Serial Terminal
Save local serial device profiles, choose framing and flow control, and use independent console tabs in Zync.
A serial terminal sends input to a local serial device and displays the bytes that device returns. Use it for device consoles, USB serial adapters, or a virtual serial pair. It is independent of a local shell or SSH session.
The device or virtual port must already be available to your operating system. Install any driver required by the adapter and check that your account can open the port.
Save a Serial connection
Section titled “Save a Serial connection”- Open New Connection and choose Serial connection.
- Enter a Profile name and choose the Serial port. Use Refresh ports after attaching or changing a device.
- Set the Baud rate to match the device.
- Expand Serial settings to choose framing, flow control and Enter sends.
- Choose Save profile to store the settings, or Save & Connect to save and open the device. Back returns to the connection-type chooser.
Saved profiles appear under SERIAL PROFILES in the Connections sidebar. That section appears after you create a profile and starts collapsed. Opening a profile creates an independent main tab. Choose Connect when ready to use the saved device.
Match the device settings
Section titled “Match the device settings”Both ends need compatible settings. Check the device documentation before changing them.
| Setting | Available choices |
|---|---|
| Baud rate | A positive whole rate supported by the device and driver. |
| Data bits | 5, 6, 7 or 8. |
| Parity | None, Odd or Even. |
| Stop bits | 1 or 2. |
| Flow control | None, RTS/CTS or XON/XOFF. |
| Enter sends | CR, LF or CRLF. |
New profiles start at 115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit and no flow control. These defaults are not a guarantee that they match your device.
Enter sends controls the newline bytes sent to the device. For example, choose CRLF if the receiving console expects both a carriage return and a line feed.
Use the console
Section titled “Use the console”Input goes to the open serial port, and received data appears in the terminal. Zync does not supply shell commands for the device; the connected device decides what your input means.
If you type and see no text, the device may not echo input. Test with a device that returns output, or use a virtual pair as described below. A successful open by itself does not make a serial device send data.
Use Serial settings… in a saved tab’s right-click menu to edit the profile. Changing the port or hardware settings closes the previous device session; reconnect with the updated settings. Renaming a profile keeps its existing session.
Disconnect and reopen
Section titled “Disconnect and reopen”Choose Disconnect to release the device. After a connection has been opened, Reconnect lets you try it again. If the device is unplugged, check that it is available, refresh the port list if needed, then reconnect explicitly.
Profiles and restored tabs stay on this device. Restarting Zync restores the saved tab without opening hardware automatically. If a saved port is missing, Zync does not silently select another device.
Test without a hardware device
Section titled “Test without a hardware device”You can use a virtual serial pair supplied by your operating system or an installed virtual-port tool:
- Create two connected virtual ports, such as
COM1andCOM2on Windows. - Save one Serial profile for each port, using matching settings.
- Open the two profiles in separate tabs and connect both.
- Type in the first tab and check that the second receives it, then repeat in the other direction.
The pair transfers data between its endpoints. Seeing input on the opposite tab is expected; the test does not require an SSH server.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”- No ports found: check the device connection and driver, then choose Refresh ports.
- Port unavailable or busy: close another program or tab that has opened that port, then retry.
- Access denied: check your operating system’s device permissions.
- Unreadable output: match the device’s baud rate, data bits, parity and stop bits.
- The device does not respond to Enter: check Enter sends and the device’s flow-control requirements.
- A saved port disappeared: reconnect the adapter and review the selected port. Its identifier may change when devices are reattached.
Related docs
Section titled “Related docs”- Connections for the shared connection chooser.
- Terminal for local shells and SSH terminals.
- Security for local device access.