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Serial Debugging

Serial debugging is a fundamental method for interacting with the Cubie A7A board through a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) interface. It allows you to view system output and perform debugging using serial communication tools.

Hardware Connection​

danger

When using a USB-to-TTL serial adapter with the Cubie A7A for serial debugging, ensure the pins are connected correctly. Incorrect connections may damage the board hardware.

It is not recommended to connect the VCC pin of the USB-to-TTL adapter, as this could potentially damage the board if connected incorrectly.

Connect the USB-to-TTL serial adapter to the Cubie A7A's UART0 interface, with the other end connected to your PC's USB port.

Cubie A7A UART Connection Diagram
Cubie A7A Pin FunctionConnection Method
Cubie A7A: GND (Pin 6)Connect to GND pin of USB-to-TTL adapter
Cubie A7A: UART0_TXD (Pin 8)Connect to RXD pin of USB-to-TTL adapter
Cubie A7A: UART0_RXD (Pin 10)Connect to TXD pin of USB-to-TTL adapter

Serial Login​

info

Serial Communication Parameters

  • Baud Rate: 115200
  • Data Bits: 8
  • Stop Bits: 1
  • Parity: None
  • Flow Control: None

Using Tabby​

We recommend using the Tabby software for serial port login. Tabby is a powerful and user-friendly serial debugging tool that supports various protocols including serial and SSH, and is compatible with major operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Download Tabby​

Visit the Tabby official website to download and install the Tabby software.

Install Tabby​

  • Windows

Select the .exe file that matches your system architecture for installation.

  • Linux

Select the .deb file that matches your system architecture for installation.

  • macOS

Select the .dmg file that matches your system architecture for installation.

Using Tabby​

Double-click the Tabby application icon to launch the software.

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 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

Serial Port Device Number

For different platforms or when multiple serial devices are connected, you can safely plug and unplug the USB-to-serial cable connected to the board and observe the changes in device numbers to identify the correct device.

Logging in via Serial Port​

Click the run button to connect to the serial port device.

After a successful connection, press Enter to see the login prompt, then enter the username and password for the system (the password won't be displayed as you type; press Enter after entering the password to log in).

Serial Port Debugging​

After successfully logging in via the serial port, you can view system logs and run commands to test system functionality through the serial console.