Linux minicom Command with Practical Examples

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Introduction

In this lab, you will learn how to use the Linux minicom command with practical examples. The lab covers the installation and configuration of minicom on Ubuntu 22.04, connecting to a serial device using minicom, and customizing minicom settings for a better user experience. The steps involve installing the minicom package, configuring the serial port settings, and using minicom to connect to a serial device. The lab also provides guidance on customizing the minicom settings to enhance the overall user experience.

Linux Commands Cheat Sheet


Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL linux(("`Linux`")) -.-> linux/UserandGroupManagementGroup(["`User and Group Management`"]) linux(("`Linux`")) -.-> linux/PackagesandSoftwaresGroup(["`Packages and Softwares`"]) linux/UserandGroupManagementGroup -.-> linux/sudo("`Privilege Granting`") linux/PackagesandSoftwaresGroup -.-> linux/apt("`Package Handling`") subgraph Lab Skills linux/sudo -.-> lab-422802{{"`Linux minicom Command with Practical Examples`"}} linux/apt -.-> lab-422802{{"`Linux minicom Command with Practical Examples`"}} end

Install and Configure minicom on Ubuntu 22.04

In this step, we will install and configure the minicom terminal emulator on the Ubuntu 22.04 Docker container.

First, let's update the package index and install the minicom package:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y minicom

Example output:

Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy InRelease [270 kB]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates InRelease [119 kB]
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-security InRelease [110 kB]
...
Fetched 1,546 kB in 1s (1,546 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
  libuucp1 lrzsz
Suggested packages:
  cu
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  libuucp1 lrzsz minicom
0 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 287 kB of archives.
After this operation, 1,036 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
...

Next, let's configure the minicom settings. Run the following command to open the minicom configuration:

sudo minicom -s

This will open the minicom configuration menu. Use the arrow keys to navigate and select the options you want to configure, such as:

  • Serial port setup
  • Modem and dialing
  • Screen and keyboard
  • Save setup as dfl

Once you have made the desired changes, select "Exit from minicom" to save the configuration and exit.

Now, you can start minicom by running the following command:

sudo minicom

This will launch the minicom terminal emulator, and you can start using it to connect to serial devices.

Connect to a Serial Device Using minicom

In this step, we will learn how to use minicom to connect to a serial device.

First, let's identify the serial port that the device is connected to. In the Ubuntu 22.04 Docker container, you can typically find the serial port under the /dev/ directory. For example, if the device is connected to the first serial port, the path would be /dev/ttyUSB0.

Next, let's start minicom and configure the connection settings:

sudo minicom -s

In the minicom configuration menu, navigate to the "Serial port setup" option and configure the following settings:

  • Serial Device: /dev/ttyUSB0 (or the appropriate serial port path for your device)
  • Baud: 9600 (or the baud rate required by your device)
  • Parity: None
  • Databits: 8
  • Stopbits: 1

Save the configuration and exit the menu.

Now, let's connect to the serial device:

sudo minicom

You should see the terminal emulator window, and you can start interacting with the connected serial device.

Example output:

Welcome to minicom 2.8

OPTIONS: I18n
Compiled on Feb 10 2022, 17:15:30.
Port /dev/ttyUSB0, 09:00:00

Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys

To disconnect from the serial device, press Ctrl+A followed by X.

Customize minicom Settings for Better User Experience

In this step, we will explore how to customize the minicom settings to improve the user experience.

First, let's open the minicom configuration menu:

sudo minicom -s

Here are some settings you can customize:

  1. Screen and keyboard:

    • Change the screen colors
    • Adjust the font size
    • Enable/disable local echo
  2. Modem and dialing:

    • Configure the dialing directory
    • Set the default baud rate and other serial parameters
  3. File transfer protocols:

    • Choose the preferred file transfer protocol (e.g., Xmodem, Zmodem)
    • Configure the file transfer directory
  4. Save setup as dfl:

    • Save your customized settings as the default configuration

For example, to change the screen colors, navigate to the "Screen and keyboard" option, select "Screen color" and choose the desired color scheme.

Example output:

+-----[configuration]------+
| Filenames and paths      |
| File transfer protocols |
| Serial port setup       |
| Modem and dialing       |
| Screen and keyboard     |
| Save setup as dfl       |
| Exit from minicom       |
+-------------------------+
Screen color

Once you have made the desired changes, select "Save setup as dfl" to save the configuration as the default.

Now, whenever you start minicom, it will use your customized settings.

Summary

In this lab, you first learned how to install and configure the minicom terminal emulator on the Ubuntu 22.04 Docker container. You updated the package index, installed the minicom package, and then customized the minicom settings to suit your preferences. Next, you learned how to connect to a serial device using minicom by identifying the serial port and configuring the connection parameters. Finally, you explored ways to further customize the minicom settings for a better user experience, such as adjusting the screen and keyboard settings.

Linux Commands Cheat Sheet

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