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Connect to Serial Console from Windows

Connecting to a Linux device via USB-Serial Console from Windows

There are two ways to connect to a Linux device via usb-serial console from Windows:

  • Using Putty
  • Using Cygwin

Installation and Setup

Both setup requires the installation of the USB-to-Serial/Virtual COM Port (VCP) Driver in the Windows device.

Driver

  • Driver for the Windows device was downloaded from Future Technology Devices International Limited's website
  • Installation process was as easy as clicking the downloaded file
  • After the installation the USB-to-Serial adapter's usb part was connected to the Windows device and the serial part in the Linux device.
  • At this point the Windows issues a COM# (COM3 or COM4) to the adapter (usually at the lower left corner, in the Windows notification center)
  • Configuration was modified according to this.
  • Only difference from the above instruction was in #8, Bits per second (BPS) was set to 115200 instead of 9600.

Cygwin

  • Windows executable was downloaded from Cygwin's website
  • Cygwin setup was done by following this.
  • "Screen" was the additional package that was added beyond the default package set. (section 2.9 in the above link)

Putty

  • Windows executable was downloaded from Putty' website (Section: A Windows installer for everything except PuTTYtel)
  • Setup was similar to this (saved as the default profile)

Invocation

  • For Cygwin: Click on the cigwin icon and type screen /dev/ttyS[X] 115200
  • For Putty: Click on the putty icon!

Reference

Com port to /dev/tty conversion

PC
Linux kernel
Kernel with devfs
Bootloaders
COM1
/dev/ttys0
/dev/tts/0
0
COM2
/dev/ttys1
/dev/tts/1
1
COM3
/dev/ttys2
/dev/tts/2
2
COM4
/dev/ttys3
/dev/tts/3
3