On Sep 10, 2013, at 4:30 AM, Sampsa Laine <sampsa at mac.com> wrote:
So I'm toying with the idea of putting a Raspberry Pi + LCD screen + keyboard into an
old Intertec (?) SuperBrain case, for use as a beefed up terminal (basically have it boot
Linux, run SIMH and load VMS or something).
Any of you guys got a recommendation as to what USB-serial adapter works best in Linux?
I have used two, both of which work fine with Linux on a PC: the FTDI "chip in the
cable" adapters, and one made by TrippLite (sold at Staples).
However, neither was recognized by my BeagleBone (which runs ARM Linux, ngstr m
distribution). That may well be just a case of not having the right modules installed.
I don't use Raspberry PI (I prefer the open hardware that I get with BB) but since it
too is ARM the situation might be the same. Then again, BB also comes with a Ubuntu
distribution, which might have the necessary USB modules included as standard.
Finally, again on BB, there's an additional option: that device has 6 built-in UARTs,
of which 5.5 are available on connectors (one on a 6-pin "debug" header, the
rest on the 2x46 pin expansion connectors). Those are 3.3 volt logic levels, but you can
get, or build, RS232 adapters for them. I just built a 4 port RS232 adapter, in fact.
So with that, you don't need any USB devices at all and the stock small OS build is
sufficient.
paul
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