[ltp] dos config tools from a floppy?

[Al Arduengo]

I have a TP600 running Slackware 8.0 and kernel 2.4.18. Everything that 
works works well and I am very happy. However I recently discovered that I 
can't get serial communications to work. I poured through faqs, web sites 
etc and incidentally installed tpctl. I can get tpctl to successfully 
configure, turn on and enable rs2 but it NEVER will do the same for rs1. 
When I do 'tpctl --rs1=on --rs1=enable' I get an error report. Again, rs2 
*seems* to be ok. Then, when I attempt to connect my palm os based pda via 
ir or the db9 connector, nothing happens.

I read that it may be that the ports have to be turned 'on' at least once 
from the dos based config tools and subsequent warm boots to linux allow 
control using tpctl. However I have no dos partition nor do I want one. I 
recall seeing a blurb about someone managing to get the dos based tools 
from IBM to work from a floppy. There is no description of this I have 
found yet. I tried making a bare bones dos bootable floppy and then copying 
the tools to the same floppy, but when I boot the floppy and try to run 
'PS2 ser on' it merely returns a statement about me needing to reinstall 
the tools again.

My primary question is how do I get full control and access to my serial 
ports using linux or at worst a dos boot floppy? Can I at all?

My secondary question is of a less important nature. How (if possible) can 
I fix things so that I don't have to boot up with my external floppy 
plugged in to have access to it? It works fine *if* I boot with it attached 
but I can not for the life of me get it to work if I plug it in post-boot.

Lastly, would PnP access give me the ability to enable the devices in 
question? If so I can compile the correct kernel source.

FYI.
I have pnp bios support compiled into my kernel but I now see I need at 
least 2.4.18-ac3 version to actually get access to the pnp devices. 
Ethernet pcmcia card works fine. CD works fine. Sound works fine. Haven't 
used the mwave modem yet since I don't dial up.

Many thanks in advance for any help provided. I would be happy to answer 
any questions with more detail if necessary.

Rgds,
-Al Arduengo


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