SerialTerminal/Windows/PuTTY

This how-to will show you how to download and configure the PuTTY serial terminal program on Windows

The serial console for the Plug computer is a serial link from the Plug to a terminal computer running PuTTY. First the hardware is installed to ensure that the terminal machine, Windows Vista, Windows 7 can "see" the Plug computer. After the connection has been established, PuTTY is installed on the machine set up to be the terminal.

>== Finding the Plug in Windows Vista and Windows 7 ==

This guide assumes your Windows7/Vista machine has Internet access.

• Connect your SheevaPlug using the supplied MiniUSB connector (warning non-original leads may cause problems)
• Let Windows detect, download and install the Microsoft signed USB to Serial drivers. By default it should find a controller and 2 serial to USB ports. (if it does not find drivers you can use the drivers on the Globalscale SheevaPlug CD).
• Open up Device Manager, and locate the USB Serial Controller device, it should show 2 child nodes ("Port A" and "Port B"). Port A is the JTAG port, and you should leave this as-is. Port B is the serial port, which you can log on via a serial terminal 2. NOTE: by default Windows does not load the Virtual Comm Ports for these 2 ports.
• Click on Port B, select Properties, and on one of the tabs, there should be an option "Load VCP". This tells Windows to actually assign your Sheevaplug a real com-port that Putty can talk to.
• Unplug and replug the Sheeva USB, it should now download/install the Virtual Comm Port. Make a note of what port number it's assigned it (it is usually 1 more than the maximum number of com ports you have on your computer).

That's it, you are ready to use Putty to talk to your Sheevaplug.

Installing and Using PuTTY

PuTTY is a telnet client for use on a Windows machine. PuTTY is the console software that will be used to control the plug through the terminal. PuTTY is free, open source software. The following are instructions for downloading and installing PuTTY.

• Go to the download website. Select putty.exe from the top of the list of putty applications for Windows.

• Save the file. Remember the location where the file is saved.

• After the download completes, navigate to the location where the file is saved.

• The following message might appear after clicking the file: "The publisher could not be verified...run this software?" You may run the software
• Running the software will bring up the PuTTY Configuration window. Select "Serial" for communication type and set "Speed" to 115200, then click "Open."

• Put the mouse pointer in the "COM1 - PuTTY" window, left click, then hit enter. A command prompt will appear if the Plug computer is running. If nothing happens when you hit enter, try different COM ports. Device Manager can help you find out which COM port (USB Serial Port).