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    Issues with serial connexion between computer and ALIX card

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
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    • F
      famas54
      last edited by

      Interesting, following your post I've just checked the cables, here's what I've got:
      female/female:

      5 4 3 2 1
      9 8 7 6

      and the Male/USB

      1 2 3 4 5
      6 7 8 9

      So my cables are not fitted which might be the cause of the problem I guess.
      I'm a bit lost, never really knew about serial cables pins before.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • M
        Metu69salemi
        last edited by

        Hope this helps


        and something  to read

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        • F
          famas54
          last edited by

          My female/ female has exactly the same scheme. Thanks for the explanation

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          • stephenw10S
            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
            last edited by

            You only need pins 2,3 and 5 to get something.
            If you have tested your cable (using a continuity tester or multimeter) and are sure that pins 2 and 3 are crossed then it could be your USB adapter.
            Try testing your cable and adapter on something else if you have it.

            One other thing is that occurs is that these usb adapters usually appear as com3 or higher.
            Even if your system doesn't have any com ports externally it may them on board.

            Steve

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            • F
              famas54
              last edited by

              I've checked, The COM connexion goes on COM5

              But I still don't have anything on the screen. (Windows actually detect it as a new peripheral when I plug it in)

              About my cable I bought it as a RS232 DB9 null-modem. I'm probably going to look after new cables and see what's what.

              On the other side, Is there a doubt to have on the nanobsd installation ? My only hands on experience with pfsense is with virtual machines, so I've never used a nanobsd version.

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                So you are using com5 in putty, yes?
                And still seeing nothing?

                Steve

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                • M
                  Metu69salemi
                  last edited by

                  Like stewe said: are you using port5? your screenshot seems to use com1

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                  • F
                    famas54
                    last edited by

                    I've tried with COM5 since, launched putty before starting the Alix box, to allow it to listen to the port. Still nothing. I doubt about my nanobsd installation thus I've followed the definitive guide instructions with the M0n0wall tool on Windows.

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                    • M
                      Metu69salemi
                      last edited by

                      Does this help

                      Your screenshot also showed another com port, can you try with that if it's working any better

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                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by

                        It's definitely com5. Prolific are the usb-serial manufacturer.

                        If your image has not installed correctly on the card then you won't see anything at 9600.

                        The default serial speed for the Alix BIOS is 38,400.
                        Try setting putty to 38,400.

                        You can change the bios serial speed to 9600 to match the output from pfSense.

                        Steve

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