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UART Debug

UART debugging is a core method in embedded development for interacting with the motherboard through a serial communication interface (UART). It allows you to view system output and perform debugging using serial port tools.

Hardware Connection​

① : Power on the motherboard using a power adapter

② : Connect the motherboard's Debug port to your computer's USB port using a USB Type-C cable

Maskrom Mode

If the motherboard enters Maskrom mode and you connect the Debug port to your computer's USB port using a USB Type-C cable, the system will show two devices, similar to the following information:

Bus 001 Device 014: ID 1a86:7523 QinHeng Electronics CH340 serial converter
Bus 001 Device 015: ID 2207:350c Fuzhou Rockchip Electronics Company

Where Bus 001 Device 014 is the CH340 serial debug device, and Bus 001 Device 015 is the motherboard's Maskrom mode device.

Serial Port Login​

Serial Communication Parameters

Baud Rate: 1500000

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 1500000

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.