Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Initial pfSense Garabage Serial Output Prompt

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
    17 Posts 6 Posters 14.4k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • K
      kevindd992002
      last edited by

      That's what I thought. For lack of a better word, I called it "garbage" but I knew that it was purely a cosmetic issue as I can navigate through the console just fine.

      I'm using the default SSH settings of Putty as my terminal program. Where do you set the emulation there?

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • D
        divsys
        last edited by

        I'm using the default SSH settings of Putty as my terminal program. Where do you set the emulation there?

        Look in the configuration section under "Terminal"->"Keyboard".
        The latest version has an option for "ESC[n~" (which should work) or you can try the VT-100 setting.
        You might also try that in conjunction with the "Backspace Key" setting (I think that's how they actually change the "/" character - backspace over it and type again)

        -jfp

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • K
          kevindd992002
          last edited by

          The default setting is ESC[n~ and that didn't work. Let me try VT100+ instead and see if it makes a difference.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • K
            kevindd992002
            last edited by

            VT100+ didn't make any difference. Any more ideas?

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • DerelictD
              Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
              last edited by

              Do you have

              DEVICE=C:\MSDOS\ANSI.SYS

              In your C:\CONFIG.SYS file?

              But seriously. Not sure what you're seeing as putty generally displays things OK. As far as I can tell, putty emulates xterm and pfSense defaults to cons25 which should be pretty close. I have never had it not be good enough to get a system installed.

              The terminal type for the serial console is set in /etc/ttys. cons25 should work fine though. If you break your system messing with it it's on you. Have a restoration plan.

              Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
              A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
              DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
              Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • K
                kevindd992002
                last edited by

                Let me check and report back.

                Yeah, this is the first time I've used serial with pfsense too so I'm not sure why it displays the initial text/graphics as such. It's working just fine, installation was a bliss, but I'm just experiencing this minor issue.

                No problem with breaking my system, I'm a tech savvy person ;)

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • K
                  kevindd992002
                  last edited by

                  I don't have a C:\config.sys file in Windows 8.1 x64 (and yes I already made sure to show hidden files and folder including system files). Any thoughts?

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • K
                    kevindd992002
                    last edited by

                    This is a very old thread but can anyone follow up on this please?

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • P
                      pppfsense
                      last edited by

                      PUTTY does not use or care what config.sys may have.
                      (I stopped using that file completely 10 years ago?).

                      I imagine a speed (bps), parity or stop bits (i.e. serial port config) issue.

                      Btw, specific terminal info only comes into play for special commands/formatting.

                      For just the regular login, any terminal emulator will do. Even no terminal emulator, anything that can read the serial port with the with the speed, parity, etc. will show the login prompt.

                      @Derelict:

                      Do you have

                      DEVICE=C:\MSDOS\ANSI.SYS

                      In your C:\CONFIG.SYS file?

                      But seriously. Not sure what you're seeing as putty generally displays things OK. As far as I can tell, putty emulates xterm and pfSense defaults to cons25 which should be pretty close. I have never had it not be good enough to get a system installed.

                      The terminal type for the serial console is set in /etc/ttys. cons25 should work fine though. If you break your system messing with it it's on you. Have a restoration plan.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • K
                        kevindd992002
                        last edited by

                        @pppfsense:

                        PUTTY does not use or care what config.sys may have.
                        (I stopped using that file completely 10 years ago?).

                        I imagine a speed (bps), parity or stop bits (i.e. serial port config) issue.

                        Btw, specific terminal info only comes into play for special commands/formatting.

                        For just the regular login, any terminal emulator will do. Even no terminal emulator, anything that can read the serial port with the with the speed, parity, etc. will show the login prompt.

                        @Derelict:

                        Do you have

                        DEVICE=C:\MSDOS\ANSI.SYS

                        In your C:\CONFIG.SYS file?

                        But seriously. Not sure what you're seeing as putty generally displays things OK. As far as I can tell, putty emulates xterm and pfSense defaults to cons25 which should be pretty close. I have never had it not be good enough to get a system installed.

                        The terminal type for the serial console is set in /etc/ttys. cons25 should work fine though. If you break your system messing with it it's on you. Have a restoration plan.

                        So how can I fix this?

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • D
                          doktornotor Banned
                          last edited by

                          You don't. It's some BIOS bug, plus dunno what's the giant deal with that.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • DerelictD
                            Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                            last edited by

                            LOL. CONFIG.SYS was a JOKE, people.

                            Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
                            A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
                            DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
                            Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • K
                              kevindd992002
                              last edited by

                              Ok then, thanks. It's really not a big deak but one of those OC things tgat you figure might as well ask experienced guys about it.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • D
                                doktornotor Banned
                                last edited by

                                @Derelict:

                                LOL. CONFIG.SYS was a JOKE, people.

                                Yeah, in fact they need

                                @GARBAGE OFF
                                

                                in AUTOEXEC.BAT instead.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • G
                                  gsmithe
                                  last edited by

                                  Sorry for necroposting, but to resolve the installer looking all funky, in putty:
                                  Window -> Translation.
                                  Set "Remote Character Set" to "Use Font Encoding" (it's at the bottom of the list).
                                  Leave "Handling of line drawing characters" set to "Use Unicode line drawing code points."

                                  0_1534523880961_2018-08-17 10_15_38-PuTTY Reconfiguration.png

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • First post
                                    Last post
                                  Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.