Question about linux serial + dreambox via nullmodem

[meerschwein]

Hi,

i am a longtime linux/perl user and just bought two dreamboxes (500 +5620)
I got a lot working (nfs shared, telnet login, linux box as gateway, image flahing via
cat image >/dev/mtd/0 ), i am quite enthusiastic about the dreambox,

Now i got a problem, during flashing an image to the dm 500s, s.th. went wrong,
and the thingy wouldnt boot anymore, so i went for the serial boot console via
nullmodem and ttyS1 on my linux desktop, using minicom.

I get only weird characters, no matter what setting i try for minicom or setting it via stty -F /dev/ttyS1.
It cant be the dm500s having the bootloader garbled, because i get the same thing when
starting minicom with the dm5620s on the nullmodem.

.5.9%3.¨«^þR 5
z£¯þe.*£þ¦þþj.£;æ.U=.SþRþþþo+(¥þ®þe.s.'!9=.57¨.!.¨ ¨........¨...{..s.5

That is how it looks like, when starting up the dm5620s, mind you, the box is working
perfectly, i can telnet to it, etc, only the serial ist just looking weird.
I tried via telnet a:"> echo Test>/dev/tts/0" on the ash commandline
and it brings on the minicom a: "QSt_" with small changes
when changing some settings via stty or minicom.

What could be the problem with my serial port?
Could it be the nullmodem cable? I just bought it as "nullmodem cable".

Or some kernel setting for serial console?

Any help would be appreciated.
I need the serial console, i dont have a windows system, so i cannot use dreamUp
and the dramupl for linux that i found, uses lan....

So any hint anyone? I have already read lots of serial and networking howtos for linux, rien

thanks

[digge]

for transfering a new image just ftp the image to /tmp rename to root.cramfs and then choose manual update in the menues of enigma...

The serial port is as far as i know 8,N,1... But as you say it might be the cable or something cause it should work. Or maybe the serial port driver in the linux machine youre using or something. I think there is some problematic chips that linux drivers have problem with but they are quite rare.

[meerschwein]

Originally Posted by digge

for transfering a new image just ftp the image to /tmp rename to root.cramfs and then choose manual update in the menues of enigma...

The serial port is as far as i know 8,N,1... But as you say it might be the cable or something cause it should work. Or maybe the serial port driver in the linux machine youre using or something. I think there is some problematic chips that linux drivers have problem with but they are quite rare.

Well, i read that the nullmodem cables can be quite different in which and esp.
how many pins are connected.

The driver, hmm, at least the mouse on ttyS0 works flawlessly.
the flashin is not so much of problem, since i use linux, i like the command line,
i am used to it. flashing with eraseall/cat xxxx >/dev/mtd/0 from telnet + nfs is simple.

But access to the boot command line i need for the things i want to do.
At least i know now, that the dm500s bootloader is probably still intact, and only my
serial port or the cable, probably it is the cable, that has a problem.
i bought it at 13 Euro, There were pricier ones.

but thanx anyway, on linux you oftentimes have to work out things.
sometimes it takes a week or two, or even longer.
maybe i try a "via chips serial console linux" for known problems in google,
and if it doesnt bring anything, try another cable.

ciao, thanks

[pikip]

serial consoles under linux are usually configured as 115200,N81.

Following is the minirc.console that I use with my dm7000 (and with any linux console).

pu port             /dev/ttyS0
pu baudrate         115200
pu bits             8
pu parity           N
pu stopbits         1
pu rtscts           No
pu xonxoff          Yes
pu minit
pu mreset
pu mdialpre
pu mdialsuf
pu mdialpre2
pu mdialsuf2
pu mdialpre3
pu mdialsuf3
pu mconnect
pu mnocon1
pu mnocon2
pu mnocon3
pu mnocon4
pu mhangup
pu mdialcan
pu mdialtime
pu mrdelay
pu mretries
pu mdropdtr
pu mautobaud        No
pu showspeed        d
pu hasdcd           No
pu multiline        No

On the other hand, if you have linux skills, then you could set up a tftp+dhcpd/nfs server and net-boot you dreambox (I'm not sure if your model can net-boot). eriksla wrote this howto : _http://erik.oldconomy.com/dreambox/ explaining how to do it on dm7000 (YMMV).

[meerschwein]

Originally Posted by pikip

serial consoles under linux are usually configured as 115200,N81.

Following is the minirc.console that I use with my dm7000 (and with any linux console).

pu port             /dev/ttyS0
pu baudrate         115200
pu bits             8
pu parity           N
pu stopbits         1
pu rtscts           No
pu xonxoff          Yes
pu minit
pu mreset
pu mdialpre
pu mdialsuf
pu mdialpre2
pu mdialsuf2
pu mdialpre3
pu mdialsuf3
pu mconnect
pu mnocon1
pu mnocon2
pu mnocon3
pu mnocon4
pu mhangup
pu mdialcan
pu mdialtime
pu mrdelay
pu mretries
pu mdropdtr
pu mautobaud        No
pu showspeed        d
pu hasdcd           No
pu multiline        No

On the other hand, if you have linux skills, then you could set up a tftp+dhcpd/nfs server and net-boot you dreambox (I'm not sure if your model can net-boot). eriksla wrote this howto : _http://erik.oldconomy.com/dreambox/ explaining how to do it on dm7000 (YMMV).

Thanks very much for your info.
so the rtscts is off. that reminds me of the simple nullmodem cable with only
3 pins connected, that was recommeded somewhere.
This link i had already seen, but didnt think about it.

yes this should also work on both, dm500s and dm5620s,
at least for my dm500s (very sweet little box) _if_ the image i tried to flash onto it
is _not_ recognized as present on bootup(i dont know what is going on in it, since i have no access).
But it is worth trying, with a dhcp demon and tftpd running to make it boot
from my desktop hd. if that works i could telnet to it and flash it.

That is a idea to try, without buying anything.

thanks very much

Dieter

[meerschwein]

hi,

my problem is solved, the ttys1 port didnt work right,
i tried minicom on ttyS0 and put a ps/s mouse instead the serial, and everything was fine.

thanks