minicom freebsd 8.0

[Fbsd1]

akash kumar wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Can some one help me with the steps configuring minicom on freebsd 8.0. 
> I have a serial to usb converter running between my  board and host machine. 
> 
> Thanks,
> Akash.
> 
> 

I take it a minicom is a external serial modem for internet access over 
the phone lines.

First off you better check if this is a windows modem.

Phone modems are manufactured for two target markets, MS/Windows 
(Winmodems) and every thing else. Winmodems are cheep because the 
hardware controller function is handled by the software you have to 
install into MS/Windows. This hardware controller function is normally 
contained in a chip on the modem circuit board. Winmodems are missing 
this chip and directs the modem to use driver software running in the 
MS/Windows system to perform the controller function. The most common 
Winmodem chips are manufactured by Lucent. There are many versions of 
this Lucent chip resulting in each chip version needing a different 
MS/Windows software driver version.

Up until version 4.4, FBSD did not have any solution to using Winmodems, 
but with the release of 4.4 the ports collection now contains the "Linux 
Winmodem 'ltmdm' driver" which was ported to FBSD. This port is very 
poorly documented, only works with a limited number of Lucent chip 
version, and can be somewhat unreliable. Your whole Internet connection 
is managed by your modem and trying to shoe horn a modem specially 
manufactured for the MS/Windows operating system into FreeBSD is not the 
way to achieve a satisfactory dialup Internet connection.



Plug the usb to serial converter into a usb port on the pc.
Plug the serial cable into the modem and the converter.
Power on the minicon, and boot your pc.
Check your boot messages for the address of the usb to serial converter
and use that address in your ppp config for dialing your ISP.

If you can't id the address you need, then post your boot message log 
here for next step in help. Use dmesg > boot.msg.file to get a copy of 
the boot log.