Next Previous Contents

The Linux Serial HOWTO

David S.Lawyer dave@lafn.org original by Greg Hankins

v2.05, 1 January 2000


This document describes serial port features other than those which should be covered by Modem-HOWTO, PPP-HOWTO, Serial-Programming-HOWTO, or Text-Terminal-HOWTO. It lists info on multiport serial cards. It contains technical info about the serial port itself in more detail than found in the above HOWTOs and should be best for troubleshooting when the problem is the serial port itself. If you are dealing with a Modem, PPP (used for Internet access on a phone line), or a Text-Terminal, those HOWTOs should be consulted first.

1. Introduction

2. How the Hardware Transfers Bytes

3. Serial Port Basics

4. Is the Serial Port Obsolete?

5. Multiport Serial Boards/Cards/Adapters

6. Configuring the Serial Port

7. Serial Port Devices /dev/ttyS2, etc.

8. Interesting Programs You Should Know About

9. Speed (Flow Rate)

10. Communications Programs And Utilities

11. Serial Tips And Miscellany

12. Troubleshooting

13. Interrupt Problem Details

14. What Are UARTs? How Do They Affect Performance?

15. Pinout and Signals

16. Voltage Waveshapes

17. Other Serial Devices (not async EIA-232)

18. Other Sources of Information


Next Previous Contents