How to use the Xserve Serial port for outgoing connections

I have a UPS that I want to configure, and a lack of any DB9-USB adapters here at work. But, I’ve got a dozen Xserve’s with serial ports just asking to be used for this purpose.

The problem is, by default, Xserve’s are set up to be on the receiving end of a serial connection (you can use a serial terminal to get into them if they’re sideways somehow).

Googling turned up a few answers, but none that said “this is it”. So, share the wealth!

sudo launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.xserve.serial-ports.plist from the terminal. That’ll stop getty, and you should then be able to use ZTerm (thankfully just updated to be a Universal App for Lion) to initiate a connection.

Good luck!