Serial Console

Several sub-compact devices do not provide initial output to a video device. A serial console must be used for installation

12 Volts

• NB many small devices use 3.3 V or 5 V serial interfaces and are likely to be damaged if connected to the conventional COM socket on a PC
  • USB-serial cables are available cheaply and tend to use 3.3 V interface
  • some newer devices require a 1.8 V serial interface

Banana Pi

• requires serial console for initial installation
• Linux generally allocates these as /dev/ttyUSB0

minicom

• default parameters do not match Banana Pi. The following settings might need to be configured
  • baud rate 115200
  • software flow control Yes
  • LF Yes
  • CR Yes
• might be necessary to press "Enter" to get minicom to change from "Offline" to "Online" mode

Putty

TBA - might require no reconfiguration

Cubieboard

• requires serial console for initial installation

Raspberry Pi

• most software puts signal to a video port (Composite of HDMI) during initial installation
• use of a serial console for initial installation is optional

--Rod (talk) 12:36, 16 August 2015 (AEST)