter (or build your own - see Stage 4)
 * (1) Tweezers
 * (1) Anti-static wrist strap

Stage 1 - Access the Board

 * Disassemble the LinkStation.
 * Remove the main circuit board by removing the 4 mounting screws:
 * Place the circuit board on a static-free work area:

Stage 2 - Attach Header to the Board

 * The console header needs to be attached to the J1 pad:
 * Remove the preexisting solder from J1:
 * Solder the PCB header to J1 so that the pinouts face towards the IDE header

Method 1 (easier)
http://forum.buffalo.nas-central.org/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=9186
 * To enable write support across the serial port bridging r76 with a short piece of wire or just with some soldering
 * IN SHORT, ALL THAT IS NECESSARY TO GET 2 WAY SERIAL COMMUNICATION ON THE KURO HG, HD, AND PPC LINKSTATIONS IS TO BRIDGE THE CONTACTS FOR THE SERIES RESISTOR AT R76.

Method 2 (original)

 * To enable write support across the serial port, remove the 10K ohm pullup resistor from R75 and install it, or another 10K ohm pullup resistor, to R76.

Desoldering Tip
To desolder an SMD resistor you can apply the following trick:
 * Take a short piece of blank wire and bend one end into a small U-shape using some small pliers. The U-shape should be as such that you can touch the sides of both ends of the resistor at the same time. The width of the U should basically be the length of the resistor.
 * Wrap the other end of the wire around the tip of your soldering iron - while it is still cold. You now have a small U-shaped tool to remove the resistor.
 * Heat up the iron. When the wire is hot enough, heat up the solder at both ends of the resistor and gently pull the resistor away from the pads with the U-shaped tip. Be careful, the resistor likes to end up on the floor.

Stage 5 - Using the Serial Console

 * You may access the serial console using Windows HyperTerminal (included with Windows) or [TeraTerm Pro].