11.3. Cable from console port to terminal (or another PC)

The RS-232 standard allows for, but does not specify, the interconnection of two computers without intervening modems. A special cable is required, called a "null modem" cable.

The wiring within the null modem cable depends upon the handshaking and control signals that are needed. Differing manufacturers have differing views on this topic, so don't buy a null modem cable that does not come with a wiring diagram.

Linux needs all of the flow control and modem control signals to be correctly wired. The correct wiring of a null modem cable is shown in Figure 11-1 with an alternative shown in Figure 11-2.

Linux uses CTS and RTS to do handshaking, preventing the computer from overrunning the terminal and preventing the terminal from overrunning the computer. If you are connecting two computers together, then you will not get reliable file transfers without CTS/RTS handshaking.

Linux uses DSR and DCD to sense that a terminal is connected. It will then request a login. If a session is established and DCD falls then Linux will log out the user.

Linux uses DTR to force the link to be cleared. It does this after a user logs off to free up the communications channel.

Either of the null modem designs in Figure 11-1 or Figure 11-2 meets the requirements of the Linux kernel. Figure 11-2 may be marginally better when both computers are remotely located, as the differing states of DSR and DCD can be used to determine which end of the null modem cable has become faulty.

All null modem designs have a common flaw. Computers interconnected with real modems modem will drop Data Set Ready for some time after the local modem is reset by the local computer dropping Data Terminal Ready. Most software is designed to accomodate this slight difference between modem links and null modem links.

Major security exposures and significant loss of reliability can occur with incorrectly wired null modem cables, including the cables in Figure 11-3, Figure 11-4 and Figure 11-5.

      Signal ground ---------------------- Signal ground

       Receive data ---------------------- Transmit data

      Transmit data ---------------------- Receive data

      Ready to send ---------------------- Clear to send

      Clear to send ---------------------- Ready to send

Data terminal ready -----------------+---- Data carrier detect
                                     |
                                     +---- Data set ready

Data carrier detect ----+----------------- Data terminal ready
                        |
     Data set ready ----+

    Ring indication -- not connected

                          not connected -- Ring indication

      Signal ground ---------------------- Signal ground

       Receive data ---------------------- Transmit data

      Transmit data ---------------------- Receive data

      Ready to send ---------------------- Clear to send

      Clear to send ---------------------- Ready to send

Data terminal ready ----+----------------- Data carrier detect
                        |
     Data set ready ----+

                                     +---- Data set ready
                                     |
Data carrier detect ----+------------+---- Data terminal ready

    Ring indication -- not connected

                          not connected -- Ring indication

Unfortunately not all Linux boot loaders support the control signals required by the Linux operating system. This odd state of affairs may force you to do away with control signals and handshaking if you need to issue commands to the boot loader.

There are two ways of defeating the RS-232 handshaking: software and hardware.

If you have a modem then by far the best technique is to disable the control signals and handshaking by using AT commands to configure the modem's software. This allows the handshaking to be restored when the boot loader authors correct their support for serial connections.

For a null modem cable the best approach is to disable handshaking in your terminal emulation software.

In the worst case for a null modem you will need a cable that falsifies the handshaking and control signals. Try not to use these cables in a production environment.

      Signal ground ---------------------- Signal ground

       Receive data ---------------------- Transmit data

      Transmit data ---------------------- Receive data

Data terminal ready ---+              +--- Data terminal ready
                       |              |
      Clear to send ---+              +--- Clear to send
                       |              |
Data carrier detect ---+              +--- Data terminal ready
                       |              |
     Data set ready ---+              +--- Data set ready

      Ready to send -- not connected

                          not connected -- Ready to send

    Ring indication -- not connected

                          not connected -- Ring indication

If you are happy with a quick hack, perhaps just to use a serial console to grab a kernel oops message, then you can configure some getty programs to ignore the RS-232 status signals. For example, mgetty has the direct option in mgetty.conf. In this case only a three-wire or two-wire RS-232 null modem cable is needed.

Signal ground ---------------------- Signal ground

 Receive data ---------------------- Transmit data

Transmit data ---------------------- Receive data

Signal ground ---------------------- Signal ground

Transmit data ---------------------- Receive data

Don't use these cables in a production environment.