Install minicom: apt-get install minicom Enter setup mode: minicom -s This will bring up the minicom configuration menu. I'll arrow down to the "Serial port setup" and press Enter. I'll then press "A" to change the Serial device from /dev/modem to dev/ttyS0. I'll then press "E" to change the Bps/Par/Bits, then press E again to select 9600. Finally, I'll press "F" to turn off Hardware Flow Control. I'll press the Escape key to leave this configuration menu, arrow down to "Save setup as.." and I'll save this entry as "cisco". Once my configuration is saved, I'll arrow down to "exit" at which point minicom will connect to the Cisco router and I'll see my router> prompt. On Compaq DPEN machines running debian, serial A is /dev/ttyS0, serial B is /dev/ttyS1. Cisco - 9600 8N1, Hardware Flow Control NO, Software Flow Control NO. #/etc/minicom/minirc.cisco pu port /dev/ttyS0 pu baudrate 9600 pu rtscts No