Author Topic: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console (Read 9077 times)

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?

alijames · « **Reply #1 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

alijames · « **Reply #2 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

Bombur · « **Reply #3 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.

InSearchOf · « **Reply #4 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

bluedevils · « **Reply #5 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.

daufoo · « **Reply #6 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.

Da_Blitz · « **Reply #7 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)

Hydraulix · « **Reply #8 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?

Theodoric_of_York · « **Reply #9 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.

InSearchOf · « **Reply #10 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

bluedevils · « **Reply #11 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]

drnick · « **Reply #12 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/

InSearchOf · « **Reply #13 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

kellyharding · « **Reply #14 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

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Author Topic: Can I Hook A Zaurus Up To A Sun Box Or Any Console (Read 9077 times)