Chapter 2 Setting Up Terminals and Modems (Tasks)

This chapter provides step-by-step instructions for setting up terminals and modems using Solaris Management Console's Serial Ports tool.

For overview information about terminals and modems, see Chapter 1, Managing Terminals and Modems (Overview). For overview information about managing system resources, see Chapter 4, Managing System Resources (Overview).

For information about the procedures associated with setting up terminals and modems using Solaris Management Console's Serial Ports tool, see Setting Terminals and Modems (Task Map)

Setting Terminals and Modems (Task Map)

Task	Description	For Instructions
Set up a terminal.	Set up a terminal by using the Solaris Management Console Serial Ports tool. Configure the terminal by choosing the appropriate option from the Action menu.	How to Set Up a Terminal
Set up a modem.	Set up a modem by using the Solaris Management Console Serial Ports tool. Configure the modem by choosing the appropriate option from the Action menu.	How to Set Up a Modem
Initialize a port.	To initialize a port, use the Solaris Management Console Serial Ports tool. Choose the appropriate option from the Action menu.	How to Initialize a Port

Setting Up Terminals and Modems With Serial Ports Tool (Overview)

You can set up serial ports with the Solaris Management Console's Serial Ports tool.

Select a serial port from the Serial Ports window and then choose a Configure option from the Action menu to configure the following:

• Terminal

• Modem – Dial–In

• Modem – Dial–Out

• Modem – Dial–In/Dial–Out

• Initialize Only – No Connection

The Configure options provide access to the templates for configuring these services. You can view two levels of detail for each serial port: Basic and Advanced. You can access the Advanced level of detail for each serial port after it is configured by selecting the serial port and selecting the Properties option from the Action menu. After a serial port is configured, you can disable or enable the port with the SAF commands. For information on using the SAF commands, see Chapter 3, Managing Serial Ports With the Service Access Facility (Tasks).

For information on using the Serial Ports command–line interface, see the smserialport(1M) man page.

Setting Up Terminals

The following table describes the menu items (and their default values) when you set up a terminal by using the Serial Ports tool.

Table 2–1 Terminal Default Values

Detail	Item	Default Value
Basic	Port	—
	Description	Terminal
	Service Status	Enabled
	Baud Rate	9600
	Terminal Type	vi925
	Login Prompt	ttyn login:
Advanced	Carrier Detection	Software
	Option: Connect on Carrier	Not available
	Option: Bidirectional	Available
	Option: Initialize Only	Not available
	Timeout (seconds)	Never
	Port Monitor	zsmon
	Service Program	/usr/bin/login

Setting Up Modems

The following table describes the three modem templates that are available when you set up a modem using the Serial Ports tool.

Table 2–2 Modem Templates

Modem Configuration	Description
Dial-In Only	Users can dial in to the modem but cannot dial out.
Dial-Out Only	Users can dial out from the modem but cannot dial in.
Dial-In and Out (Bidirectional)	Users can either dial in or dial out from the modem.

The following table describes the default values of each template.

Table 2–3 Modem Template Default Values

Detail	Item	Modem - Dial-In Only	Modem - Dial-Out Only	Modem - Dial In and Out
Basic	Port Name	—	—	—
	Description	Modem – Dial In Only	Modem – Dial Out Only	Modem – Dial In and Out
	Service Status	Enabled	Enabled	Enabled
	Baud Rate	9600	9600	9600
	Login Prompt	ttyn login:	ttyn login:	ttyn login:
Advanced	Carrier Detection	Software	Software	Software
	Option: Connect on Carrier	Not available	Not available	Not available
	Option: Bidirectional	Not available	Not available	Available
	Option: Initialize Only	Not available	Available	Not available
	Timeout (seconds)	Never	Never	Never
	Port Monitor	zsmon	zsmon	zsmon
	Service Program	/usr/bin/login	/usr/bin/login	/usr/bin/login

The following table describes the default values for the Initialize Only template.

Table 2–4 Initialize Only - No Connection Default Values

Detail	Item	Default Value
Basic	Port Name	—
	Description	Initialize Only - No Connection
	Service Status	Enabled
	Baud Rate	9600
	Login Prompt	ttyn login:
Advanced	Carrier Detection	Software
	Option: Connect on Carrier	Not available
	Option: Bidirectional	Available
	Option: Initialize Only	Available
	Timeout (seconds)	Never
	Port Monitor	zsmon
	Service Program	/usr/bin/login

How to Set Up a Terminal, a Modem, and Initialize a Port (Tasks)

How to Set Up a Terminal

1. Start the Solaris Management Console, if it's not already running.

   % /usr/sadm/bin/smc &

   For information on starting the Solaris Management Console, see Starting the Solaris Management Console in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

2. Click This Computer icon in the Navigation pane.

3. Click Devices and Hardware —>Serial Ports.

   The Serial Ports menu is displayed.

4. Select the port that will be used with a terminal.

5. Choose Configure—>Terminal from the Action menu.

   The Configure Serial Port window is displayed in Basic Detail mode.

   For a description of the Terminal menu items, see Table 2–1.

6. Click OK.

7. To configure the advanced items, select the port configured as a terminal. Then, select Properties from the Action menu.

8. Change the values of template entries, if desired.

9. Click OK to configure the port.

10. Verify that the terminal service has been added.

    $ pmadm -l -s ttyn

How to Set Up a Modem

1. Start the Solaris Management Console, if it's not already running.

   % /usr/sadm/bin/smc &

   For information on starting the Solaris Management Console, see Starting the Solaris Management Console in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

2. Click This Computer icon in the Navigation pane.

3. Click Devices and Hardware—>Serial Ports.

   The Serial Ports menu is displayed.

4. Select the port that will be used with a modem.

5. Choose one of the following Configure options from the Action menu.

   1. Configure—>Modem (Dial In)

   2. Configure—>Modem (Dial Out)

   3. Configure—>Modem (Dial In/Out)

   The Configure Serial Port window is displayed in Basic Detail mode.

   For a description of the Modem menu items, see Table 2–3.

6. Click OK.

7. To configure the advanced items, select the port configured as a modem. Then, select Properties from the Action menu.

8. Change the values of template entries, if desired.

9. Click OK to configure the port.

10. Verify that the modem service has been configured.

    $ pmadm -l -s ttyn

How to Initialize a Port

1. Start the Solaris Management Console, if it's not already running.

   % /usr/sadm/bin/smc &

   For information on starting the Solaris Management Console, see Starting the Solaris Management Console in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

2. Click This Computer icon in the Navigation pane.

3. Click Devices and Hardware—>Serial Ports.

   The Serial Ports menu is displayed.

4. Select the port to be initialized.

5. Choose Configure—>Initialize Only – No Connection

   The Serial Port window is displayed in Basic Detail mode.

   For a description of the Initialize Only menu items, see Table 2–4.

6. Click OK.

7. To configure the advanced items, select the port configured as initialize only. Then, select Properties from the Action menu.

8. Change the values of template entries, if desired.

9. Click OK to configure the port.

10. Verify that the modem service has been initialized.

    $ pmadm -l -s ttyn

Troubleshooting Terminal and Modem Problems

If users are unable to log in over serial port lines after you have added a terminal or modem and set up the proper services, consider the following possible causes of failure:

• Check with the user.

  Malfunctions in terminals and modem use are typically reported by a user who has failed to log in or dial in. For this reason, begin troubleshooting by checking for a problem on the desktop.

  Some common reasons for login failure include:

  • Login ID or password is incorrect

  • Terminal is waiting for X-ON flow control key (Control-Q)

  • Serial cable is loose or unplugged

  • Terminal configuration is incorrect

  • Terminal is shut off or otherwise has no power

• Check the terminal.

  Continue to troubleshoot by checking the configuration of the terminal or modem. Determine the proper ttylabel for communicating with the terminal or modem. Verify that the terminal or modem settings match the ttylabel settings.

• Check the terminal server.

  If the terminal checks out, continue to search for the source of the problem on the terminal or modem server. Use the pmadm command to verify that a port monitor has been configured to service the terminal or modem and that it has the correct ttylabel associated with it. For example:

  $ pmadm -l -t ttymon

  Examine the /etc/ttydefs file and double–check the label definition against the terminal configuration. Use the sacadmcommand to check the port monitor's status. Use pmadm to check the service associated with the port the terminal uses.

• Check the serial connection.

  If the Service Access Controller is starting the TTY port monitor and the following is true:

  • The pmadm command reports that the service for the terminal's port is enabled.

  • The terminal's configuration matches the port monitor's configuration.

  Then, continue to search for the problem by checking the serial connection. A serial connection comprises serial ports, cables, and terminals. Test each of these parts by using one part with two other parts that are known to be reliable.

  Test all of the following:

  • Serial ports

  • Modems

  • Cables

  • Connectors

• Do not use the Serial Ports tool to modify serial port settings if the serial port is being used as a console. Starting with the Solaris 10 release, invocations of ttymon for the console are managed by SMF. For step-by-step instructions on how to change the console terminal type, see How to Set the ttymon Console Terminal Type.

For more information on ttymon and SMF, see What's New in Managing Terminals and Modems?.