Thread: Serial Ports

Hello,

I haven't done programming and a bit and am a little rusty. I have a project where I have to read from a serial port (USB) and write it to a file, but I'm having a hard time starting. I know I have to first initialize the port, and then read it. Can anyone please point me in the right direction? I'm reading from a linux laptop if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

Along with the Serial howto provided above, I find this page helpful.

Jim

Originally Posted by jimblumberg

Along with the Serial howto provided above, I find this page helpful.

Jim

I tried the code on the posted page but for some reason I am getting nothing. I know that the code opens the port because the error "failed to open port" prints only when the usb is not connected to the computer but I am only getting my other printf functions (printing the falue of fd) as

3

3

Here is the code:

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <termios.h>

int fd;

int
open_port(void)
     {
fd = open("/dev/serial/by-path/name.of.usb.port0", O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY | O_NDELAY);
printf("%d\n\n", fd);

if (fd == -1)
{
printf("open_port:  Unable to open usb -");
}
else
fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, 0);
return (fd);
}
main()
{
open_port();
printf("%d\n\n",fd);
}

Originally Posted by Salem

Printing the value of errno ( say by using perror() ), would tell you WHY it failed to open.
Then you might be able to figure out what to do about it.

I didn't know that. But it's not failing to open, so that information isn't necessary. The issue is that I'm not getting any information from the port other than the value of fd from the printf function.

Also you will have to set the port parameters correctly before you can get any information from the port.

Jim

Originally Posted by Salem

Well you're not going to either, until you start calling read()

Ha, I did say I hadn't programmed in a while.

Jim, how do I set port parameters?

And I'm missing the syscalls.h directory any idea how to install that on Fedora 14?

how do I set port parameters?

That is covered in Chapter 2 of the link I provided. You must set the baud, parity, number of bits, etc.

Why do you need syscalls.h? I think that is an include file that would be part of the kernel sources.

Jim

It's missing. Go figure. I had to install gcc and vim too but that was fairly painless once I got it hooked up to the internet.

Thanks Jim.