USB serial adapter in FreeBSD

Last modified: Jun. 13, 2009 Contents 1 - Summary 2 - Kernel options 3 - Plug in USB serial adapter 4 - Connect to router 1 - Summary This guide explains how to use a USB serial adapter in FreeBSD. It also explains how to connect to a device like a router over a serial connection. As an example we will connect to a Cisco router. This has been tested in FreeBSD 7.0 and 7.1. 2 - Kernel options You will need to have the following options in your kernel. device uhci # UHCI PCI->USB interface device ohci # OHCI PCI->USB interface device ehci # EHCI PCI->USB interface (USB 2.0) device usb # USB Bus (required) device ugen # Generic device ucom # USB serial support device uplcom # USB support for Prolific PL-2303 serial adapters If you didn't already have them in your kernel you will need to reboot before using the USB serial adapter. 3 - Plug in USB serial adapter Log in with a normal user account. Plug in the USB serial adapter into the computer and check to make sure it was detected properly. # dmesg | tail -n 1 ucom0: Prolific Technology Inc. USB-Serial Controller, class 0/0, rev 1.10/3.00, addr 2 on uhub0 Find what the actual device is listed as. # ls -l /dev/cuaU* crw-rw---- 1 uucp dialer 0, 116 Mar 2 18:54 /dev/cuaU0 crw-rw---- 1 uucp dialer 0, 117 Mar 2 18:54 /dev/cuaU0.init crw-rw---- 1 uucp dialer 0, 118 Mar 2 18:54 /dev/cuaU0.lock In our example it's listed as /dev/cuaU0. 4 - Connect to router Connect a serial cable from the USB serial adapter to the console port on the back of the Cisco router. Type the following and press [Enter] to connect. # sudo cu -l /dev/cuaU0 -s 9600 Connected User Access Verification Username: xxx Password: xxx Welcome to router.test.com! router> When you are done type exit. router>exit router con0 is now available Press RETURN to get started. Type '~.' to exit. Press 'Shift+~' then period. ~ [EOT]

Compellent Serial Console over iDRAC

To get it working a few steps have to be taken on both Controllers:

1.       Configure iDRAC

a.       Go to Network->Serial

b.      Set IPMI’s Baud Rate to 115.2 kbps (Compellent Serial Port Baud Rate)

c.       Apply Settings

2.       During boot enter the Controller’s BIOS

a.       Go to “Serial Communication”

b.      Switch from “Off” to “On without Redirection”

c.       Switch Port Configuration from “Serial Device1=COM1;Serial Device2=COM2” to “Serial Device1=COM2;Serial Device2=COM1”

d.      Save Settings and Reboot Controller

After these steps the Compellent’s serial console is available via iDRAC:

Login to iDRAC using SSH and type “connect” at the prompt. After that the SSH session shows the serial console as if directly connected to the system’s serial port.