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Update for serial console docs in the cheatsheet (#1512) 

* Enhance the serial port docs

* Mention the blank screen and pressing Enter

* Replace screen with picocom in the cheatsheet / serial console docs

* Link to Homebrew and MacPorts for picocom
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Aleksandr Prokudin 2025-05-02 19:53:23 +02:00 committed by GitHub
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@ -32,17 +32,39 @@ Here are **first steps guides** for each PiKVM device:
A serial console is a convenient and fast way to connect to PiKVM when there is no network, or get boot logs and a console if something goes wrong.
1. Connect to the physical UART console:
1. Connect to the physical universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART) console from your host computer:
* On PiKVM V3 or V4, you have a built-in USB-UART adapter in your device. Just disconnect the OTG cable and place the USB-C end into `IOIOI` port on V4 (or `CON` port on V3). Place the USB-A end into the port you want serial to be accessed, typically done on the host. If you have a Windows host, you may need to install this [driver](https://www.silabs.com/developers/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers), other OS's may not need one.
* On PiKVM V3 or V4, you have a built-in USB-UART adapter in your device. Just disconnect the OTG cable and place the USB-C end into the `IOIOI` port on V4 (or the `CON` port on V3). Place the USB-A end into the port you want serial to be accessed, typically done on the host. If you have a Windows host, you may need to install this [driver](https://www.silabs.com/developers/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers), other operating systems may not need one.
* On DIY PiKVM V1 or V2, you'll need to get the right TTY to USB cable, we recommend the [RPi Debug Probe](https://www.pishop.us/product/raspberry-pi-debug-probe/) and follow existing RPi TTY serial setups.
2. Install GNU Screen on Linux or macOS host, or [Putty](https://www.putty.org/) on Windows.
2. Install `picocom` on a Linux or a macOS host (available in [Homebrew](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/picocom) and [MacPorts](https://ports.macports.org/port/picocom/)), or [Putty](https://www.putty.org/) on Windows.
3. Select the COM port in Putty (you can verify this looking in Device Manager), then select **115200** baud, or use `screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200` for other OS's
3. Identify the port that your operating system exposes for connecting to the PiKVM.
4. You should now be able to see and interact with the Serial Port.
* Windows: look this up in the Device Manager
* Linux: open a terminal program, run `sudo dmesg | grep tty`and look for a message like this:
```
[14362.388405] usb 1-2: cp210x converter now attached to ttyUSB0
```
This means you will need to use `/dev/ttyUSB0`.
* macOS: open the terminal and list all USB serial devices with `ls /dev/cu.usbserial-*`. Look for a device that contains `cu.usbserial`, e.g. `/dev/cu.usbserial-FT0RVWSW`.
4. Connect via the serial port:
* Windows: select the COM port in Putty and use the **115200** baud rate, then connect.
* Linux/macOS: open your terminal program and run `sudo picocom -b 115200 $USB_SERIAL_DEVICE` where `$USB_SERIAL_DEVICE` is the device you looked up, e.g. `/dev/ttyUSB0` on Linux or `/dev/cu.usbserial-FT0RVWSW` on macOS.
After running the command, press **Enter** to get to a login prompt.
5. Submit your root user credentials.
6. You should now be able to see and interact with the serial port. All the system tools in PiKVM will be available in the terminal window. Once you are done, press **Ctrl+a** and then immediately **Ctrl+x** to terminate the session.
-----