Minicom

from https://www.poftut.com/install-use-linux-minicom-command-tutorial-examples/


minicom  is little command line based tool used to connect serial lines. In a more pragmatic definition minicom can be used to connect modems, routers and switch console ports via serial port. Minicom is very similar features and user interface to the TELIX.

We can install minicom with the following command for deb based distributions.Install For Debian, Ubuntu, Kali, Mint

1	$ sudo apt install minicom -y

Install For Debian, Ubuntu, Kali, Mint

Install For Fedora, CentOS, RHEL

We can also install for rpm based distributions like below.

1	$ sudo yum install minicom -y

List tty Devices

We generally use minicom with a physical port where it connects to a serial device like switch, router, pbx etc. Current PC configuration generally do not provides serial ports and prefer use USB devices. We can use USB to serial converter. We can list existing serial lines or USB converted serial lines simply named tty with the following command.

1	$ dmesg | grep tty

List tty Devices

We also learn from output that the tty device base baud rate is 115200 .

Start Minicom

We can start minicom without any option or parameter but providing a serial device is better way. We will provide a USB-Serial convertor which is located at /dev/ttyUSB0  . We should provide the sudo  command for root privileges.

1	$ sudo minicom /dev/ttyUSB0

Exit Minicom

After connecting minicom we may need to exit. But things work differently in minicom application. CTRL a  is used for special key and other keys are used for different actions. We can exit like below.

1

CTRL a, x

Help Menu

Exit Minicom

We can get help with the CTRL a, z  like below.

1

CTRL a, z

Help Menu

List Current Serial Line Parameters

We can list current serial line communication parameters like below.

1

CTRL a, p

List Current Serial Line Parameters

Change Serial Line Parameters

We can change serial line parameters while starting the minicom. We need to provide the required options and values. Some of the most used options are like below.

1	$ sudo minicom -b 1200 -8 /dev/ttyUSB0

Setup Mode

minicom provides easy way to setup serial line parameters in command line GUI. We can provide the -s option and enter

sudo minicom -s

Setup Mode

and enter to the Serial port setup  menu like below.