A few months ago, I purchased two SS4200 NAS from amazon.com for $135 each with free shipping. What a deal! I put one into service with the stock EMC Lifeline software. As much as I love EMC Lifeline (I think I have to, Legally ... they're the parent company of my current employer) I want to play with something a little more robust. This isn't a bad thing, right? This NAS was created with the SOHO user in mind. While it's true that it is setup in my home office, I also want to play.

To start playing, I need access to the on board console. The SS4200 community wiki is a great resource and details how to gain access to the console, but the information detailed there left me filling empty. Following those directions would have meant my tidy little server closet (Harry Potter's room behind the stair case) would be cluttered a cross over cable and this was not acceptable.