Does the SG-1100 only show up as a USB device when turned on - or when already on?

[TangoOversway]

This is closely related to this question, but is different enough I think it needs a separate thread.

Do I have to turn on the SG-1100 for it to be seen as a USB device? I don't mean does it have to be powered on. For example, if I plug it in while powered on, I'm not seeing it show up. If it's off, it doesn't show up. So I'm wondering if, maybe, when the SG-1100 is turned on, if it doesn't see a USB connection, it doesn't activate that port? Or if I have my SG-1100 in place and working and plug in the USB cable to it and my computer, should it show up when plugged in?

More details:

According to the page on using the console with the SG-1100, it states, "On some devices when using a USB serial console port the serial port will not appear on the client operating system until the device is plugged into a power source." And it says if the device is not visible, then turn the SG-1100 on.

I have tried on 5 computers (2 Macs, 2 Raspberry Pis running different OSes, and 1 Debian Linux server) and the ST-1100 is NOT showing up at all. That includes with drivers installed on the Mac and even on a Linux system where the kernel is supposed to include the driver. No new device shows up when I plug it in to the computer - no matter what. It does not show up.

[SteveITS]

@tangooversway Do you have another USB cable you can use?

I am not sure the answer to your question. I just connected to a 2100 a couple hours ago and IIRC Windows beeped the new device found beep whenever I plugged in the USB cable but I don't recall if I had putty open already or not.

Edit: in Windows, at least, it detects as a new device in Device Manager. I have had to install the drivers even on Windows 10 today. But then it shows as per the instructions with a COM port designation (usually 3 or 4).

[TangoOversway]

@steveits Some devices (like drives) show up on a Mac, but I don’t think I’ve seen a terminal device show up - but it’s been a LONG time since I connected one. I tend to “think” in Linux, still, after about 15 years of using Macs, so I tend to think of checking /dev before checking anything else.

At this point I’ve tried 3 or 4 different cables and, on the various computers, I’ve tried it in multiple USB ports on each one.

I’m wondering if I could boot from the install image and ssh to something obvious like 192.168.1.1 and run the install that way.

[SteveITS]

@tangooversway The “run usbrecovery” operation just copies the image to the drive AFAIK. There’s no booting it.

How old is it?

[TangoOversway]

@steveits The SG-1100 was originally ordered through Amazon in 2020 or 2021.

The other items (cables, Macs, Linux computers) are all of varying ages.

I’m wondering if there is some way, from the pfSense web interface, to see if it registers a connection with another computer.

[TangoOversway]

Got a connection!

I’ve tried this connection on 3 computers in my house, schlepped all the stuff down to my workshop, tried it on 3 more down there (admittedly most were RPis, but they were on different OSes and versions), and on each computer I tried multiple USB cables and USB ports with no success.

I got a new version of RasPiOS, which has the newer kernel that includes the driver I need, put it on my RPi laptop (yes, a laptop designed around a Pi 4!) and tried that. No luck.

So I went back downstairs with the last few USB cables of the type needed, plus a “computer to computer” usb cable, figuring I can try that in the two ports near the Ethernet ports, and a toolkit in case the case is on in such a way it’s keeping me from plugging in the USB cable all the way. I think I was so prepared it scared the SG-1100! ;)

I put in an older USB cable that was in my, “In case all good cables fail” part of my cable drawer and it connected! I have a serial connection, so now let’s see how it goes.

[rcoleman-netgate]

@tangooversway said in Does the SG-1100 only show up as a USB device when turned on - or when already on?:

Do I have to turn on the SG-1100 for it to be seen as a USB device?

No, it will appear based on BUS power from the host. You will want to make sure you have a DATA microUSB cable and one that will clear the plastic housing. You might have to shave away some of the rubber/plastic from the tip to get it to clear!

Before:

After:

[stephenw10]

Yup it should appear on a connected device even when not powered. For example in Linux:

[71844.486050] usb 1-4.3: new full-speed USB device number 17 using xhci_hcd
[71844.587198] usb 1-4.3: New USB device found, idVendor=067b, idProduct=2303, bcdDevice= 4.00
[71844.587212] usb 1-4.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[71844.587218] usb 1-4.3: Product: USB-Serial Controller D
[71844.587222] usb 1-4.3: Manufacturer: Prolific Technology Inc. 
[71844.654783] usbcore: registered new interface driver pl2303
[71844.654791] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for pl2303
[71844.654803] pl2303 1-4.3:1.0: pl2303 converter detected
[71844.656068] usb 1-4.3: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0

Steve