[SOLVED] Installing new releases on OPNsense Ghz small: serial not working

[stephl]

Hi everybody. I bought a OPNsense Ghz small beginning of january and I would like to test new OpenSSL releases
(http://mirrors.nycbug.org/pub/opnsense/releases/mirror/OPNsense-15.1.12_OpenSSL-serial-amd64.img.bz2)

As autoupdate does not show new releases available I installed the most recent image (amd64 with serial support) to a USB key but I can't get serial access to work - I tried to use a linux system with minicom software (same settings listed in Advanced web interface: 115200/8/N/1) and a usb serial adaptater (well recognised by linux) and a  DB9 Female/Female Mini Gender Changer. Issue is that minicom always displays offline / I don't see the login prompt / nothing displayed.
Any idea ? I did search forums/pfsense/opnsense documentation.
Maybe an issue with the gender changer ?

Thanks,

Steph

[jstrebel]

My first guess is : cable


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[lucifercipher]

The USB to serial converters don't work  sometimes thats why. Serial cables are pretty hard and nothing like the classic port which still remains as a solid and reliable communication point. Maybe you can give this a try http://www.cooldrives.com/media/catalog/product/u/s/usb-serial-adapter-for-windows-vista.jpg . Please tell me what type of cable, converter that you are trying to use.

[stephl]

I tried 2  usb-serial cables used by colleagues for Cisco configuration (no advertised brand, both detected by linux as pl2303 converter) and 2 different Gender changers.
I've now ordered : http://www.ebay.fr/itm/121096409776?euid=c7f317f72dc34489b902c8cada49149e&cp=1 (so a model with proper gender to avoid gender changers)
I hope it will work otherwise I will have to ask Applianceshop for the exact model they used to configure it and support (my OPNsense version is from January : 10.0-RLELEASE-p16 based).

[chol]

The Moschip MCS7840 with USB 2.0 specification and RS-232 DB9 standard specification compliant device is worth a try (20Eur)

http://www.amazon.de/Adapter-Converter-Controller-Moschip-MCS7840/dp/B00CP21YCO

[stephl]

Thanks guys for trying to help me.
Got it working! I made a lot of tests .. managed to get a laptop with a dock including a serial port.  It worked fine with the shipped serial cable.
I was trying to  connect the usb serial adapters directly to the appliance. This was a mistake ..Serial cable shipped with the box is required.
Solution is to use the shipped serial cable + the serial usb adapter!!!! It's then fine with minicom/putty.
Might be useful for other users ..

[franco]

Hi stephl, thanks for letting us know.