Minicom

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Basic minicom configuration

One can use minicom to connect to switches using serial port or using USB to serial converters. To connect to a Cisco switch or Juniper switch using USB-to-serial converter and minicom use:

1. Start a root terminal and run "tail -f /var/log/messages" command
2. Connect USB-to-serial converter to laptop/PC and note the name of USB device

   Feb 28 10:29:56 localhost kernel: [ 3335.083209] usb 3-1: new full speed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
   Feb 28 10:29:56 localhost kernel: [ 3335.094949] usb 3-1: New USB device found, idVendor=067b, idProduct=2303
   Feb 28 10:29:56 localhost kernel: [ 3335.094958] usb 3-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
   Feb 28 10:29:56 localhost kernel: [ 3335.094962] usb 3-1: Product: USB-Serial Controller
   Feb 28 10:29:56 localhost kernel: [ 3335.094966] usb 3-1: Manufacturer: Prolific Technology Inc.
   Feb 28 10:29:56 localhost kernel: [ 3335.095150] usb 3-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
   Feb 28 10:29:56 localhost kernel: [ 3335.095482] pl2303 3-1:1.0: pl2303 converter detected
   Feb 28 10:29:56 localhost kernel: [ 3335.096504] usb 3-1: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0

   In this case name is ttyUSB0

3. Run 'minicom -S' command and set following values:
   • Go to modem and dialing menu and set init string to blank
   • Go to serial port setup and disable hardware flow control
   • Set Bps to 9600 8N1
   • Set Serial Device to correct value (eg /dev/ttyUSB0)

   Then save setup as default

4. Choose 'Exit' to start minicom with chosen settings
5. Connect com cable to console port of switch and power on the device
6. Optionally use 'Ctrl-A Z W' to enable line wrap

In case of a PC with serial port use device /dev/ttyS0 instead of looking through /var/log/messages or dmesg output.

Steps learned partially from http://rblondon.blogspot.in/2007/09/configuring-minicom-on-ubuntu-to.html

Default configuration file

The default configuration file for minicom is /etc/minirc.dfl. Sometimes while using minicom it is necessary to clear the INIT string which gets sent to the device. If INIT string is cleared and settings are saved then it is hard to get back the setup-default INIT string back. In such cases the default configuration file can be deleted so that minicom starts with setup defaults with the desired INIT string.

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