Login Using a Serial Communication Tool

After setting up connections of Blade 3, you can log in to it on Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a serial communication tool, or via SSH.

This document describes how to log in to Blade 3 using a serial communication tool. For details about login using the ADB tool and via SSH, refer to the following documents:

• Login using the ADB tool
• Login using SSH

Preparations

• A USB to TTL converter
• A computer: Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu
• A Blade 3 board

On Windows

Step 1. Connect hardware

1.1 Connect the GND, TXD, and RXD pins of the USB to TTL converter to the GND, RXD, and TXD pins of Blade 3, respectively. 

1.2 Connect the USB to TTL converter to your computer.

Step 2. Download and install a driver

2.1 Download a driver according to the USB to TTL converter that you are using.

2.2 Unzip the driver zip file and select the corresponding file (.exe) to install based on your computer architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).

On your computer, open Device Manager and check your Blade 3’s serial port.

Take note of the COM port for the device named “Ports (COM & LPT)” (such as “COM4”). You will use it in the next step.

Step 3. Install and configure PuTTY

PuTTY is one of the serial communication tools generally used on Windows, and is used for illustration in this document.

3.1 Select the PuTTY file (.msi) to install based on your computer architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).

3.2 Open PuTTY and configure Connection type, Serial line, and Speed as shown in the following figure. Then click Open.

When the screen terminal opens, it will probably be blank. Hit Enter and you should see the console of Blade 3.

On Mac

Step 1. Connect hardware

1.1 Connect the GND, TXD, and RXD pins of the USB to TTL converter to the GND, RXD, and TXD pins of Blade 3, respectively.

1.2 Connect the USB to TTL converter to your computer.

Step 2. Install Picocom

Picocom is one of the serial communication tools generally used on macOS, and is used for illustration in this document.

(Optional) 2.1 Install Homebrew if it is not installed yet by running the following command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2.2 Install Picocom by running the following command:

brew install picocom

Step 3. Connect to Blade 3

-b is to set the baud rate and must be set to 1500000.

sudo picocom -b 1500000 /dev/tty.usbserial-0

The command output is as follows:

picocom v3.1

port is        : /dev/tty.usbserial-0
flowcontrol    : none
baudrate is    : 1500000
parity is      : none
databits are   : 8
stopbits are   : 1
escape is      : C-a
noinit is      : no
noreset is     : no
nolock is      : no
send_cmd is    : sz -vv
receive_cmd is : rz -vv -E
imap is        :
omap is        :
emap is        : crcrlf,delbs,

Type [C-a] [C-h] to see available commands
Terminal ready

Press Enter and you are directed to the console of Blade 3.

Step 4. Exit

4.1 Press CTRL+A.

4.2 Keep pressing CTRL and press Q.

On Ubuntu

Step 1. Connect hardware

1.1 Connect the GND, TXD, and RXD pins of the USB to TTL converter to the GND, RXD, and TXD pins of Blade 3, respectively. 

1.2 Connect the USB to TTL converter to your computer.

Step 2. Install Picocom

Picocom is one of the serial communication tools generally used on Ubuntu, and is used for illustration in this document. Run the following commands to install Picocom:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install picocom

Step 3. Connect to Blade 3

-b is to set the baud rate and must be set to 1500000.

sudo picocom -b 1500000 /dev/ttyUSB0

The command output is as follows:

picocom v3.1

port is        : /dev/ttyUSB0
flowcontrol    : none
baudrate is    : 1500000
parity is      : none
databits are   : 8
stopbits are   : 1
escape is      : C-a
noinit is      : no
noreset is     : no
nolock is      : no
send_cmd is    : sz -vv
receive_cmd is : rz -vv -E
imap is        :
omap is        :
emap is        : crcrlf,delbs,

Type [C-a] [C-h] to see avaiable commands
Terminal ready

Step 4. Exit

4.1 Press CTRL+A.

4.2 Keep pressing CTRL and press Q.

What you can do next

After login to Blade 3, you can perform operations based on your requirements, such as checking device information, installing or uninstalling software, editing configuration files, and starting or stoping services.

Check device information

cat /etc/os-release

cat /var/log/syslog

dmesg

Install or uninstall software

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install [software name]

sudo apt uninstall [software name]

Edit configuration files

vi [file path]

Start or stop services

sudo systemctl start [service name]

sudo systemctl stop [service name]