user43643: I have a arduino clone that is not being assigned a /dev/tty by Debian Stretch (Stable).  It does have the ch340g chip.  I have tried the driver from the manufactures site with no joy.  Would the lack of a bootloader cause this problem?
Thanks.

user612: No.  On Arduino-style boards which use distinct chips for the main processor (ATmega328p) and Serial interface (CH34x/ATmega8u2/ATmega16u2/FT2232 etc) the presence or absence of a bootloader on the main processor has no bearing on the recognition of a USB/Virtual Serial device by a host.
However on ATmega32u4 and some ARM-based boards it can.
Since you are describing a classic board with distinct chips, whatever your actual issue is, it is something else.

43643: <p>I have a arduino clone that is not being assigned a /dev/tty by Debian Stretch (Stable).  It does have the ch340g chip.  I have tried the driver from the manufactures site with no joy.  Would the lack of a bootloader cause this problem?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>
 612: <p>No.  On Arduino-style boards which use distinct chips for the main processor (ATmega328p) and Serial interface (CH34x/ATmega8u2/ATmega16u2/FT2232 etc) the presence or absence of a bootloader on the main processor has no bearing on the recognition of a USB/Virtual Serial device by a host.</p>

<p>However on ATmega32u4 and some ARM-based boards it can.</p>

<p>Since you are describing a classic board with distinct chips, whatever your actual issue is, it is something else.</p>
