APU set up with Wi-Fi
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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
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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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That's back to the permissions problem. Try chmodding the port again.
Steve
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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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I'm not sure I understand. You can type and cursor moves but you don't see any text?
Steve
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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
testRather, 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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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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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. -
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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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. -
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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Ok, that's good to be definite the Null modem cable and serial female/USB male cable is not a problem.
Trying Terminal > $ putty > Enter > Connection type: Serial > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 115200 > Open > Black window opens with the Title /dev/ttyUSB0 - PuTTY, but unable to type anything.
Maybe this is a step forward, as before the error used to appear in a 2nd window: PuTTY Fatal Error. Unable to open connection to : Unable to open serial port.:
Maybe the APU BIOS (or whatever the APU is meant to function until the pfSense OS is installed from the MicroSD card) should be doing something?
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Yes reading the apu manual you should see some output from coreboot even if you don't have any storage card loaded.
Do you see the three leds light when you power it up?Steve
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Thanks, yes I had briefly seen the
manual > page 6 > Getting started… > "The board should now power on. All three LEDs will light during BIOS POST...";
and picture.
Didn't realise it was the correct manual though as there's usually so many APU search results...so that's good I was kind of on the right track.Hmm, still no BIOS messages on the serial console?
Yes, the three LED lights that are solid green are (see attachment):
D7 (bottom left),
D10 (bottom right) and
D11 (2nd from bottom right).The power supply is:
AC ADAPTOR R3213
MODEL: KSAS0151200150HA
INPUT: 100-240V~50/60Hz 0.4A
OUTPUT: 12V---1.5A
For I.T.E. use onlyMaybe the power supply needs to be increased to 2 Amps?
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I've never seen an APU board so I've no idea which leds should light up. The manual just says three. Perhaps check the pc-engines forum.
The power requirement is 6-12W so that's 0.5-1A. Your psu shohld be fine.
Some serial consoles require hardware flow control. You may not have putty set for that. Your cable may not be wired for it. Once booting pfSense though it's not a problem. You should see pfSense output at 9600bps.Steve
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Putty settings:
Session > Serial line: /dev/ttyUSB0 > Speed: 9600.I adjusted the Putty Flow control via:
Putty > Enter > Category > Serial > Flow control: None > black window opens with text: k ! and cannot type.
Putty > Enter > Category > Serial > Flow control: XON/XOFF > black window opens and cannot type. (this was the default setting).
Putty > Enter > Category > Serial > Flow control: RTS/CTS > black window opens and cannot type. -
I think it's time to consult someone who actually has one of these boards. ;)
How are you booting pfSense? Does it show any signs of booting, beeping LEDs flashing etc?Earlier when it appeared you had your PSU connected the wrong way around that concerned me but then you reported that after re-configuring it to centre positive the board appeared to be working. However I have no idea what precautions the board has against incorrect polarity, it may have been damaged. :-\ Something to ask about on the pc-engines forum perhaps.
Steve
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I'm not sure how the APU is booting pfSense.
I followed the tutorial which says to transfer the file onto the microSD 8GB card and insert the microSD 8GB card into the APU.
I downloaded this file from pfSense download
> Computer Architecture: AMD64 (64-bit) > Platform: Embedded (NanoBSD) typically with CF > Console: Serial > CF card size: 4GB.I might try the pc-engines then.
Thanks for the suggestions. -
How did you write the image to the SD card? It may be booting in the background and you just can't see it but I would expect to something on the console at 9600. :-\
Steve
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After downloading the file pfSense-2.1.3-RELEASE-4g-amd64-nanobsd.img.gz, I
1. Unzipped pfSense-2.1.3-RELEASE-4g-amd64-nanobsd.img.gz.
2. Pasted the unzipped file pfSense-2.1.3-RELEASE-4g-amd64-nanobsd.img to the MicroSD 8GB card.
3. Ejected the USB card reader from the computer.
4. Removed the microSD 8GB card from the card reader.
5. Inserted the microSD 8GB card into the APU.
6. Turned on the APU.
7. Stuck the APU into the computer's USB port.
8. Tried the serial port access via the computer Terminal and Putty.
9. Putty black window won't allow me to type.
10. Posted a forum query here and on PC Engines support forum.
