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    APU set up with Wi-Fi

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • E
      eiger3970
      last edited by

      Oh, great to see the APU is connecting via the USB port.

      So, I've tried a few ways to connect to the serial APU.

      Terminal > $ cu -1 /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 19200
      cu: /dev/ttyUSB0: System not found

      $ screen /dev/ttysUSB0 19200
      [screen is terminating]
      $ screen /dev/ttys0 19200
      [screen is terminating]

      $ minicom
      minicom: cannot open /dev/tty8: Permission denied

      $ sudo mincom
      Welcome to minicom 2.6.2

      OPTIONS: I18n
      Compiled on Feb  8 2013, 07:03:03.
      Port /dev/tty8, 22:05:36

      Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys

      $ putty
      Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 9600 > PuTTY Fatal Error: Unable to open connection to: Unable to open serial port.

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      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        Right so you have the permissions error.
        Looks like it's the 'dialout' group you need to be added to. Try doing

        sudo adduser your_account_name dialout

        Then logout and back in again. Try Putty again.

        https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gtkterm/+bug/949597

        Steve

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        • E
          eiger3970
          last edited by

          Yes, I did the line $ sudo adduser user_name dialout.

          Logging gives the same results?

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          • stephenw10S
            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
            last edited by

            Hmm, well that's all that's requiered in Xubuntu but Mint may be different (different versions of Mint too) but usually isn't because they're all Debian based.
            You may need to reboot if logging out and back in didn't do it.
            You may also need to do:

            sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0

            https://fedorahosted.org/fldigi/wiki/Documentation/HOWTO/Serial_Port_Setup

            Steve

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            • E
              eiger3970
              last edited by

              Thanks. Yes, I had actually tried the chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0, but same errors.

              I tried:
              Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 9600 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY and green blinking cursor, but unable to type anything.

              Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 19200 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY and green blinking cursor, but unable to type anything.

              Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 38400 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY and green blinking cursor, but unable to type anything.

              Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 115200 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY and green blinking cursor, but unable to type anything.

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                That is the expected behaviour if you're not connected to a serial console. Since your cable is not a null-modem you aren't seeing anything. Putty has a gui you can use to set the serial speed etc.

                Steve

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                • E
                  eiger3970
                  last edited by

                  Okay, I bought a Null Modem cable.
                  Plugged into APU and USB cable.

                  I tried:
                  Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 9600 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY and green blinking cursor, but unable to type anything.

                  Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 19200 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY and green blinking cursor, but unable to type anything.

                  Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 38400 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY and green blinking cursor, but unable to type anything.

                  Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 115200 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY and green blinking cursor, but unable to type anything.

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    Hmm. Well you clearly have some problem there. Do you have anything else you can use to prove the serial terminal with?

                    Steve

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                    • E
                      eiger3970
                      last edited by

                      I'm trying to think of a way of proving the serial terminal.
                      All I can think of is
                      trying another Null modem cable
                      trying another computer's USB port. (I tried Linux, Mac and Windows).

                      I thought the MicroSD 8GB card might not have the pfSense OS file properly, but I understand this would not effect the serial connection needed to configure the MicroSD 8GB card?

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                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by

                        One simple way to test basic connectivity is to use a paper clip or short piece of wire to connect the Tx and Rx pins at the end of the null modem cable. Take the end of the null-modem cable (where it connects to the APU) and connect pins 2 and 3. See photo. Now when you open Putty, at any speed, you should see anything you type echoed back to you.

                        Steve

                        IMG_20140517_122657.jpg
                        IMG_20140517_122657.jpg_thumb

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                        • E
                          eiger3970
                          last edited by

                          Thanks, that's a handy test to try :-)

                          I disconnected the Null Modem cable from the APU.
                          I stuck a paper clip into the Null Modem cable pins 2 and 3.
                          On my computer > Terminal > $ putty > putty window appears >
                          Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 9600 > Open > Black window opens with the Title putty and another windows opens with PuTTY Fatal Error. Unable to open connection to :  Unable to open serial port.

                          Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 19200 > Open > Black window opens with the Title putty and another windows opens with PuTTY Fatal Error. Unable to open connection to :  Unable to open serial port.

                          Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 38400 > Open > Black window opens with the Title putty and another windows opens with PuTTY Fatal Error. Unable to open connection to :  Unable to open serial port.

                          Terminal > $ putty > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 115200 > Open > Black window opens with the Title putty and another windows opens with PuTTY Fatal Error. Unable to open connection to :  Unable to open serial port.

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                          • stephenw10S
                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                            last edited by

                            That's back to the permissions problem. Try chmodding the port again.

                            Steve

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                            • E
                              eiger3970
                              last edited by

                              Oops, I had the USB in the 2nd computer.
                              Now with the USB back in this 1st computer and the paper clip in the Null modem cable pins 2 and 3.
                              Putty > black screen opens > I can type in the black window > Enter > cursor moves to top left of black screen?

                              Tried Terminal > $ sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0 > Enter > putty > black window and same error of cursor moves to top left of black screen when I type and press Enter.

                              With the paper clip pulled out of pins 2 and 3, the Putty black window opens, but I can't type.

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                              • stephenw10S
                                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                last edited by

                                I'm not sure I understand. You can type and cursor moves but you don't see any text?

                                Steve

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                                • E
                                  eiger3970
                                  last edited by

                                  Sorry if was unclear.

                                  I can type text, however I thought I need to press Enter, which would then 'echo' the text I just typed.
                                  E.g., test > Enter
                                  test

                                  Rather, when I type text in and press Enter, the cursor moves to the top left of the black screen. If I start typing again, the new text goes over the old text.

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                                  • stephenw10S
                                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                    last edited by

                                    No that's all good. If you're seeing any text at all then the cable is working.
                                    Usually the serial console software running whatever you're attached to received what you're typing and echoes back whatever is appropriate including moving to a new line and the CLI prompt etc. Just connecting Rx and Tx you are seeing simply the raw output of the serial terminal.

                                    So that has proved Putty and the USB-Serial converter are working correctly. It has proved the serial cable you using has pins 2 and 3 connected BUT it has not proved that it's a null-modem cable and not a straight through cable since pins 2 and 3 could be connected either way. However since you have a multimeter it's easy to prove.  :) In a null-modem cable (of any type) pins 2 and 3 are crossed in the cable such that pin 2 at one end is connected to pin 3 at the other. Using two paperclips and the meter on it's continuity range (often beeps when connected) you can test this.

                                    Steve

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                                    • E
                                      eiger3970
                                      last edited by

                                      Cable black in Multimeter: COM.
                                      Cable black in Null modem cable end 2.
                                      Cable Null Modem end 1: paper clip in pins 2 and 3.
                                      Cable Null Modem end 2: paper clip in pins 2 and 3.
                                      Cable red in Multimeter: VohmsmA.
                                      Cable red in Null modem cable end 1.
                                      Multimeter dial setting: 200 Ohms.
                                      Multimeter display: 1.6 up to 5.4.

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                                      • stephenw10S
                                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                        last edited by

                                        Ah, sorry I should have explained myself better. You want to test between just pin 2 at one end and pin 3 at the other end.

                                        Steve

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                                        • E
                                          eiger3970
                                          last edited by

                                          Ok, so
                                          Cable black in Multimeter: COM.
                                          Cable black in Null modem cable end 1, pin 2.
                                          Cable Null Modem end 1: paper clip in pin 2.
                                          Cable Null Modem end 2: paper clip in pin 3.
                                          Cable red in Multimeter: VohmsmA.
                                          Cable red in Null modem cable end 2, pin 3.
                                          Multimeter dial setting: 200 Ohms.
                                          Multimeter display: 1.1.

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                                          • stephenw10S
                                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                            last edited by

                                            Ok that seems to confirm it's a null modem cable.
                                            So you should be able to see some output from the APU at 115,200bps (I think).

                                            Steve

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