[SLUG] USB to serial redux: four port devices

[Peter Hardy]

Can anybody recommend a USB adaptor that provides four serial ports and
works well in Linux? I used to have one of these beasts driving four GSM
modems, with kannel used to send and receive SMS. It's recently died,
though, and finding a replacement is problematic.

I've been toying with a Quatech QSU2-100, which ships with source for a
driver that claims to be compatible with kernels up to and including
2.6.18. Experiments with CentOS 5.0 show that I'm able to talk to an
attached modem in minicom and issue AT commands just fine, but kannel
reports an incorrect response when it tries to communicate with a modem.
So it closes and re-opens the device, at which point the kernel promptly
panics.

So, does anybody have any positive experiences with multi-port USB
adaptors? Or am I going to be adding four separate adaptors and a hub to
my mess of cabling?

-- 
Pete

-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

Re: [SLUG] USB to serial

[John Ferlito]

On Tue, Dec 18, 2007 at 11:32:23PM +1030, Glen Turner wrote:
> Personally, when configuring routers these days I use a Bluetooth-serial
> dongle, which I hang off about 10cm of shortened Cisco console cable.
> Gets rid of the cable across the computer room floor, which is always a
> trip hazard when making physical changes (about the only time you need
> to jack into the console, as opposed to coming in via a console server).
> I
> picked it up in the USA for US$40 and have never seen its like again.
> I'd love to know if something similar can be sourced locally so that
> other staff members can stop stealing mine.

Hmm I want one of those! The important question though is how many
times do you leave the data centre with it still attached to the
router :)

Expansys have a couple. All quite pricey though.


-- 
John
http://www.inodes.org/
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

Re: [SLUG] USB to serial

[Glen Turner]

On Tue, 2007-12-18 at 12:59 +1100, Alan L Tyree wrote:
> Is there anything that I need to look for in these USB to serial
> converters? Any special software needed?

We (AARNet) use the Keyspan USA-19HS. They are about $49 from the
distributor.
We selected them mainly for continuity of supply -- you can certainly
see other devices around for a lot less. They require a firmware
download and a driver, both of these are built into recent Linux
(eg, not RHEL3).  Absolutely solid and no complaints.

Since you are a customer and AustLII is such a fantastic resource
(I'd just die without your online copy of the Telco Act), drop me
your snail-mail address privately and Santa will send you one.

Some USB-serial devices use the "character device" profile in USB.
These don't require a special driver, but can't do handshaking.

Personally, when configuring routers these days I use a Bluetooth-serial
dongle, which I hang off about 10cm of shortened Cisco console cable.
Gets rid of the cable across the computer room floor, which is always a
trip hazard when making physical changes (about the only time you need
to jack into the console, as opposed to coming in via a console server).
I
picked it up in the USA for US$40 and have never seen its like again.
I'd love to know if something similar can be sourced locally so that
other staff members can stop stealing mine.

Cheers, Glen

-- 
Glen Turner   
Tel: 0416 295 857 or +61 416 295 857

-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

Re: [SLUG] USB to serial

[Dean Hamstead]

i bought one from dick smiths (whilst in new zealand), just happened to be
on special so i thought it might come in handy. it really has! 

the linux kernel has a stable driver that picks it up automagically in
debian. windows XP doesnt know what it is until you install a driver then
it works fine. 

if you look in the linux-usb (or is it usb-linux) website, there is
considerable discussion on usb to serial. they will come up as
/dev/ttyUSB(X) devices. 

from what i have read and from my own experiences with it, use software
flow control (or none) not hardware. hardware flow control tends to end
badly. 

but yeah, for anyone who is poking with switches and routers a lot a usb
serial device is really handy. especially given its (mine at least) very
long cable - making up for the lack of length with many supplied serial
leads. you can also extend it with one of those usb cables you get with
every usb stick. 

Dean

On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:59:00 +1100, Alan L Tyree <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
> Is there anything that I need to look for in these USB to serial
> converters? Any special software needed?
> 
> Thanks,
> Alan
> 
> --
> Alan L Tyreehttp://www2.austlii.edu.au/~alan
> Tel:  04 2748 6206  Fax: +61 2 4782 7092
> FWD: 615662
> --
> SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
> Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
-- 
http://fragfest.com.au

-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

Re: [SLUG] USB to serial

[Simon Wong]

I would recommend the Keyspan USA-19HS.



On Tue, 2007-12-18 at 13:33 +1100, Martin Barry wrote:
> $quoted_author = "DaZZa" ;
> > 
> > On Dec 18, 2007 12:59 PM, Alan L Tyree <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > Is there anything that I need to look for in these USB to serial
> > > converters? Any special software needed?
> > 
> > Be careful which one you buy. Some of the cheaper ones simply don't work.
> > 
> > I have one from Lindy, and it's never let me down. Cost a bit more,
> > but well worth it.
> 
> I can recommend the Belkin one. Detected automatically in Ubuntu. YMMV
> 
> cheers
> marty
> 
> -- 
>  The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be 
> a
>   capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety
>   labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?
> 
> http://www.bash.org/?4753

-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

Re: [SLUG] USB to serial

[Martin Barry]

$quoted_author = "DaZZa" ;
> 
> On Dec 18, 2007 12:59 PM, Alan L Tyree <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Is there anything that I need to look for in these USB to serial
> > converters? Any special software needed?
> 
> Be careful which one you buy. Some of the cheaper ones simply don't work.
> 
> I have one from Lindy, and it's never let me down. Cost a bit more,
> but well worth it.

I can recommend the Belkin one. Detected automatically in Ubuntu. YMMV

cheers
marty

-- 
 The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a
capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety
labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

http://www.bash.org/?4753
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

Re: [SLUG] USB to serial

[DaZZa]

On Dec 18, 2007 12:59 PM, Alan L Tyree <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Is there anything that I need to look for in these USB to serial
> converters? Any special software needed?

Be careful which one you buy. Some of the cheaper ones simply don't work.

I have one from Lindy, and it's never let me down. Cost a bit more,
but well worth it.

WindoZe did need drivers for it, from memory, but they were a once
only install - don't recall if Linux did, but I don't think so.

DaZZa
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

[SLUG] USB to serial

[Alan L Tyree]

Is there anything that I need to look for in these USB to serial
converters? Any special software needed?

Thanks,
Alan

-- 
Alan L Tyreehttp://www2.austlii.edu.au/~alan
Tel:  04 2748 6206  Fax: +61 2 4782 7092
FWD: 615662
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

Re: [SLUG] USB to Serial Converter that supports break

[Matthew Hannigan]

On Thu, Nov 23, 2006 at 01:27:43PM +1100, Greg Cockburn wrote:
> Hi Sluggers,
> 
> After upgrading my laptop, I now don't have a serial port.  I need this to
> talk to the odd Sun machine when it breaks, and therefore I need the
> converter to support the "break" command.

You can get Suns to accept something else as a 'break';
a popular alternative is shift-2 (@).

Matt

-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

Re: [SLUG] USB to Serial Converter that supports break

[Peter Hardy]

Greg Cockburn wrote:

Does anyone have any suggestions on a good converter that supports
break, is
readily available, light, and easy to carry.


The Aten UC-232A[1] works out of the box and is fairly compact. From 
memory, I've used it to send breaks without futzing with it. But I don't 
actually have mine any more so can't confirm.


[1] - http://www.elx.com.au/item/UC232A

--
Pete
--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html

[SLUG] USB to Serial Converter that supports break

[Greg Cockburn]

Hi Sluggers,

After upgrading my laptop, I now don't have a serial port.  I need this to
talk to the odd Sun machine when it breaks, and therefore I need the
converter to support the "break" command.

I purchased a U232-P9(2.40) from GPSOZ, which uses the mct_u232 driver, but
as I found out this does not support break.

I have done some googling, but I can only find one example of a converter
that supports break. The Belkin F5U103, but it is very bulky.

There seems to be some kernel patch required to get a USC1000 converter to
send a break correctly, but I would prefer to not go patching kernels if I
can avoid it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a good converter that supports break, is
readily available, light, and easy to carry.

TIA,
Greg.
--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html