Application Note
congatec Application Note#2
Affected Products Numerous
Subject Remote Control with the congatec Embedded BIOS
Confidential/Public public
Author HCH
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Application Note
Revision History
Revision Date (yyyy-mm-dd) Author Changes
1.0 2005-05-25 HCH Initial release
1.1 2005-06-25 HCH Changed AMI copyright
1.2 2006-08-25 HCH Changed Applicable Products information
1.3 2013-09-25 CJR Updated for new products based on Aptio UEFI firmware
1.4 2017-02-22 GMA Updated to new template, updated section 1, 2 and 3
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Application Note
Preface
This application note describes how the Remote Access is supported by the congatec
Embedded BIOS (based on AMI Aptio V UEFI firmware) and can be used to control and
configure headless systems without display or/and keyboard connected.
Disclaimer
The information contained within this Application Note, including but not limited to any
product specification, is subject to change without notice.
congatec AG provides no warranty with regard to this Application Note or any other
information contained herein and hereby expressly disclaims any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose with regard to any of the foregoing.
congatec AG assumes no liability for any damages incurred directly or indirectly from any
technical or typographical errors or omissions contained herein or for discrepancies between
the product and the Application Note. In no event shall congatec AG be liable for any
incidental, consequential, special, or exemplary damages, whether based on tort, contract or
otherwise, arising out of or in connection with this Application Note or any other
information contained herein or the use thereof.
Intended Audience
This Application Note is intended for technically qualified personnel. It is not intended
for general audiences.
Electrostatic Sensitive Device
All congatec AG products are electrostatic sensitive devices and are packaged
accordingly. Do not open or handle a congatec AG product except at an
electrostatic-free workstation. Additionally, do not ship or store congatec AG products
near strong electrostatic, electromagnetic, magnetic, or radioactive fields unless the
device is contained within its original manufacturer’s packaging. Be aware that failure to
comply with these guidelines will void the congatec AG Limited Warranty.
Technical Support
congatec AG technicians and engineers are committed to providing the best possible
technical support for our customers so that our products can be easily used and
implemented. We request that you first visit our website at www.congatec.com for the
latest documentation, utilities and drivers, which have been made available to assist
you. If you still require assistance after visiting our website then contact our technical
support department by email at [email protected]
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Application Note
Symbols
The following are symbols used in this application note.
Note
Notes call attention to important information that should be observed.
Caution
Cautions warn the user about how to prevent damage to hardware or loss of data.
Warning
Warnings indicate that personal injury can occur if the information is not observed.
Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2005, congatec AG. All rights reserved. All text, pictures and graphics are
protected by copyrights. No copying is permitted without written permission from
congatec AG.
congatec AG has made every attempt to ensure that the information in this document is
accurate yet the information contained within is supplied “as-is”.
Trademarks
Product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within this
user’s guide, or the congatec website, are the property of their respective trademark
holders. These trademark holders are not affiliated with congatec AG, our products, or
our website.
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Application Note
Terminology
Term Description
BIOS Basic Input Output System. BIOS is actually firmware, the software that is programmed into a
ROM (Read-Only Memory) chip built onto the motherboard of a computer
UEFI Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
POST Power-on Self-Test. A diagnostic testing sequence run by a computer’s BIOS as the computer’s
power is initially turned on
AMI American Megatrends, Inc - congatec’s BIOS partner
Aptio V AMIs next generation UEFI BIOS
SBC Single Board Computer
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Application Note
1 Introduction
Remote Access is accomplished through Serial Redirection, which allows video and
keyboard redirection via a standard RS-232 serial port. The remote computer running
communication software (HyperTerminal, Tera Term, minicom, etc.) must be connected
with a null-modem cable. Video redirection via serial port is commonly used on
“headless” systems, which run without the need for a VGA video display adapter.
Remote Access Requirements:
• Host system with a serial port, running a terminal program that supports
XMODEM transfer protocol (HyperTerminal or Tera Term for Microsoft Windows,
minicom for Linux/FreeBSD, etc.)
• Target system with a serial port either on the Single Board Computer (SBC) or on
the carrier board when using a module. The Serial Port Console Redirection can
always be enabled if an UART port (routed to Super I/O) is implemented on the
carrier board. Check the user's guide of your module whether or not the onboard
UARTs support Serial Port Console Redirection.
• Null-modem cable
Attach the null-modem cable to the serial port of the congatec SBC or module (“target”).
Attach the other end of the null-modem cable to a system running the terminal program
(“host”).
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Application Note
2 Remote Access Configuration
Remote Access functionality on the target system can be enabled in the BIOS Setup:
1. Press <Del> key during startup to enter BIOS setup.
2. Select 'Advanced' menu.
3. Enter 'Serial Port Console Redirection'.
4. Enable Remote Access/Console Redirection.
After the Remote Access/Console Redirection has been enabled a series of
configuration parameters will appear.
The above settings specify how the host and the target system will exchange data. Both
systems must have the same or compatible settings.
Terminal Type (Type of Emulation):
• ANSI : Extended ASCII char set.
• VT100 : ASCII char set.
• VT100+ : Extends VT100 to support color, Function keys, etc.
• VT-UTF8 : Uses UTF8 encoding to map Unicode chars to 1 or more bytes.
Bits Per Second:
Selects serial port transmission speed. The speed must be matched on the other side.
Long or noisy lines may require lower speeds. The options are 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600
and 115200 bps.
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Application Note
Data Bits:
Number of message data bits. The options are 7 and 8 data bits.
Parity:
A parity bit can be sent with the data bits to detect transmission errors.
The parity options are:
• Even: parity bit is 0 if the number of 1's in the data bits is even.
• Odd: parity bit is 0 if number of 1's in the data bits is odd.
• Mark: parity bit is always 1.
• Space: Parity bit is always 0.
Mark and space parity do not allow for error detection. They can be used as an
additional data bit.
Stop Bits:
Stop bits indicate the end of a serial data packet. The standard setting is 1 stop bit.
Communication with slow devices may require more than 1 stop bit. The options are 1
and 2 stop bits.
Flow Control:
Flow control can prevent data loss from buffer overflow. When sending data, if the
receiving buffers are full, a 'stop' signal can be sent to stop the data flow. Once the
buffers are empty, a 'start' signal can be sent to re-start the flow. Software flow control
uses start/stop ASCII chars, which slows down the data flow and can be problematic if
binary data is being sent.
The flow control options are:
• None
• Hardware CTS/RTS: HW flow control uses two wires to send start/stop signals.
VT-UTF8 Combo Key Support:
Enables the VT-UTF8 combination key support for ANSI/VT100 terminals.
Recorder mode:
In this mode only text is sent to capture the terminal data. Use the recorder mode to
capture post message data for analyzing. It is helpful in getting information, like
recording post messages on reboots.
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Application Note
Resolution 100×31:
Applications like Putty can support any resolution, other than normal 80×24 resolution,
supported by hyper terminal. Since we support 100×31, this option is included to use in
such application.
• Enable – Enables extended resolution
• Disable – Disables extended resolution
Legacy OS Redirection:
HyperTerminal supports only 80*24 lines. The problem with 80*24 mode is the first line is
not displayed on hyperterminal. But applications like Putty can support 80*25 mode
where all lines can be redirected. Both modes are supported, 80×24 and 80×25.
Putty KeyPad:
Allows to select the FunctionKey and KeyPad on Putty. The options are VT100, LINUX,
XTERMR6, SCO, ESCN and VT400.
Redirection After BIOS POST:
Disabled: Turns off the redirection after POST / before booting to Legacy OS. Enable:
which means redirection is enabled for Legacy OS.
Note
Serial Redirection will not work with applications running in graphic mode and with
Operating Systems running in protected mode.
Caution
The configuration of the communication software used on the host system must
correspond to the configuration used for the target's BIOS settings.
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Application Note
3 Remote Access Uses
Change BIOS Settings
Remote Access can be used to modify the BIOS settings (the Remote Access has to be
enabled in the BIOS Setup). The BIOS Setup can be accessed by pressing the <Del> key
on the host system’s keyboard. Then, the necessary BIOS settings can be made by
following the instructions displayed on the right side of the BIOS Setup screen.
Choose Boot Device
By pressing the <F10> key on the host system’s keyboard, the boot menu can be
accessed to choose the device from which the module should boot the operating
system.
Perform DOS Commands
When DOS is used as operating system, Remote Access can be used to control the
system and perform the needed DOS commands. In this case, the setting for 'Redirection
after BIOS POST' must be set to 'Enable'.
Perform UEFI Shell Commands
When UEFI shell is booted, Remote Access can be used to control the system and perform
the needed UEFI shell commands. In this case the settings for 'Redirection after BIOS POST'
must be set to 'Enable'.
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