Xenix Serial Port Question...

Thanks to all who responded to my IBM PC XT/AT Y2K compliancy question... All of the info was very helpful. And now, for something completely different! I have a customer who's using (I think) a mediocre 486 system with an 8-port (unsure of brand) serial card linked thru RS-232 cables connected to 3 ASCII terminals and 1 computer running ProComm Plus as their small network. The terminals are still working fine, but the computer no longer connects to the server, nor could I get my Tandy200 to connect to the server thru *any* of the ports on the multi-port card. I took a working terminal and hooked it to the cable of the non-working computer, and the terminal wouldn't link, either. The cable had 7 conductors, 4 were used. I replaced 3 of the conductors on each end, no change. I used some of the now unused conductors to replace the last conductor, still no change. I tested continuity on the main conductors, no breaks or high-Z connections that I can see. Here's the strange stuff: 1) I plugged my handy-dandy overpriced Tandy RS-232 mini-tester onto each of the unused ports of the server multi-serial card -- each showed a different status. 2) Using my <joke> vast </joke> Unix/Linux knowledge, I was able to muckety-muck around the software some, and the server itself as well; and found a bajillion serial ports enabled, but I know some were for the virtual terminals, and some may be for the non-existant hardware. Question 1) Does anyone know the serial port designations for Xenix? I looked and looked, but couldn't figure it out on my own, despite the fact my mind is like a strong, steel sieve. ;-) [[Editor's note: During my muckety-mucking, I noticed that the /etc/passwd file was *world writable*... is this normal for a stock Xenix install??? That seems to be extremely poor security... especially for a dial-in capable box. :-( ]] Question 2) I found that some serial ports could be designated log-in enabled, and some were log-in disabled. If these settings are different, would that explain the differing signal status lights on my RS-232 tester? Question 3) The serial ports on the multi-serial card are already wired for null-modem capability. What do I need to do to get my Tandy200 to talk to the ports. (Yes, the ports are set up for 9600 bps, 8-N-1 and X-on/X-off, as was my Tandy. Yet, no commo happened.) I'll be on the road tonite for "civilization" - the northern boroughs(sp?) of Detroit - Lake Orion, Oxford, Clarkston, Auburn Hills, etc. If I get a chance, I now have web-mail access... will try to check my mail. Any good classic machine hotspots down there??? ;-) Thanks again for any help I receive, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger --- sysadmin, Iceberg Computers Recycling is good, right??? Ok, so I'll recycle an old .sig. If at first you don't succeed, nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* be your first career choice.