FTDI Kernel Driver Conflict?
I am using a BeagleBone Black to interface between a weather station and radio modem. I am using two USB to serial converters and am experiencing USB system crashes which I have not yet been able to solve. I am thinking there may be some type of a conflict with the drivers when using both adapters. Details below...
--Hardware--
I am using an FTDI CHIPI-X10 USB to RS232 Serial converter to connect with the radio modem and an FTDI USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT_0.0 Wire Ended USB to RS232 Serial converter to connect to the weather station. Both converters plug into a Tripp Lite U225-004-R 4-port USB hub, which is then connected to the BeagleBone Black USB connection.
Both the weather station and radio/modem are externally powered so the only USB power consumption is that of each of the converters and the 4-port hub. The hub was originally powered directly from the BeagleBone Black but I am now powering it externally.
I believe the BBB is a Revision B board but I will have to double check that. The board is powered from a 12 volt step down converter which I adjusted to 5 volt output. With the system powered I measure 4.98 volt to 5.00 volt with a multi-meter.
--Software--
I am running Debian 8 (Jessie) on the internal eMMC storage. The image was the newest when I downloaded it around May. The OS is up to date as of Monday using apt-get upgrade. The kernel has been upgraded from 4.4.54-ti-r53 to 4.9.44-ti-r55. I have disabled the software that directly talks to the radio modem, and am using a combination of a python script I wrote and minicom to read data from the weather station.
--Issue and Troubleshooting--
With both converters connected, when reading the 1Hz rate data sent from the weather station, the USB system will crash within 2 seconds to 2.5 hours with a ftdi_sio error shown in dmesg. The error most often is: "ftdi_sio ttyUSB0: usb_serial_generic_read_bulk_callback - urb stopped: -32". After upgrading the kernel the error was different, similar to "failed to get modem status: -71". As I have switched around the order the converters are plugged into the hub the ttyUSBx port the crash occurs on changes, but I believe it is always the one connected to the weather station as that is the one always being accessed for testing.
In my online research I have found many mention of the "usb_serial_generic_read_bulk_callback" fault in Raspberry Pi related discussions and the most often suggested and working fix is to add the parameter "dwc_otg.speed=1" to /boot/cmdline.txt which forces USB to revert back to USB1.1. Although I have no need for USB2.0 speeds, it appears this is not able to be done with the BBB, in addition to /boot/cmdline.txt not existing.
There is also many instances of current draw being too great causing the issue, hence my latest step of externally powering the USB hub. After doing this I am no longer seeing the "-71" fault and only seeing the original "ftdi_sio ttyUSB0: usb_serial_generic_read_bulk_callback - urb stopped: -32" one.
When I was first building and testing the system on my bench I had what turns out to be the same issue, although I did not pursue it. At the time I was using a Prolific chip based USB to Serial adapter for the radio modem which I suspected was the culprit. Once I replaced it with the CHIPi-X10 I had no further trouble until installing the entire system this weekend.
In my troubleshooting I completely disconnected the CHIPI-X10, connected to the radio modem, and accessed the converter connected to the weather station. In this test I was able to read the data for nearly 24 hours without issue until I stopped it for more troubleshooting. I have not conducted a similar test with the adapters reversed, although I saw no signs during my earlier bench testing.
System information below. The dmesg output was from after the crash occurred and I filtered it to show only USB related lines.
========
uname -a
========
Linux norman 4.9.44-ti-r55 #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Aug 18 00:16:25 UTC 2017 armv7l GNU/Linux
========
lsusb
========
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0403:6015 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0403:6001 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd FT232 USB-Serial (UART) IC
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. 4-Port HUB
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
========
lsusb -v
========
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0403:6015 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 8
idVendor 0x0403 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd
idProduct 0x6015 Bridge(I2C/SPI/UART/FIFO)
bcdDevice 10.00
iManufacturer 1 FTDI
iProduct 2 Chipi-X
iSerial 3 FTV8G1V7
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 32
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0xa0
(Bus Powered)
Remote Wakeup
MaxPower 90mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 2
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 2 Chipi-X
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
bInterval 0
Device Status: 0x0000
(Bus Powered)
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0403:6001 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd FT232 USB-Serial (UART) IC
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 8
idVendor 0x0403 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd
idProduct 0x6001 FT232 USB-Serial (UART) IC
bcdDevice 6.00
iManufacturer 1 FTDI
iProduct 2 USB-RS232 Cable
iSerial 3 FT0AMSW7
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 32
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0x80
(Bus Powered)
MaxPower 300mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 2
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
bInterfaceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
iInterface 2 USB-RS232 Cable
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
bInterval 0
Device Status: 0x0000
(Bus Powered)
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. 4-Port HUB
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 9 Hub
bDeviceSubClass 0 Unused
bDeviceProtocol 1 Single TT
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x1a40 Terminus Technology Inc.
idProduct 0x0101 4-Port HUB
bcdDevice 1.11
iManufacturer 0
iProduct 1 USB 2.0 Hub
iSerial 0
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 25
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0xe0
Self Powered
Remote Wakeup
MaxPower 100mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 1
bInterfaceClass 9 Hub
bInterfaceSubClass 0 Unused
bInterfaceProtocol 0 Full speed (or root) hub
iInterface 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0001 1x 1 bytes
bInterval 12
Hub Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 41
nNbrPorts 4
wHubCharacteristic 0x0000
Ganged power switching
Ganged overcurrent protection
TT think time 8 FS bits
bPwrOn2PwrGood 50 * 2 milli seconds
bHubContrCurrent 100 milli Ampere
DeviceRemovable 0x00
PortPwrCtrlMask 0xff
Hub Port Status:
Port 1: 0000.0100 power
Port 2: 0000.0103 power enable connect
Port 3: 0000.0103 power enable connect
Port 4: 0000.0100 power
Device Qualifier (for other device speed):
bLength 10
bDescriptorType 6
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 9 Hub
bDeviceSubClass 0 Unused
bDeviceProtocol 0 Full speed (or root) hub
bMaxPacketSize0 64
bNumConfigurations 1
Device Status: 0x0001
Self Powered
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.00
bDeviceClass 9 Hub
bDeviceSubClass 0 Unused
bDeviceProtocol 1 Single TT
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x1d6b Linux Foundation
idProduct 0x0002 2.0 root hub
bcdDevice 4.09
iManufacturer 3 Linux 4.9.44-ti-r55 musb-hcd
iProduct 2 MUSB HDRC host driver
iSerial 1 musb-hdrc.1
bNumConfigurations 1
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 25
bNumInterfaces 1
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0xe0
Self Powered
Remote Wakeup
MaxPower 0mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 1
bInterfaceClass 9 Hub
bInterfaceSubClass 0 Unused
bInterfaceProtocol 0 Full speed (or root) hub
iInterface 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0004 1x 4 bytes
bInterval 12
Hub Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 41
nNbrPorts 1
wHubCharacteristic 0x0011
Per-port power switching
No overcurrent protection
TT think time 8 FS bits
bPwrOn2PwrGood 5 * 2 milli seconds
bHubContrCurrent 0 milli Ampere
DeviceRemovable 0x02
PortPwrCtrlMask 0xff
Hub Port Status:
Port 1: 0000.0507 highspeed power suspend enable connect
Device Status: 0x0001
Self Powered
========
dmesg (Only USB related items)
========
[ 24.112116] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial
[ 24.112211] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
[ 24.112320] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for generic
[ 24.164740] usbcore: registered new interface driver ftdi_sio
[ 24.164857] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for FTDI USB Serial Device
[ 24.165130] ftdi_sio 1-1.2:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[ 24.165370] usb 1-1.2: Detected FT232RL
[ 24.196446] usb 1-1.2: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[ 24.203043] ftdi_sio 1-1.3:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[ 24.203360] usb 1-1.3: Detected FT-X
[ 24.215399] usb 1-1.3: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB1
...
[ 316.858089] ftdi_sio ttyUSB0: usb_serial_generic_read_bulk_callback - urb stopped: -32
A possible next step would be to unplug the adapter to the weather station and access only the radio modem to eliminate a possible issue with the CHIPI-X10 itself. To date I have only seen the issue arise when both adapters are connected to the BBB.
Thank you in advance for any help, and please reply with any requests for additional information or troubleshooting steps.
Reply to: