[Linux] Using Minicom to transfer data between Host and Development board(platform)

Minicom is a text-based modem control and terminal emulator program for Unix-like operating systems. It is a serial communication program that connects to devices through a GNU/Linux PC's serial ports.

OS：ubuntu16.04

Cross compiler：arm-linux-gcc

# Host

1. Install minicom in Host

sudo apt-get install minicom

Setting minicom

sudo minicom -s

You’ll see a response similar to:

Serial port setup

A — Serial Device : your serial device 
    (you can list the devices by: ls /dev/tty*)
E — Bps/Par/Bits : setting the baud rate
F — Hardware Flow Control : No

you’ll see a response similar to:

Filenames and paths

A — Download directory : directory which from platform to host
B — Upload directory : directory which from host to platform

you’ll see a response similar to:

After all you done, select Save setup as df to be default. Than select Exit to into Minicom.

Ctrl-A, and z, show the minicom command summary. You’ll see a response similar to: (Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys)

Now, you can use Minicom to send or receive data in your host.

CTRL-A, and s: send a data from host to platform
CTRL-A, and r: receive a data from platform to host

2. Install lrzsz and build in Host

lrzsz is a unix communication package providing the XMODEM, YMODEM ZMODEM file transfer protocols.

sudo apt-get install lrzsz

download lrzsz source code:

lrzsz

decompression lrzsz-0.12.20.tar.gz: tar -zxf lrzsz-0.12.20.tar.gz

go to lrzsz dir: cd lrzsz-0.12.20/

run configure: ./configure

Modify Makefile

lrzsz-0.12.20/Makefile
lrzsz-0.12.20/lib/Makefile
lrzsz-0.12.20/src/Makefile

Replace gcc with the cross compiler required by the development board. In my case, I am using the NXP i.MX 8M Mini witch is arm-linux:

CC = gcc
CPP = gcc -E

replace “gcc” with “arm-linux-gcc”:

CC = arm-linux-gcc
CPP = arm-linux-gcc -E

then, make it: make

you will find “lsz” and “lrz” in path: lrzsz-0.12.20/src, you’ll see a response similar to:

copy lsz and lrz from Host to development board’s dir: /bin

# Platform

3. Test

send a data from host to platform:

cd /tmp
lrz

You’ll see a response similar to:

CTRL-A, and s
select zmoden, and enter

Escape to exit, Space to tag, Space*2 to enter.

send a data from platform to host:

 lsz filename

You will see the file in Download directory you set before.