*nix terminal client

Daz · 13-04-2008, 22:12

Random question for the nix geeks - what do you use to make a terminal/serial connection, to a router or some such device, from a shell?

I was down working in a lab last week with some routers, and stuck the laptop into buntu so I could fiddle with some fiddly things easier. I soon wanted a console connection to a router and realised the occasion had never presented itself before and I wasnt sure what tool to use

I ended up wine'ing Putty which I had on a USB stick. Worked like a charm but I dont want to come out of a shell in future!

Mark · 13-04-2008, 22:39

Not used serial terminals in, like, forever, and we had a few dumb Wyse terminals around the place which helped.

However, a bit of Googling turned up GTKterm (GTK+ Hyperterminal 'clone'), and minicom (shell-based utility).

Dunno if they're any good but they're both in the repository and minicom will keep you in your shell.

leowyatt · 13-04-2008, 22:46

Not sure if this is what you mean but we use ponderosa at work.

Chuckles · 13-04-2008, 23:05

Can't you just telnet/ssh to com1?

Mark · 13-04-2008, 23:13

No - serial and IP may as well be apples and oranges. You can of course send IP data over a serial line using a transport (PPP or SLIP), but that's no use when 'talking' to hardware like routers.

Unfortunately Ponderosa is a .NET app, so as far as *nix is concerned I'm afraid that won't be any better than using Putty.

Daz · 13-04-2008, 23:18

They'd both require some sort of daemon on the other end listening on a socket - a serial connection is just bits in and bits out, no software to speak of.

Leo - If you mean poderosa, I use that too a lot - In Windows

I did try it it wine but it complained, which I expected, no dotnet stuff for it.

Mark - GTKTerm is good, not exactly what I wanted (ideally I just fire it from bash with some parameters and away I go), but that's going in for sure. Minicom from a quick look seems a bit overkill perhaps, and more modem centric, but I'll have a look, ta

Mark · 13-04-2008, 23:21

picocom then? (also in the repository)

Daz · 13-04-2008, 23:24

That looks just the baby, thanks

Garp · 16-04-2008, 21:47

minicom all the way, use it routinely for consoling Sun boxes over serial cables

Daz · 17-04-2008, 10:55

I'll grab that as well, ta

13-04-2008, 22:12	#1
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	*nix terminal client Random question for the nix geeks - what do you use to make a terminal/serial connection, to a router or some such device, from a shell? I was down working in a lab last week with some routers, and stuck the laptop into buntu so I could fiddle with some fiddly things easier. I soon wanted a console connection to a router and realised the occasion had never presented itself before and I wasnt sure what tool to use I ended up wine'ing Putty which I had on a USB stick. Worked like a charm but I dont want to come out of a shell in future! __________________ apt-get moo

13-04-2008, 22:39	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Not used serial terminals in, like, forever, and we had a few dumb Wyse terminals around the place which helped. However, a bit of Googling turned up GTKterm (GTK+ Hyperterminal 'clone'), and minicom (shell-based utility). Dunno if they're any good but they're both in the repository and minicom will keep you in your shell. Last edited by Mark; 13-04-2008 at 23:15.

13-04-2008, 22:46	#3
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	Not sure if this is what you mean but we use ponderosa at work. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

13-04-2008, 23:05	#4
Chuckles '09 sexual conquests: 4.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075	Can't you just telnet/ssh to com1? __________________

13-04-2008, 23:13	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	No - serial and IP may as well be apples and oranges. You can of course send IP data over a serial line using a transport (PPP or SLIP), but that's no use when 'talking' to hardware like routers. Unfortunately Ponderosa is a .NET app, so as far as nix is concerned I'm afraid that won't be any better than using Putty. Last edited by Mark; 13-04-2008 at 23:19.*

13-04-2008, 23:18	#6
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	They'd both require some sort of daemon on the other end listening on a socket - a serial connection is just bits in and bits out, no software to speak of. Leo - If you mean poderosa, I use that too a lot - In Windows I did try it it wine but it complained, which I expected, no dotnet stuff for it. Mark - GTKTerm is good, not exactly what I wanted (ideally I just fire it from bash with some parameters and away I go), but that's going in for sure. Minicom from a quick look seems a bit overkill perhaps, and more modem centric, but I'll have a look, ta __________________ apt-get moo

13-04-2008, 23:21	#7
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	picocom then? (also in the repository)

13-04-2008, 23:24	#8
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	That looks just the baby, thanks __________________ apt-get moo

16-04-2008, 21:47	#9
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	minicom all the way, use it routinely for consoling Sun boxes over serial cables __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

17-04-2008, 10:55	#10
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	I'll grab that as well, ta __________________ apt-get moo