Configuration
Serial Port Configuration
4-8
Access Mode
The serial port access mode governs what kind of connections each port can accept. Local access permits
local logins on the serial port. Remote access allows network hosts to connect to the MSS. Dynamic access
(the default) allows both local and remote access.
To change a serial port’s access mode, enter the Change Port [Portlist] Access command. The following
example enables local logins to the first serial port.
Figure 4-16:
Changing Serial Port Access Mode
If an attached serial device will be continuously transmitting data, the port should be set to Access Remote
so the data will not accidentally cause the MSS to create a local connection.
Autostart
Normally, the serial port will wait for a carriage return before starting a connection. When the Autostart
option is enabled, the MSS will establish a connection as soon as it boots (or, if modem control is enabled,
as soon as the DSR signal is asserted). To control this feature, enter the Change Port [Portlist] Autostart
command. The following example enables Autostart for the second serial port.
Figure 4-17:
Enabling Autostart
A port set for Autostart will never be idle, and therefore will not be available for network connections. If
network connections are desired, Autostart should remain disabled (the default).
Autostart can also be triggered by a specific input character. As the MSS does not have a default Autostart
character, you will have to configure one. For example, when using modem emulation mode, you may want
to use A so that Autostart will happen as soon as an AT modem command is entered. See
Modem Emulation
Mode on page 5-10
for more information. Keep in mind that when you configure an Autostart character, you
can no longer use <CR> to get to the Local> prompt. The following example configures “A” as the
Autostart character for the first serial port.
Figure 4-18:
Configuring an Autostart Character
You can also specify a control character using escaped hex. For example, Ctrl-B (ASCII character 0x02) is
“\02” in escaped hex.
Saving Autostart Characters
If the port is configured with a Dedicated port host and Autostart is enabled for that port, the autostart
characters that start the connection can either be passed to the host as the first bytes of data or can be
discarded. If you want to pass the characters along, you must configure the Autostart Save parameter, as the
default is to discard autostart characters. The following example passes the first (or only) autostart character
along to the host.
Figure 4-19:
Saving Autostart Characters
Another option is Save None, the default setting, which will not pass anything on to the host.
Local>> CHANGE PORT 1 ACCESS LOCAL
Local>> CHANGE PORT 2 AUTOSTART ENABLED
Local>> CHANGE PORT 1 AUTOSTART CHARACTER “A”
Local>> CHANGE PORT 1 AUTOSTART SAVE 1
