Re: serial console
On Thu, Jul 31, 2025 at 8:19 AM Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> wrote:
>
> On Jul 31, 2025, mick.crane wrote:
> > I've never really known what a serial console is.
> > Say in relation to a Raspberry Pi or Arduino
>
> Skipping a *LOT* of history (and linguistics, etc), a "serial console"
> is a "console" (user interface) provided remotely to the device in
> question over a serial communications channel. I don't believe the term
> really came into use until *after* ethernet took over.
>
> You see this pretty frequently in networking gear or similar devices
> that don't have need for their own "video" output capabilities (VGA or
> whatever). Provided that the network is actually working, chances are
> that you won't use the "serial console" to manage the device -- you'll
> just use telnet or ssh, rather than lugging your laptop and a serial
> cable down to the network closet.
>
> > I assumed a serial console was a device with a screen and keyboard.
>
> If you're thinking of things like the VT-100; I believe that the
> physical device would be referred to as a "Terminal" (which would then
> allow you to access the machine Console).
>
> It's pretty fuzzy though -- since if "console" means "user interface",
> then the VT-100 (being a physical manifestation of "user interface") is
> a console. Not 100% sure what makes the distinction there.
>
> > When people talk about a serial console they are talking about
> > connecting a Debian PC to a device with a parallel, wired cable to a
> > parallel port or an adaptor on a PC and emulating this console thing
> > with software?
>
> Well, a "Serial" cable, but otherwise yes. The "console" itself isn't
> really emulated.
If Gene doesn't chime in here I will be worried about him.
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