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Connect to Serial Port on PandaBoard Hardware

This topic shows you how to configure and open a command line session with the target hardware.

This is an optional task that you can use to:

To open a serial connection to your board:

  1. Connect a serial cable from your host computer to the female DB9 connector on the board.

  2. Identify the COM port for your serial connection. In Windows® 7, use the "search programs and files" feature in the Start menu to find "Device Manager". Open Device Manager, and expand Ports (COM & LPT) to see the list of serial connections.

    For example, the following image shows that the DB9 serial port called "Communications Port" uses COM1. Similarly, the image shows that the USB-to-serial adapter called "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port" uses COM6.

      Note:   If you have trouble locating the COM port number, search the Windows "Help and Support" for "Device Manager".

  3. In the MATLAB® Command Window, start PuTTY by entering:

    h = panda;
  4. In the PuTTY dialog box that opens, select the Serial category.

  5. Set the following values:

    • Serial line to connect to: If you are using your computer's built-in serial port, try COM1. Otherwise, use the Device Manager in Windows to determine the COM port number.

    • Speed (baud): 115200

    • Flow control: None

  6. In the PuTTY dialog box, select the Session category.

  7. Set the Connection type parameter to Serial, enter a new name for Saved Sessions, click Save, and click Open.

      Note:   Do not save the serial settings to Default Settings. The Default Settings must remain configured to use SSH in order to run your Simulink® model on the BeagleBoard hardware. Otherwise, trying to run the model on BeagleBoard hardware produces an error message.

  8. When a terminal window opens, press the Enter key on your keyboard. The terminal window displays the Linux® command line.

  9. When you are finished, enter logout on the Linux command line, and close PuTTY to end the serial connection.

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