Warning The Raspberry Pi uses non-5V tolerant 3.3V GPIO. This also includes the serial port levels. This level does not match up with PC or RS232 levels and some USB-Serial adapters will use either 5V or RS232 levels, which can and will damage the Pi GPIO.

Ensure that your serial device specs are 3.3V level compatible to avoid damaging your Raspberry Pi. For RS232 applications, a MAX3232 level translator can be used between your PC and the Pi. For USB applications, a FT232 running at 3.3V will suffice as a USB-Serial adapter. For RS485 applications, an RS-485 level translator in the MAX3070-MAX3079 family running at 3.3V can be used.

Gentoo on Alix: Serial console setup. Connect to the box with your favourite serial terminal program. Somarsoft Dumpsec Windows 7. Let us install Gentoo Linux on the alix.