I have two PC Engines Alix 2d2 which I've been given and I'm trying to install an (BSD or Linux based) OS on. Currently one has a version of openWRT (the other had openWRT until I formatted the CF card and put on a version of FreeDOS (I don't know if this works because no console)). Both boards were in working order before I began, allbeit working as openWRT systems. I did not test either of their serial ports before I started (although i have changed nothing about the second system so...)In addition to the alix boards I have:a Windows desktop without a built in serial porta USB to serial adapter which I have been using with the Windows desktopa Linux box which has a serial port on the motherboardone serial cable (Startech branded, described as straight through)I have connected each alix board to both computers 1 at a time trying to get, well, anything to come though the serial connection. I've read several articles and how-tos on the internet about the alix boards noting that the speeds mentioned either seem to be 9600 or 38400 so I've tried both.On Windows I was using PuTTY's serial mode to connect (I double checked which com port I was using) and on Linux I was using minicom with the -D 9600/38400 -p /dev/ttyS0 (I also have ttyS1-3 but minicom would not connect to them).So far I've had nothing from the boards, the how-tos describe a brief memory check when they boot, but I've not seen a single character. Never having used a console over serial before I'm at a loss as to what I should try next so any suggestions (or reading material) would be very welcome.
New to using serial console and trying to log into embedded system
embedded;serial port;serial console
You need a null modem cable (or a null modem adapter attached to your serial cable) if both ends of the connection are implementing the DTE side of the RS-232 protocol.Typically computers are DTE and peripherals like modems are DCE. Your embedded board is halfway is kind of a hybrid (runs OSes that also run on PCs, but intended for use as a peripheral possibly) so it's hard to be sure what kind of serial port they'd put on it.The gender of the connectors would be a strong indicator. If you had to use a gender-changing adapter to get your cable plugged in, chances are good that what you really needed was a null modem. DCE ports are usually female, and DTE ports are usually male, so a straight-through cable will have one of each connector and a null-modem cable will have 2 female ends.If RJ-45 connectors are involved, things get tougher. There are more cable configurations to choose from, and gender is no longer a guide.