I solved the serial console problem by pulling out the access port card. Now the console works OK. Unfortunately, the kernel doesn't seem to recognise the Bluefish F/W SCSI card, so it doesn't find any of the hard disks. It does find the lasi7xxx card, with the tape and CD-ROM drives attached. Any ideas how to fix that -- new kernel? thanks Hamish -- Hamish Moffatt VK3SB <hamish@debian.org> <hamish@cloud.net.au>