Getting started with Arduino Ethernet

p.s.

Can someone please explain what is meant by a "serial terminal" within the Arduino context? (Oh, and yes, I know what a serial terminal is. I also know what a keypunch, a dedicated micro-controller, firmware, and a host of other things are.)

  • Do I physically attach some kind of serial device to pins "x" and "y" of the Arduino?
  • Is there a piece of software - perhaps within the Arduino IDE, or somewhere else - that takes care of that automagically?

Again, this seems to be assumed, but I'd rather not make any more assumptions than I absolutely have to - I've been bitten in the behind too many times because of some asinine assumption I made.

Thanks again for all your help!

Jim (JR)