Bit off topic, but I need a good serial terminal program for windows. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:01:23 am
content: Hello all, second time typing this up, the first attempt got nuked by a server glitch.I need a serial terminal program for windows, which supports an "auto" setting for the baud rate, to connect to an ethernet switch in my server rack, since the setting for it to grab an IP and have web control has been turned off at some point.I have tried realterm and termite, as well as the built in terminal tool in arduino, but on the various baud rates I can set I don't get anything in reply. Termite just stated "no handshake".I'm a complete noob when it comes to serial usage aside from a bit with arduino, but am pretty comfortable with command prompt, so could go either way. Hopefully someone knows of a program which will let me connect, or perhaps there is a simple way through command prompt, but I couldn't find anything like that mentioned anywhere.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:02:40 am
content: Tera TermSince you mention Arduino, I use Tera Term for USB-Arduino and Bluetooth Arduino as well.EDIT: didn't see that part. Tera Term doesn't auto-baud. You gotta set it correctly.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:05:09 am
content: Why do you need an auto baudrate? Just try a few while it boots. Realterm's probably the easiest for that.Or check the docs to see what the correct rate is.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:06:39 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on February 05, 2016, 01:05:09 amThe documents call for an auto baud rate, there's no listing of what it actually is (which is annoying)

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:12:39 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on February 05, 2016, 01:09:07 amYeah, that's what I'm not sure of, I've tried sending text on each baud rate with no luck, but as far as I can tell according the the manual it should just be "connect and go", no need to specifically connect at boot (which would be hard anyways as it starts up pretty fast)The manual isn't super clear though, I'll double check to see if it mentions anything like that. It seems to mostly brag about it's "web interface via serial", which is a program I'd gladly use but it's vanished from the net.I don't know if they want an auto setting because it connects on boot, or if some serial connections vary the baud rate from time to time for some reason? (higher when they send data back, and then drop down when receiving? No clue)

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:14:21 am
content: Quote from: XOIIO on February 05, 2016, 01:06:39 amDoes it actually output anything while booting? If so, keep trying. It will be a standard rate (9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200, usually, occasionally 2400 or 4800).Otherwise it's doing auto detection and you should just send to it at something boring and slow like 9600.You might specify the switch, it would make this easier.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:18:54 am
content: Even better, full manual here, I found that it can supposedly auto detect up to 19,200 baud, of course that is a setting which might have been changed. I'll leave the terminal running and reboot it to see if I get anything.http://www.mtmnet.com/PDF_FILES/3C16980_MgmtGuide.pdfUnfortunately no scope, and I lost my usb uart programmager, so waiting for a new one.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:22:30 am
content: Left it on 9600 and rebooted, but didn't get anything, so I'd assume it's waiting for input, but if it can auto detect I'm not sure why it didn't. Maybe there's some other issue, bleh.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:24:04 am
content: Oh jeez, one of THOSE..I'd offer you a more modern switch, but the postage is far more than it's worth.Keep typing at 9600 and see if anything happens. It should echo back.

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:27:57 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on February 05, 2016, 01:02:40 amYes, TeraTerm is good. Putty is also good.Even with the incorrect baud rate is something is being received you will get bogus data clocked in. Then change the baud rates to find the right one.If you have a scope you can check for data on the lines. How did you get the cable? Note that in some cases you may need a null-modem adapter, unless your cable already does that in which case you need an extension cable.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:29:06 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on February 05, 2016, 01:24:04 amYeah, worst part is, I had some much more modern ones, but I didn't use them for so long, I gutted them for the power suppliesI've tried pretty much what you'd expect to give something, help, login, menu, ?, /?, etc. to no avail.Quote from: blueskull on February 05, 2016, 01:25:01 amThat mentions emulation, an option I don't see in realterm or termite, maybe that's the key. downloading terra term nowQuote from: Tomorokoshi on February 05, 2016, 01:27:57 amBought the null modem cable new.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:30:56 am
content: Emulation won't do any good. If it's not responding to sending characters, it's not responding. No random setting's likely to change that.Check the pinout of that cable.I can't even give away this 'Foundry' (SMC...) paperweight..

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:39:47 am
content: Well, terra term got me in lickity split, of course now I need to find out a password which actually works, since it seems all the defaults have been changed. That or "login" takes me to the wrong section or something. (and sadly no, I can't define the interface without the password)

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:48:30 am
content: Balls, previous guy never logged into it, too bad since he replied so fast.Anyone know of some decent brute force terminal applications? I have a bit of experience with aircrack and using libraries with that on linux lol

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 02:09:16 am
content: I think the only hope would be finding a firmware download somewhere and hoping it can transfer to the device and reset the whole shebang. Not a single password or username combo I can find for 3com superstack, or even other switches will work.edit: I think this is the page for it now, seems like a good match.https://h10145.www1.hp.com/downloads/SoftwareReleases.aspx?ProductNumber=JE854AWhen I try to install it crashes out though, I'll have to install windows xp on something to try and run it, I guess server 2008 r2 is too new.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 03:18:04 am
content: Superstack II and Superstack III are different.Either way, a firmware update won't (usually..) reset a password. I think you're screwed.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 03:54:12 am
content: it is a simple matter to script a login exchange using 'expect'. are you sure that a password was set, and not just blank? is SNMP enabled?

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 12:34:10 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on February 05, 2016, 03:18:04 amI found a post where someone was trying to do the same, and apparently it does work on these ones, at least according to one person.Quote from: helius on February 05, 2016, 03:54:12 amYes, tried blank as well. Not sure about snmp, the switch itself works, I have two computers hooked to it working fine now, but I can't do anything else with it.

author: StuUK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 12:38:18 pm
content: got all nostalgic about a certain green frog.....

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 12:54:25 pm
content: Quote from: StuUK on February 05, 2016, 12:38:18 pmOh god...For some reason all the airlines that went to Vietnam from taiwan (just a layover)were playing a Christmas song that I am 99% sure was a crazy frog one.

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:39:54 pm
content: Quote from: StuUK on February 05, 2016, 12:38:18 pmI mentioned that frog in the other topic where were discussin HP scientific calculators, specially the HP 48 and 49. All the upload/download to/from the calculator was done using XModem, which is one of the Kermit's features.Back on topic, I also use PuTTY, since it is one tool for many tasks: SSH, Telnet, serial, and so on. Great little tool.

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:44:35 pm
content: Make sure you've got flow control turned off in your terminal program.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 01:52:25 pm
content: Quote from: Delta on February 05, 2016, 01:44:35 pmIt is.Found an old shuttle computer, tossed windows xp on it, trying various bits of software to find which one is the update utility

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 02:25:57 pm
content: Well, I think this is dead, all the software is either useless extra stuff, or possibly the firmware files, but the serial web utility is nowhere to be found, and there's no program to try and send the firmware via serial. If the switch has an IP you can use a tfp program, but of course it doesn't, which is why I'm trying t get in.No username/password combination I can find/think of works, and there's no way to track down where this thing originally came from. I guess I just wasted $8 on the cable and will have to leave it as an unmanaged switch. Hopefully it actively learns what data goes where so that it isn't affecting the network speed. Seems good on that front at least, and I guess I'll have to buy another one later on if I want to interact with it.

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 02:41:50 pm
content: There is not reset switch on or in the thing?This one will also show corrupted data when the baud is wrong:https://sites.google.com/site/terminalbpp/

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 02:45:36 pm
content: Nope, not a single button on the damn thing, and no battery inside that I could pull to clear the current setup.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 02:52:39 pm
content: I tossed a dozen 8 and 16 port 3com's plagued with bad caps, maybe the ASIC(s) controlling the Etherent PHY chips work, but Vcc for the CPU not? Also check the minus rail, -5v to -12v is required for RS232.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 02:55:03 pm
content: Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 05, 2016, 02:52:39 pmI do get a login prompt though, and it tells me bad password, so it is connecting. I just don't have a way of logging in or resetting it.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 02:59:37 pm
content: I remember hacking cisco unit once where I had to type a key sequence immediately to get into a serial ROM monitor (something akin to a PC's BIOS)... Maybe something here works:http://www.urtech.ca/2011/12/default-passwords/They also have specifics on clearing another 3c model - maybe there's similarities?http://www.urtech.ca/2011/12/solved-how-to-reset-the-password-on-a-3com-swictch-4200g-3848/

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 03:15:38 pm
content: Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 05, 2016, 02:59:37 pmYeah, went through all those too, it just makes me wonder what this was used for if every option was changed.

author: stmdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 08:32:13 pm
content: Jeez, people still have functioning SuperStack IIs ? I used to throw them out on a weekly basis in 2001 due to failing powersupplies...Anyhow,The default passwords (which I assume you've tried) are:admin/orsecurity/securityIf those doesn't work, there's a handy backdoor that 3Com left in, which should work on most SSIIs (3300 and 1100):3comcso/RIP 000 <-- Note the space in the password

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 09:54:41 pm
content: Quote from: stmdude on February 05, 2016, 08:32:13 pmYeah, even that one gives an incorrect password. I don't get how none of the default ones or that are working, unless they can run some sort of custom firmware? That's the only way I can see the back door being sealed up.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 11:18:51 pm
content: For some reason I'm still using good old Hyperterminal because at the end of the day it does everything right (except for crashing every now and then). My biggest problem is that all the other terminal programs don't have to option to close/open a serial port without going through a lot of menus or worse: restart the entire program.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2016, 11:19:45 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 05, 2016, 11:18:51 pmRealterm.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2016, 12:01:56 am
content: I tried Realterm somewhere in the past but I ended up switching back to Hyperterminal.

author: VladimirM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 06:52:55 pm
content: Have you triedhttp://docklight.de/?It is professional tool with many useful options and it has been around for many years so it is mature product that is still updated..Hyper-terminal is what I like to say relic from the dark ages of PC communications

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2017, 05:46:29 am
content: You keep mentioning baud rates - but maybe the issue is the number of data bits or stop bits, or parity setting. Try Googling the switch model and serial port settings. I skimmed a bunch of the message but for grins I googles superstack serial port settings and the first hit says 115k, 8-N-1, no flow control. I saw Superstack mentioned but didn't notice if that's what you are trying to connect to or someone else mentioning it. But there you go.

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 09:19:55 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 05, 2016, 11:18:51 pmMobaXterm would fit the bill..I use it a lot, and i'm quite happy with it. It does SSH, RDP, Serial, Telnet, FTP, VNC, etc, etc. - It also have tabbed "browsing" so you can change over between your active sessions.

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2017, 10:20:53 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 05, 2016, 11:18:51 pmBrey terminal program allows open/close/reselect com port, baud rate, etc all from the main page.https://sites.google.com/site/terminalbpp/