MikroTik RouterOS V2.4 Serial Console

Document revision 14-December-2001
This document applies to the MikroTik RouterOS V2.4

Overview

The Serial Console feature allows configuring one serial port of The MikroTik router for access to the router's Terminal Console over the serial port. A special null-modem cable is required to connect the router's serial port with the workstation's or laptop's serial (COM) port. A terminal emulation program, e.g., HyperTerminal, should be run on the workstation. Alternatively, another MikroTik router can be used as terminal, if its communication port is configured as serial terminal. See the relevant manual for details.

Contents of the Manual

The following topics are covered in this manual:

Installation
Hardware Resource Usage
Serial Console Configuration
Troubleshooting

Installation

The Serial Console feature is included in the 'system' package. No installation is needed for this feature.

Hardware Resource Usage

There is no significant resource usage.

Serial Console Configuration

A special null-modem cable should be used for connecting to the serial console. The Serial Console cabling diagram for DB9 connectors is as follows:

	1 --- 1
	2 --- 3
	3 --- 2
	4 --- 4
	5 --- 5
	6 --- 6
	7 --- 8
	8 --- 7
	9 n/c 9

After installation of the MikroTik RouterOS the serial console is configured to use port serial0 (COM1 on the motherboard), if available. To check the Serial Console settings use:

[MikroTik] system serial-console> print
    enabled: no
       port: serial0
[MikroTik] system serial-console>

To enable Serial Console:

[MikroTik] system serial-console> set enabled=yes
[MikroTik] system serial-console> print
    enabled: yes
       port: serial0
[MikroTik] system serial-console>

To change port:

[MikroTik] system serial-console> set port=serial1
[MikroTik] system serial-console> print
    enabled: yes
       port: serial1
[MikroTik] system serial-console>

To check if the port is available or used:

[MikroTik] system serial-console> /port print
  0 name=serial0 used-by="" baud-rate=9600 data-bits=8 parity=none stop-bits=1 flow-control=none 

  1 name=serial1 used-by=Serial Console baud-rate=9600 data-bits=8 parity=none stop-bits=1 flow-control=none 

[MikroTik] system serial-console>

Troubleshooting

An error appears when trying to enable the Serial Console.
This situation can occur when the Serial console is set on the port which is already been used by another device such as a ppp-server, ppp-client, LCD etc, e.g.:

[MikroTik] system serial-console> print
    enabled: no
       port: serial0
[MikroTik] system serial-console> set enabled=yes
ERROR: can't acquire requested port

Check the available ports using the /port print command:

[MikroTik] system serial-console> /port print
  0 name=serial0 used-by=LCP Panel baud-rate=9600 data-bits=8 parity=none stop-bits=1 flow-control=none 

  1 name=serial1 used-by="" baud-rate=9600 data-bits=8 parity=none stop-bits=1 flow-control=none

The Serial Console port must be set to serial1, since the serial0 port is already used by another device:

[MikroTik] system serial-console> set port=serial1 enable=yes
[MikroTik] system serial-console> print
    enabled: yes
       port: serial1
[MikroTik] system serial-console>

The port parameter settings for baud rate, stop bits, etc., do not match the settings of your terminal.
Adjust the port settings of your Terminal program to the settings of MikroTik router (see /port print).