Minicom
Server Training - Server Administration
Starting minicom

The first thing you will need to do is setup a global configuration file for minicom. This will need to be done as root. The example message is seen below.

minicom
minicom: there is no global configuration file /etc/minirc.dfl
Ask your sysadm to create one (with minicom -s).

Create a Global Configuration
Start minicom as root to setup the global configuration.

minicom -s

You will see this information that will need to be completed.

x A - Download directory :                                              
│ B - Upload directory :
│ C - Script directory :
│ D - Script program : runscript
│ E - Kermit program :
│ F - Logging
options
Change which setting?

Create the directories that are needed by typing the appropriate letter and entering the information. Here is an example:

  │ A - Download directory : /home/mike/minicom/down                      │
│ B - Upload directory : /home/mike/minicom/up │
│ C - Script directory : /home/mike/minicom/script │
│ D - Script program : runscript │
│ E - Kermit program : │
│ F - Logging options │

┌─────[configuration]──────┐
│ Filenames and paths │
│ File transfer protocols │
│ Serial port setup │
│ Modem and dialing │
│ Screen and keyboard │
│ Save setup as dfl │
│ Save setup as.. │
│ Exit │
│ Exit from Minicom │

Save your setup. Now you are ready to configure com ports.

 

Configure Com1

Start minicom As root start mnicom to setup a serial port.

minicom -s

Now select Serial port setup. Select A and change:

Serial Device /dev/ttyS0

Note that S0 is the first com port. Select E and change speed to 9600. Go back to main menu and Save Setup as

com1

Choose E

 

Access Com 1

Now that the com1 settings have been created, you may access com1 as root by using this command:

minicom com1

If the password has been enabled you will see:

Press RETURN to get started
User Acccess Verification
Password:

Enter the password that you created.

 

Change Serial Speed

In order to change serial speed, choose Serial Port Setup on the main menu and then select E.

Serial Port Setup
│ A - Serial Device : /dev/ttyS1 │
│ B - Lockfile Location : /var/lock │
│ C - Callin Program : │
│ D - Callout Program : │
│ E - Bps/Par/Bits : 38400 8N1 │
│ F - Hardware Flow Control : Yes │
│ G - Software Flow Control : No │
│ │
│ Change which setting?
                                   I18n
Compiled on Jun 15 2 Current: 38400 8N1

Press CTRL-A Z for h Speed Parity Data

A: 300 L: None S: 5
B: 1200 M: Even T: 6
C: 2400 N: Odd U: 7
D: 4800 O: Mark V: 8
E: 9600 P: Space
F: 19200 Stopbits
G: 38400 W: 1
H: 57600 X: 2
I: 115200 Q: 8-N-1
J: 230400 R: 7-E-1


Choice, or <Enter> to exit?

Make your choices and then save.

Main Menu Options

Once minicom begins you can use CTRL+A Z to view the main menu. From that point you may choose a Function to modify minicom settings.

Welcome to minicom 2.00.0

OPTIONS: History Buffer, F-key Macros, Search History Buffer, I18n
Compiled on Jun 15 2004, 20:45:27.

Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys


Minicom Command Summary

Commands can be called by CTRL-A <key>

Main Functions Other Functions

│ Dialing directory..D run script (Go)....G |Clear Screen.......C │
│ Send files.........S Receive files......R | cOnfigure Minicom..O │
│ comm Parameters....P Add linefeed.......A | Suspend minicom....J │
│ Capture on/off.....L Hangup.............H | eXit and reset.....X │
│ send break.........F initialize Modem...M | Quit with no reset.Q │
│ Terminal settings..T run Kermit.........K | Cursor key mode....I │
│ lineWrap on/off....W local Echo on/off..E | Help screen........Z │
│ | scroll Back........B │

Select function or press Enter for none.

│ Written by Miquel van Smoorenburg 1991-1995
│ Some additions by Jukka Lahtinen 1997-2000
│ i18n by Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo 1998