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Everything Else => Sharp Zaurus => Model Specific Forums => Distros, Development, and Model Specific Forums => Archived Forums => C1000/3x00 General discussions => Topic started by: Hydraulix on October 24, 2006, 07:55:21 am

Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: Hydraulix on October 24, 2006, 07:55:21 am
I would like to know if I can use the Zaurus (sl-c3200) and hook it up to a sunfire box or whatever to view the console. Kind of like a crash cart. Is this possible?
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: alijames on October 24, 2006, 09:08:48 am
Hi,

When I first got my SL-C3100, I did 'prove a concept' of an emergency console by both of the following methods:

1. Use a USB->serial adaptor on a USB host cable

2. Get hold of a CE-170TS Serial Cable from a Sl-5x00 and plug it into the port on the back (covered up with a handy little dust cover). IIRC this is not <true> rs232 levels, so may not work with some serial devices. Worked OK for me on a Cisco PIX & a 3com 3300 switch though...

You can then use minicom or another serial terminal app. Have not got my Zaurus here today, so can't check what /dev each comes under.

Cheers,

Alistair
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: alijames on October 24, 2006, 12:55:21 pm
Hi,

Had a fiddle with my C3100 now.

Got it talking to a Cisco PIX via my SUB->Serial adaptor using minicom on /dev/ttyUSB0.

Can't find my old 5500 serial cable...

Cheers,

Alistair
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: Bombur on October 24, 2006, 05:04:01 pm
Quote
I would like to know if I can use the Zaurus (sl-c3200) and hook it up to a sunfire box or whatever to view the console. Kind of like a crash cart. Is this possible?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=144675\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]


A USB-Serial Cable (pl2303 driver) will work with the 3X00 along with minicom.  I use it on a daily basis to interface to Sun boxes.  

www.serialio.com


J.
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: InSearchOf on October 24, 2006, 07:48:21 pm
Quote
2. Get hold of a CE-170TS Serial Cable from a Sl-5x00 and plug it into the port on the back (covered up with a handy little dust cover). IIRC this is not <true> rs232 levels, so may not work with some serial devices. Worked OK for me on a Cisco PIX & a 3com 3300 switch though...

Wait... wait... WAIT!

Everyone always told me that the port in the back up the Cxxxx models is non-functional... I think I even asked this along time ago... and got my hand slapped... :-)

Late
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: bluedevils on October 24, 2006, 08:14:21 pm
The port is not fully functional and the levels are not within standard.  If you were just reading from the console, it would work.  IIRC I couldn't input properly.  You need the correct electronic drivers to bring it to within spec.  I keep my serialio cable for my 6000 and use usb/serial for the 3100.  The former setup drains less battery than the latter.
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: daufoo on October 24, 2006, 09:37:42 pm
So anyone has the information on how what the pin layout is?
I will be intersted to know that, as I might try to create a custom bootloader to test things out.
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: Da_Blitz on October 24, 2006, 11:06:00 pm
using the cable on the back is a bad idea because of voltages

i know it has been said but i will just mention that it could render your Z a brick unless you are sure that it is only ttl levels (ie 1=<-3v and 0=>3v, ttl is 1=>4.7v 0=<0.3v note the "-3" on rs-232)
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: Hydraulix on October 24, 2006, 11:22:34 pm
Very nice. Yeah, the crash carts we have here at work suck. I'd love to have a Zaurus that also connects to any sun box we have in our datacenter. Can the Cacko rom do what I want it to do? Or, do I have to install a different rom?
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: Theodoric_of_York on October 24, 2006, 11:59:42 pm
Right before I read this post, I configured a Cisco router using my 3200 running r3, ioconcepts (Prolific chipset) USB to serial adapter, and Minicom.

I had to drop out of X to run minicom because of termcap problems running it under rxvt or xterm. I would imagine that's an easily correctable problem, but I've not had my 3200 long enough to get around to that. I experienced some term problems in the setup screens for minicom even from bash, but not so much that I couldn't set it up for 9600,8,N,1.

With that said, once I got minicom configured, it worked like a champ. I can say that, assuming I get the termcap issues resolved (a search of these forums would probably do the trick), the Cxxxx looks like a great on-the-hip option for anyone who needs a device to console with.

BTW. The Prolific serial adapter "just worked". It showed up on my Z as /dev/ttyUSB0.
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: InSearchOf on October 25, 2006, 08:27:36 am
Looks like I have a new item to purchase...

Thanks for that info Theodoric of York...

Late
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: bluedevils on October 25, 2006, 09:06:20 am
You just need minicom to run from console (qconsole for example).  I used to console into sun boxes all the time with the 760 and cacko.

Quote
Can the Cacko rom do what I want it to do? Or, do I have to install a different rom?[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=144749\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: drnick on October 25, 2006, 09:32:05 am
I can second the ioconcepts (pl2303) usb-serial adaptor works.  I got mine at CompUSA here in the states for around $30.  You can find it and others with the Prolific PL2303 chipset much cheaper online.  Kernel Modules for SharpROM can be found here for other usb-serial devices http://www.enm.bris.ac.uk/teaching/enjmr/Zaurus_SL-C3000/ (http://www.enm.bris.ac.uk/teaching/enjmr/Zaurus_SL-C3000/)
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: InSearchOf on October 25, 2006, 10:05:28 am
Can anyone vouche for the kernel module already being inplace in any of the pdaXrom Kernels.. 2.4(beta1,2,3) 2.6(4,rc121)

Late
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: kellyharding on October 25, 2006, 06:50:57 pm
Anybody any idea whether this would work on a C860?

I'd like to use it for my SparcStations due to space, but I'm presuming USB-serial is out for me with a c860, right?

Kelly
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: Theodoric_of_York on October 25, 2006, 10:24:12 pm
Quote
Anybody any idea whether this would work on a C860?

I'd like to use it for my SparcStations due to space, but I'm presuming USB-serial is out for me with a c860, right?

Kelly
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=144847\")

Correct. No built in USB host on 860. You can use one of these - [a href=\"http://www.serialio.com/products/adaptors/ZThinCable.htm]http://www.serialio.com/products/adaptors/ZThinCable.htm[/url] (sold out, but not really hard to find AFAIK), or - the Sharp CE-170TS serial cable (I don't know if it would fit the 860).

At one point I bought a couple of adaptors that would let you cut one end off a serial cable and convert the end to the Z's pinout. Cable worked great, but the screen of my 5500 made a lousy terminal. If I come across it I will sell the other adaptor to you for the cost of a stamp.
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: alijames on October 26, 2006, 04:32:18 am
Useful convertor board for Cxxx serial port conversion...

https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=21822&hl= (https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=21822&hl=)

Alistair
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: pelrun on October 26, 2006, 05:30:18 am
The older zauruses have TTL level serial too

https://www.oesf.org/index.php?title=Serial_Port (https://www.oesf.org/index.php?title=Serial_Port)
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: Hydraulix on October 30, 2006, 04:35:36 am
I have this cable

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_in..._Serial_Adapter (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=SEARCH&Ntt=usb+to+serial&N=0&Dx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&D=usb+to+serial&Ntk=All&product_code=309975&Pn=High_Speed_USB_Serial_Adapter)


I'm assuming any cable should work with the sl-c3200 since it's just a usb device. Or am I wrong?
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: InSearchOf on October 30, 2006, 08:23:28 am
Well since you already have it...

Hook it up and let us know...

Late
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: Hydraulix on October 30, 2006, 08:28:16 pm
Quote
Well since you already have it...

Hook it up and let us know...

Late
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=145118\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]


I'm still waiting on my sl-c3200 to come in the mail.
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: liberated on November 20, 2006, 08:44:11 am
I have a USB<->RS232 converter which I plug in to my C3100. The adaptor is recognized and the modules usbserial and ftdi_sio are loaded, this lsmod tells me. However I get no /dev/ttyUSBn so I don't know how to open the serial port.

If anyone who has got a USB-serial adaptor to work can help out on this I would be very grateful.
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: InSearchOf on November 20, 2006, 08:49:38 am
Are you sure /dev/ttyUSBn is the port that opens...

usually "dmesg" will tell you want port it maps it too...

This may fall in the same boat as USBNet not working under rc121 just yet...

Late
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: InSearchOf on November 20, 2006, 08:59:41 am
Ok... I just check the udev rules... it is setup to map to /dev/ttyUSB0

so dont know why it isn't working for you... unless you are using actual /dev/ttyUSBn and not subsituting the "n" for a #  

:-)

Late
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: liberated on November 20, 2006, 09:16:13 am
Quote
Ok... I just check the udev rules... it is setup to map to /dev/ttyUSB0

so dont know why it isn't working for you... unless you are using actual /dev/ttyUSBn and not subsituting the "n" for a #   

:-)

Late
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=146722\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Found it... was in /dev/tts/USB0. Silly me.
Thanx anyway.
Title: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console
Post by: InSearchOf on November 20, 2006, 09:20:34 am
Yea.. I read it wrong... it is mapping where it is suppose to..

KERNEL="ttyUSB[0-9]*",  NAME="tts/USB%n", GROUP="root", MODE="0600"

Late