Difference between revisions of "Add a Serial port to the PowerPC Linkstation"
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| + | {{Template:Articles}}<center><font color=red>''Originally by frontalot and nix from linkstationwiki.org''</font></center> | ||
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The console is the text output device for system administration messages. These messages come from the kernel, from the init system and from the system logger. On modern small computers the console is usually the computer's attached monitor and keyboard. The LinkStation, however, doesn't have monitor output; instead, it uses a serial connection for console output. Not only does the serial console provide valuable debugging output, it also allows root access! | The console is the text output device for system administration messages. These messages come from the kernel, from the init system and from the system logger. On modern small computers the console is usually the computer's attached monitor and keyboard. The LinkStation, however, doesn't have monitor output; instead, it uses a serial connection for console output. Not only does the serial console provide valuable debugging output, it also allows root access! | ||
| − | Most of this information courtesy of http://www.type-g.com, http://www.kurobox.com, http://www.tldp.org, and John Taylor. | + | Most of this information courtesy of http://www.type-g.com, http://www.kurobox.com, http://www.tldp.org, http://www.larwe.com, and John Taylor. |
Also look at: [http://www.kurobox.com/mwiki/index.php/Add_Serial_Port How to attach a serial port to the Kurbox/KuroboxHG] | Also look at: [http://www.kurobox.com/mwiki/index.php/Add_Serial_Port How to attach a serial port to the Kurbox/KuroboxHG] | ||
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* (1) Desolder braid, solder sucker, or Servisol Soldamop | * (1) Desolder braid, solder sucker, or Servisol Soldamop | ||
* (1) 0.1” series PCB header plug, 4-way | * (1) 0.1” series PCB header plug, 4-way | ||
| − | * (1) Serial converter (or build your own - see [[ | + | * (1) Serial converter (or build your own - see [[Add a Serial port to the PowerPC Linkstation#Stage_4_-_The_Serial_Converter | Stage 4]]) |
* (1) Tweezers | * (1) Tweezers | ||
* (1) Anti-static wrist strap | * (1) Anti-static wrist strap | ||
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* Remove the main circuit board by removing the 4 mounting screws: | * Remove the main circuit board by removing the 4 mounting screws: | ||
* Place the circuit board on a static-free work area: | * Place the circuit board on a static-free work area: | ||
| − | [[Image:pcb.jpg|200px]] | + | [[Image:pcb.jpg|thumb|Right|200px| The Circuit Board ]] |
== Stage 2 - Attach Header to the Board == | == Stage 2 - Attach Header to the Board == | ||
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* The console header needs to be attached to the J1 pad: | * The console header needs to be attached to the J1 pad: | ||
* Remove the preexisting solder from J1: | * Remove the preexisting solder from J1: | ||
| − | + | * Solder the PCB header to J1 so that the pinouts face towards the IDE header | |
| − | [[Image:Consoleheader.jpg|200px | + | [[Image:Consoleheader.jpg||thumb|Right|200px| Solder the PCB header to J1 so that the pinouts face towards the IDE header ]] |
| − | + | ===''' J1 Pinout '''=== | |
| − | + | ||
{| style="background:Gainsboro;border-collapse:collapse;border:solid 1px black" | {| style="background:Gainsboro;border-collapse:collapse;border:solid 1px black" | ||
| − | |+ | + | |+ |
|- | |- | ||
| style="border:solid 1px white" |'''Pin ''' | | style="border:solid 1px white" |'''Pin ''' | ||
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== Stage 3 - Enable Full Serial Tx/Rx == | == Stage 3 - Enable Full Serial Tx/Rx == | ||
| + | ===Method 1 (easier)=== | ||
| + | *To enable write support across the serial port bridging r76 with a short piece of wire or just with some soldering | ||
| + | *IN SHORT, ALL THAT IS NECESSARY TO GET 2 WAY SERIAL COMMUNICATION ON THE KURO HG, HD, AND PPC LINKSTATIONS IS TO BRIDGE THE CONTACTS FOR THE SERIES RESISTOR AT R76. | ||
| + | http://forum.buffalo.nas-central.org/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=9186 | ||
| − | To enable write support across the serial port, remove the 10K ohm pullup resistor from R75 and install it , or another 10K ohm pullup resistor, to R76. | + | ===Method 2 (original)=== |
| + | [[Image:Kuro-r76.jpg|thumb|Right|200px| To enable write support across the serial port, remove the 10K ohm pullup resistor from R75 and install it , or another 10K ohm pullup resistor, to R76. From http://www.larwe.com ]] | ||
| + | *To enable write support across the serial port, remove the 10K ohm pullup resistor from R75 and install it , or another 10K ohm pullup resistor, to R76. | ||
| + | [[Image:HG_J1_RXTX_enable.jpg|thumb|Right|200px| HG hardware requires different procedure. Instead of adding 10K ohm, a short wire connecting two pads perpendicular to R69 worked for me (I replaced R69 with 10K ohms, you can keep the original part.)]] | ||
| − | ===Desoldering Tip=== | + | ====Desoldering Tip==== |
To desolder an SMD resistor you can apply the following trick: | To desolder an SMD resistor you can apply the following trick: | ||
* Take a short piece of blank wire and bend one end into a small U-shape using some small pliers. The U-shape should be as such that you can touch the sides of both ends of the resistor at the same time. The width of the U should basically be the length of the resistor. | * Take a short piece of blank wire and bend one end into a small U-shape using some small pliers. The U-shape should be as such that you can touch the sides of both ends of the resistor at the same time. The width of the U should basically be the length of the resistor. | ||
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== Stage 4 - The Serial Converter == | == Stage 4 - The Serial Converter == | ||
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== Stage 5 - Using the Serial Console == | == Stage 5 - Using the Serial Console == | ||
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| style="border:solid 1px white" | None | | style="border:solid 1px white" | None | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External Links== | ||
| + | * http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/HowTo/AddASerialPort | ||
| + | * http://www.kurobox.com/mwiki/index.php/Add_Serial_Port | ||
| + | * http://www.larwe.com/technical/kuro_serial.html | ||
| + | * http://www.type-g.com | ||
| + | * http://www.kurobox.com | ||
| + | * http://www.tldp.org | ||
| + | |||
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[[Category:HG]] | [[Category:HG]] | ||
[[Category:Hardware]] | [[Category:Hardware]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Howto]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:45, 15 November 2009
The console is the text output device for system administration messages. These messages come from the kernel, from the init system and from the system logger. On modern small computers the console is usually the computer's attached monitor and keyboard. The LinkStation, however, doesn't have monitor output; instead, it uses a serial connection for console output. Not only does the serial console provide valuable debugging output, it also allows root access!
Most of this information courtesy of http://www.type-g.com, http://www.kurobox.com, http://www.tldp.org, http://www.larwe.com, and John Taylor.
Also look at: How to attach a serial port to the Kurbox/KuroboxHG
Contents
Prerequisites
- (1)Electronic-grade soldering iron
- (1) 0.015", 1 oz silver-bearing solder
- (1) Desolder braid, solder sucker, or Servisol Soldamop
- (1) 0.1” series PCB header plug, 4-way
- (1) Serial converter (or build your own - see Stage 4)
- (1) Tweezers
- (1) Anti-static wrist strap
Stage 1 - Access the Board
- Disassemble the LinkStation.
- Remove the main circuit board by removing the 4 mounting screws:
- Place the circuit board on a static-free work area:
Stage 2 - Attach Header to the Board
- The console header needs to be attached to the J1 pad:
- Remove the preexisting solder from J1:
- Solder the PCB header to J1 so that the pinouts face towards the IDE header
J1 Pinout
| Pin | Signal |
| 1 | Transmit (TX) |
| 2 | Receive (RX) |
| 3 | Power (3.3V)* |
| 4 | Ground (GND) |
Stage 3 - Enable Full Serial Tx/Rx
Method 1 (easier)
- To enable write support across the serial port bridging r76 with a short piece of wire or just with some soldering
- IN SHORT, ALL THAT IS NECESSARY TO GET 2 WAY SERIAL COMMUNICATION ON THE KURO HG, HD, AND PPC LINKSTATIONS IS TO BRIDGE THE CONTACTS FOR THE SERIES RESISTOR AT R76.
http://forum.buffalo.nas-central.org/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=9186
Method 2 (original)
To enable write support across the serial port, remove the 10K ohm pullup resistor from R75 and install it , or another 10K ohm pullup resistor, to R76. From http://www.larwe.com
- To enable write support across the serial port, remove the 10K ohm pullup resistor from R75 and install it , or another 10K ohm pullup resistor, to R76.
Desoldering Tip
To desolder an SMD resistor you can apply the following trick:
- Take a short piece of blank wire and bend one end into a small U-shape using some small pliers. The U-shape should be as such that you can touch the sides of both ends of the resistor at the same time. The width of the U should basically be the length of the resistor.
- Wrap the other end of the wire around the tip of your soldering iron - while it is still cold. You now have a small U-shaped tool to remove the resistor.
- Heat up the iron. When the wire is hot enough, heat up the solder at both ends of the resistor and gently pull the resistor away from the pads with the U-shaped tip. Be careful, the resistor likes to end up on the floor.
Stage 4 - The Serial Converter
The serial port signals from the processor are only 3.3V. For proper RS-232 12V signaling, an RS-232 level shifter needs to be added. These are very common in PDA serial cables also, but can be purchased
| Models other than KuroPro |
|
|
If you are attaching a serial header pin onto the main board, you may want to consider:
|
Build your own LVTTL/RS232 or LVTTL/USB interface
- LVTTL/RS232 - Building a Custom Serial Interface
- LVTTL/USB - Use a Nokia Serial Cable on an ARM9 Linkstation
- LVTTL/USB - Use a cheap phone sync cable with the serial port
Buy your own TTL Level Shifter
- LVTTL/RS232 - MAX232 based from Futurelec - MINIRS2323V
- LVTTL/USB - FTDI chip based cable - TTL-232R-3V3
Usage considerations for the TTL-232R-3V3
|
A working/tested pinout/wire-color scheme is:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Solder the 4-pin header to the board. Make sure you don't have shorts.
- You will need to switch wires on the TTL-232R-3V3 cable. Use a sharp object to lift the plastic tabs and carefully pull the wires out. Rearrange them according to the table above (black, empty, orange, yellow, empty, empty) and slide those wires back in. Tape the other wires to make sure they don't short anything.
- When plugging in the cable, make sure black aligns with GND, yellow with TXD, and orange with RXD.
- Connect the USB cable to your computer, start a terminal program with the right settings.
- Turn on the device, you should see output from the bootloader in couple seconds.
Stage 5 - Using the Serial Console
- You may access the serial console using Windows HyperTerminal (included with Windows) or [TeraTerm Pro].
Serial Port Settings
| Data | Settings |
| Baudrate | 57600 |
| Data bits | 8 |
| Stop bits | 1 |
| Parity | None |
| Flow Control | None |
