setting up a serial connection to a PC (winXP) hyperterminal ?

[francoisp31]

Hi all,

I want to connect a PC, using hyperterminal to a DS20E or a DS10 running Tru64 v5.1b.

So We made a mmj-db9 cable, it is verifyed & it seems good. (0 ohm connector to connector), following the standard dec mmj-db9 layout.

Here is what I made to try to setup the connection :

From SRM first :
>>>set console serial
>>>set tt_allow_login 1
>>>set com1_flow software (was default)
>>>init
>>>boot
On Tru64 itself here is my inittab end :
cons:1234:respawn:/usr/sbin/getty console console vt100
tty00:234:respawn:/usr/sbin/getty /dev/tty00 console vt100
an init q was used a few days ago (when inittab was modified).


From the pc I setup the connection like
9600 baud 8bits no parity 1bit (stop) and vt100 key setup.

But when I try to connect hyperterminal says "connected" and then ... nothing ... no login banner ... no error messages ... nothing...

Did I forget to setup/do something ?
I think so...but what ? :)

Thanks
Regards

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] it seems good. (0 ohm connector to
> connector), following the standard dec
> mmj-db9 layout.

Which "the standard"? If both systems look
like terminals (DTE), then you need a
null-modem cable. If you own an ohmmeter,
you should also have a voltmeter, and you
can see if pins 2 and 3 look as if they're
butting heads or cooperating. Or just try
the other wiring scheme.

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

If I remember correctly, COM1 on both the DS10 and DS20E, are DB9 connectors, not MMJ.

Are you sure you're using the correct cable/connector ??

Cheers,

Rob

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] DB9 connectors, not MMJ.

A fair point. You may wish to look for
someone local who has a clue and can see
what you're doing.

[francoisp31]

of course it i an mmj ! cause it plug to mmj !
:)

maye the machine model isn't 20 or 10 but this is not the probleme at all, in fact...

but the setup software side or SRM side should be the problem. no ?

[Steven Schweda]

> maye the machine model isn't 20 or 10 but
> this is not the probleme at all, in fact...

In fact, you don't know what the problem is.
It could be in the hardware or the software,
and a description of the equipment which
includes this many maybe's is a waste of
everyone's time.

If you ever figure out what you have,
exactly, and how it's connected, exactly,
please let us know.

[francoisp31]

Ok so to give more informations here's what I have after hardware best identification :

Hardware plateforms : (so not ds10 or 20 as I supposed first)
machine model for the test is a
HP Alpha Server 800 / 334
machine model for prod will be a
HP Alpha Server 800 5/500

And they are using a DEC mmj -> db9 cable to the PC & we know this is not a cable problem as said it is ok & tested wire to wire according to theses docs : http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/dec-mmj.html
equ H8571-J femalle DB9 rs232 to mmj schematics.

so :
db9 MMJ
4 1 DTR
3 2 TX+
5 3+4 RX-+TX-
2 5 RX+
1+6+8 6 DSR

Dec MMJ is known as com1 on SRM

I hope you can help us.

Thanks for the time you've already spend about this.

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

Don't assume that your cable is good, or that you're following the correct schematic !

Try reversing the transmit and receive pins as previously suggested...

Cheers,

Rob

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] we know this is not a cable problem
> [...]

I'm sure _you_ know that, but I don't.

Did you build an adapter like the one in the
diagram, or did you build a cable? A normal
MMJ-MMJ cable acts as a null modem. If you
built your own cable without considering
this, then you probably have a cable problem.

To substitute evidence for assumptions, use a
meter to measure the voltage between pin 2
and any convenient ground (say, pin 5) on the
PC's 9-pin connector. Repeat for pin 3.
Then do the same with pins 2 and 3 on the
9-pin connector of your cable (when it's
connected to the other computer). One of the
pins should be a firm voltage, probably
greater than six (positive or negative).
That's TXD. The other (RXD) should be a
fairly high-Z circuit showing close to zero.
(The high-Z property tends to make it look
fuzzy if you're using an oscilloscope to do
the measurement. You _do_ have an
oscilloscope, right?)

If pin 2 on one side looks like pin 3 on the
other side, then you may have the cable built
correctly. If both pins 2 look the same (and
both pins 3 look the same), then you have a
straight-through cable, not the required
null-modem cable.

[francoisp31]

We 've not build it .