Connect to Serial Console from Windows

Connecting to a Linux device via USB-Serial Console from Windows

There are two ways to connect to a Linux device via usb-serial console from Windows:

• Using Putty
• Using Cygwin

Installation and Setup

Both setup requires the installation of the USB-to-Serial/Virtual COM Port (VCP) Driver in the Windows device.

Driver

• Driver for the Windows device was downloaded from Future Technology Devices International Limited's website
• Installation process was as easy as clicking the downloaded file
• After the installation the USB-to-Serial adapter's usb part was connected to the Windows device and the serial part in the Linux device.
• At this point the Windows issues a COM# (COM3 or COM4) to the adapter (usually at the lower left corner, in the Windows notification center)
• Configuration was modified according to this.
• Only difference from the above instruction was in #8, Bits per second (BPS) was set to 115200 instead of 9600.

Cygwin

• Windows executable was downloaded from Cigwin's website
• Cygwin setup was done by following this.
• "Screen" was the additional package that was added beyond the default package set. (section 2.9 in the above link)

Putty

• Windows executable was downloaded from Putty' website (Section: A Windows installer for everything except PuTTYtel)
• Setup was similar to this (saved as the default profile)

Invocation

• For Cygwin: Click on the cigwin icon and type screen /dev/ttyS[X] 115200