Turn an old Linux pc into a terminal server: <a href="https://github.com/jhallen/joes-sandbox/tree/master/utils" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/jhallen/joes-sandbox/tree/master/utils</a><p>(look for serial connect / c.c)<p>This lets you telnet to a serial port (uses xinetd and telnetd), just like commercial ones. It includes locking and a way to force disconnect of an inactive user hogging a port. I think it should work on the raspberry pi / Freetserv.<p>Other features: hex dump mode, suppress ansi mode, logging, reports name / ip address of user already connected to port.<p>Also there is a script to control the outlets on this device: <a href="http://www.cpscom.com/controlled-ac-power-strip-cps-468.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.cpscom.com/controlled-ac-power-strip-cps-468.html</a> (which is the cheapest computer controlled outlet strip I could find).<p>The idea is you can connect to the console port of some machine under test. Once connected, you can also control its power. This is great for working on hardware remotely or linux kernel development.