I am looking for some sort of package that will allow me to control a device via a com/tty port. Basically - I want to be able to control my Cisco router (or any kind of router/computer via com/tty) without having to actually log into it. Lets say I want to get the current configuration. I use minicom and log in and all that jazz. Then a simple "show whatever" will give it to me. I would like to create some sort of script to do this automatically and have the output be usable by any application. Able to be logged or sent to another application that will do something else etc. I want to be able to monitor the router and be able to respond when something happens. If the router goes down or changes IP's I want to be able to reconnect via VPN or something. Have certain daemons restart etc. Does this make sense? Is it possible (or will I have to actually make this program)? sim