to make RS232 connection you need crossover cable (if both ends are PC). you can make simple crossover cable using two DB9 female conenctors by connecting 5-5, 2-3 and 3-2 (pins 2 and 3 are crossed).
since this cable only ses Rx and Tx lines (pins 2 and 3) you must choose no handshaking (handshaking = flow control). hardware handshaking requires wiring of remaining pins (search web for crossover cable diagram, AB cable 1747-CP3 or 1756-CP3 are such cables for example). port setting must be same on both devices (baud rate, parity, stop bits, handshaking type). simplest test is using some sort of terminal emulator. Hyperterminal comes with every windows although it may not be installed (if that's case use Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, Add Remove Windows component to install it). After establishing connection, use Transfer menu, select send on one machine and receive on another etc.
I didn't play with Linux in a long time (even longer for Labview) so you are on your own there. I know that linux comes with terminal emulators as well (Minicom for example). The idea is the same. Just make sure that both sides use same protocol (Z-Modem, Xmodem, or whatever). any decent terminal will support at least few protocols. For example Hyperterminal on WinXP supports:
1k X modem,
Kermit,
Xmodem,
Ymodem,
Ymodem-G,
Zmodem,
Zmodem with crash recovery.
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