Periodic disconnection when connecting to serial via a Mac on Netgate 2100
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Hmm, interesting. We have been investigating that recently on a different model but never seen it on a 2100. Let me see if anything there applies...
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@CarAnalogy I normally use the usb for command line, and I access the GUI over https
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Using the exact command to specify the exact settings in the support article: sudo screen /dev/cu.usbserial-2120 115200 cs8 -parenb -cstopb -ixoff
I can press enter one time to get the menu to appear, then no more input.
I did start the trial of Serial. Once I input those settings, it connects immediately and works perfectly.
I don't know if there's something I'm missing in the screen command or what.
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Hmm. Are you able to test from any other client? Screen in OSX has always been a bit flaky. One thing I've seen a number of times is when it allows multiple client instances to connect to the same port resulting in no input or garbled output.
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@stephenw10 Here's what I can say from testing.
A brand new Netgate 2100 that shipped with 24.03 has no issues. Screen works perfectly fine.
I then tried it on my personal Netgate 2100, which is an older one that was upgraded. That one and all the others I've needed to connect to the console in order to do the usbrecovery install of 24.03, has had the issue.
I don't think it's actually a problem with the router, because I basically gave up and had work buy me a copy of Serial 2. Serial works absolutely flawlessly. Connects instantly and is perfectly responsive on my router.
All the same hardware, only difference was the routers. I can give you the serial numbers of each if you'd like to compare the hardware.
I seem to recall reading that older devices had a different firmware or something related to this. I'll see if I can dig up the reference in the changelog.
So I really don't know what could be going on here. Both devices are on 24.03, same cable, same everything. I don't know why the older one would have a problem with screen, yet work perfectly in Serial.
I can't give as many details but I even had trouble using Putty in Windows in a similar situation.
With regard to multiple instances, when it stops working, I just kill screen and can't connect to the device without unplugging and replugging. It seems like it should work fine, I give it all the exact same options I give Serial.
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Hmm, as far as I know there has only ever been one version uboot that shipped on the 2100.
Does it stop responding in uboot? In the installer? Both equally?
I wouldn't expect much difference there because the USB/serial IC itself is separate from either.
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@stephenw10 in my latest test on the older 2100, I was able to press enter to bring up the main menu, and then unable even to enter a single option right away. This is actually the worst it’s ever been.
And then I simply launch Serial, click on the usb device, and bam it’s right in and as responsive as a local terminal, better than screen ever did.
And on the other hand, same exact scenario as on the older device that doesn’t work at all, the newer device worked fine with screen, without any extra options except flow control, which made no difference on the older device.
I hope I’ve explained this clearly, I can’t see any consistent factor that could be causing a problem.
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Just wiped and reinstalled my Netgate 2100 today, using included USB 2 A to USB 2 Mini-B + USB A->C adapter, plugged into a Mac M2.
I had no disconnects.
I choose XTerm when the option arose, if that makes any difference.
To find the serial connection - and then connect to it, I used the command:
% ls -l /dev/cu.* % sudo screen /dev/cu.usbserial-[replace with your results from above] 115200 -
Thing is, that worked perfectly for me on a newer one. But it doesn't work for me on older ones.
I did a little further experimentation last night and found that the one that gives me so much trouble in screen works just fine with PuTTY. It works fine with Serial on the Mac. Just not with screen.
I'm very confused here but the only actual problem seems to be with screen. It definitely isn't a hardware problem. Both PuTTY and Serial give a nice easy GUI way to specify the serial options. I even gave screen the exact command line to explicitly specify those options.
At this point I've given up and uninstalled the drivers on my Mac and took it back to "Full Security" in the Startup Settings. Work bought me a copy of Serial and it works great, PuTTY will work fine when I have a Windows computer.
I'm just chalking this up to a "me" issue since it seems the verbatim instructions from the manual work for everyone else.
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@CarAnalogy I have only accessed my system over putty with Windows 10, and Windows 11, and OSX iMac 2009 era with a special set of software to access terminal sessions. Never putty on iMac
