UART Login
UART is an essential interface for embedded development that lets you monitor system logs and interact with the board through a serial console.
Hardware Connections
Double-check the wiring when using a USB-to-serial cable with the Cubie A7Z—incorrect pin connections can damage the board.
Do not connect the VCC lead from the cable to the board to avoid over-voltage issues.
For communication between the PC and the board, you can use either a USB-to-TTL module or a USB-to-serial cable—pick whichever is more convenient.
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USB-to-serial cable: Connect the Dupont wires to the board header and plug the USB end into the PC.
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USB-to-TTL module: Use Dupont wires between the module and the board, then plug the module’s USB port into the PC.
The illustration below shows the typical pin layout for these cables/modules. Always follow the documentation provided with your specific hardware.
| Cubie A7Z Pin Function | Connection | USB-TTL / USB-Serial Pin |
|---|---|---|
| GND (Pin 6) | Dupont | GND |
| UART0_TX (Pin 8) | Dupont | RXD |
| UART0_RX (Pin 10) | Dupont | TXD |
Serial Login
Baud rate: 115200
Data bits: 8
Stop bits: 1
Parity: None
Flow control: None
Using Tabby
We recommend using Tabby for serial port login. Tabby is a powerful and user-friendly serial debugging tool that supports multiple protocols including serial port and SSH, and is compatible with mainstream operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Download Tabby
Visit the Tabby official website to download and install the Tabby software.
Install Tabby
Select the appropriate installation package for your operating system and hardware architecture (Windows: tabby-<version>.exe, Linux: tabby-<version>.deb, macOS: tabby-<version>.dmg) to install the Tabby software.
Using Tabby
After installation, double-click the Tabby icon to launch the application.
Serial Port Configuration
① --> Settings : Click the settings option
② --> Profiles & connections : Click to configure connection options
③ --> New profile : Click to add a new configuration
Select Serial Port Template
Choose a base configuration as a template: Select any Serial template. You can modify parameters such as device name, serial port device number, and baud rate in the subsequent configuration interface.
Modify Serial Port Parameters
After selecting the Serial template, modify the following parameters:
① --> Name : Set the connection name (recommended to use the product name)
② --> Device : Set the serial port device number (default is /dev/ttyUSB0 if only one serial device is connected to a Linux system)
③ --> Baud rate : Set the baud rate to 115200
④ --> Save : Save the configuration
For different platforms or when multiple serial devices are connected, you can safely unplug the USB serial cable connected to the board and observe the device number changes to identify the correct device.
Login via Serial Port
Click the run button to log in to the serial port device.
After a successful connection, press Enter to display the login prompt. Then use the corresponding system username and password to log in (the password will not be displayed as you type; press Enter after entering the password).
Android system login does not require entering user account and password.
Using the Serial Port
After successfully logging in to the system via the serial port, you can view system logs and run commands to test system functionality.