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releases:3.2.0:usersguide:serialconsoles [2014/11/11 14:52] (current)
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 +====== Serial Consoles ======
 +
 +===== Introduction =====
 +
 +With a little configuration,​ it's possible to use a dumb terminal connected to a minix host. Alternatively,​ one could connect a PC to a minix host via a null-modem cable and run a terminal emulator program on the PC to act as a dumb terminal.
 +
 +===== Configuring the Minix Host =====
 +
 +On the minix host edit ///​etc/​ttytab//​. The **tty00** and **tty01** lines should be edited to look like this:
 +<​code>​
 +tty00           ​vt100 ​          ​getty ​          "​stty 9600"
 +tty01           ​vt100 ​          ​getty ​          "​stty 9600"
 +</​code>​
 +
 +You may want to change the above entries to "stty 115200"​ to set a higher baud rate. 
 +
 +Then reboot the system with //shutdown -r//
 +
 +===== Hardware Setup =====
 +
 +Connect the terminal or null-modem cable to one of the serial ports on the minix host. Press //enter// a couple of times on the terminal and the login prompt should appear. Log in and have fun.
 +
 +===== Using a Terminal Emulator =====
 +
 +[[http://​www.gnu.org/​software/​screen/​|GNU Screen]] can be used as a terminal emulator on a Linux PC connected to a minix host via a null-modem cable with no setup needed.
 +<​code>​
 +screen /​dev/​ttyUSB0
 +</​code>​
 +In case you're wondering about //​ttyUSB0//,​ it's a USB-to-serial adapter. Using ///​dev/​ttyS0//​ should also work.
 +
 +You may also use
 +
 +<​code>​
 +cu -s 9600 -l /​dev/​ttyUSB0
 +</​code>​
 +
 +The '​-s'​ option sets the baud rate, so you can change this to 115200 if you prefer.
 + 
 +===== Gotchas =====
 +
 +  * Logging in via a serial console is handled slightly differently than logging in normally with a keyboard. The user you are logging in as must have a password set. Trying to log into an account without a password will not work.
 +  * Serial connections are slow. If you're doing a //make world// or something with a lot of output that you don't care to read, you can redirect **stdout** to ///​dev/​null//​ like this: 
 +<​code>​
 +make world 1> /dev/null
 +  * Don't set 'ctty 0' for serial debugging.
 +</​code>​
  
releases/3.2.0/usersguide/serialconsoles.txt · Last modified: 2014/11/11 14:52 (external edit)