CP210x USB-to-UART driver for Mac Sonoma?

beerguzzle

Hi, has anybody installed this driver (version 6.0.2) on a MacOS running Sonoma (14.4.1)? I got an SG-2100, which comes with the wire for the console port, and needs this driver for console access. Version 6.0.2 was released in Oct 2021, it is now 2024, and I'm leery of trying to install it -- especially with Apple's warning about kernel extensions, see https://support.apple.com/guide/security/kernel-extensions-sec8e454101b/web

It looks like Silicon Labs has abandoned work on this driver for Macs, since the Win version is so much newer. True? I have zero Win boxes around.

wgstarks

@beerguzzle
It’s my understanding that this driver is included in Sonoma. I know I haven’t needed to install it to access my pfsense console but it may have been installed with the Serial 2 app that I use for this type of access.

beerguzzle

Thank you! I have not installed the Serial app, so the driver must be part of Sonoma.

Following chapter 7 of the SG-2100 security guide, I plugged the cable between my 2100 and my Mac. Then I did "ls -l /dev/cu*" and found the device as /dev/cu.usbserial-11110. Then I did the "sudo screen /dev/cu.usbserial-11110 115200" per the guide, and plugged in the 2100. Voila, I got to watch it boot up. The boot sequence ended with the normal menu you see when you ssh into 192.168.1.1.

Then... Nada. I could not type anything on my Mac keyboard and get a response from the 2100. Any ideas?

wgstarks

Do you have password protection enabled for the console? Just a guess really. Don’t think I’ve ever used screen to connect.

stephenw10

It wouldn't show the menu if the console password is enabled. You should be able to type there. Are you able to confirm the console/cable with some other terminal client?

Dobby_

@beerguzzle said in CP210x USB-to-UART driver for Mac Sonoma?:

I got to watch it boot up. The boot sequence ended with the normal menu you see when you ssh into

 WAN (wan)  -> igb1       -> v4: xxx.xxxx.xxxx.xxx/24
                             v6/DHCP6: xxx:xxx:xxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxx:xxxx:xxx/64
 LAN (lan)  -> igb2       -> v4: 192.168.xxxx.xxx/24
 DMZ (opt1) -> igb3       ->
 LAB (opt2) -> igb0       ->
 WAP (opt3) -> ath0_wlan0 ->
 LTE (opt4) -> ppp0       ->

 0) Logout (SSH only)                  9) pfTop
 1) Assign Interfaces                 10) Filter Logs
 2) Set interface(s) IP address       11) Restart GUI
 3) Reset admin account and password  12) PHP shell + Netgate pfSense Plus tools
 4) Reset to factory defaults         13) Update from console
 5) Reboot system                     14) Enable Secure Shell (sshd)
 6) Halt system                       15) Restore recent configuration
 7) Ping host                         16) Restart PHP-FPM
 8) Shell

Is it looking like this? (after boot)
Then you may be able to type "8" and you are in.

beerguzzle

Eureka! I stared at the manpage for screen, and tried cntrl a cntrl b (send a break signal to the window) and then the keyboard started working. After that, I could select option 8 (shell), type in unix commands, get back responses. I then rebooted the system again and things still worked after the reboot. This was between a Mac mini (Intel chip) and the 2100, using the console cable with shipped with the 2100. It also worked on my Macbook Air (M2 chip). So, short summary:

driver is built into Sonoma, no need to install Silicon Labs driver
ls -l /dev/cu* to find the usbserial device to connect to
use gnu screen to make the connection (part of the OS, in /usr/bin)
if no response from the keyboard, try cntrl a cntrl b to wake it up.

Chapter 7 in the 2100-security-guide needs to be updated with this info.

Dobby_

@beerguzzle

Did you install any driver for the CP210x or was an APP like named above?

beerguzzle

Dobby,

No, I installed no driver or kernel extension on my Mac. I did not install any new apps like Serial2 either. I was just a case of run the console cable from the 2100 to the Mac, find the /dev/cu.usbinstall device on the Mac, fire up GNU screen and connect to that device. Thats it.

Dobby_

@beerguzzle

Well explained, it was only my MacBook Pro is on its way and I was more or less
interested in such things because the serial UART tech chip of my both
PC Engines APU are also CP210 from Silicon Labs. One is USB to serial
(DB9) and one is micro USB to USB A. Therefore I was really asking.

On both boxes is pfSense installed (CE & Plus)

sarrasine

@wgstarks

with the Serial 2 app that I use for this type of access.

Thanks for that!!

wgstarks

@sarrasine
Pretty sure they offer a free trial so you can try it out. App also does SSH, Telnet and probably a few other protocols.