Setting up a serial console on FreeBSD 6.3

I resurrected my old FreeBSD server with a new hard drive and power supply the other day. Because I only have a 2 port KVM, I decided to setup a serial console connection to my primary desktop. I've used systems on a serial connection several times, but I've never actually setup a BSD server to use one before though. Turns out this was a very simple setup.

Track down a null modem cable with female connections at either end. Hook it up to your terminal server and your target machine at the available serial ports. Then do the following.

1. To see all boot messages on the serial console, issue the following command while logged in as the superuser: # echo 'console="comconsole"' >> /boot/loader.conf
2. Edit /etc/ttys and change off to on and dialup to vt100 for the ttyd0 entry. Otherwise a password will not be required to connect via the serial console, resulting in a potential security hole.
3. Reboot and check your results.

These steps are straight from the FreeBSD handbook.

I followed them as written and had console through HyperTerminal. Now I just need to get a different terminal app, since I hate HyperTerminal so bad.