Skip to main content

Serial-device problems

Use this information to solve problems with serial ports or devices.

Number of displayed serial ports is less than the number of installed serial ports

Complete the following steps until the problem is solved.
  1. Make sure that:
    • Each port is assigned a unique address in the Setup utility and none of the serial ports is disabled.

    • The serial-port adapter (if one is present) is seated correctly.

  2. Reseat the serial port adapter.

  3. Replace the serial port adapter.

Serial device does not work

  1. Make sure that:
    • The device is compatible with the server.

    • The serial port is enabled and is assigned a unique address.

    • The device is connected to the correct connector (see System-board connectors).

  2. Reseat the following components:
    1. Failing serial device.

    2. Serial cable.

  3. Replace the following components:
    1. Failing serial device.

    2. Serial cable.

  4. (Trained technician only) Replace the system board (system board assembly).

Enabling the serial port on supported operating system

To enable the serial port module on Linux or Microsoft Windows, do one of the followings according to the installed operating system:
Note
If the Serial over LAN (SOL) or Emergency Management Services (EMS) feature is enabled, the serial port will be hidden on Linux and Microsoft Windows. Therefore, it is required to disable SOL and EMS to use the serial port on operating systems for serial devices.
  • For Linux:

    Open the ipmitool and enter the following command to disable the Serial over LAN (SOL) feature:

    -I lanplus -H IP -U USERID -P PASSW0RD sol deactivate
  • For Microsoft Windows:

    1. Open the ipmitool and enter the following command to disable the SOL feature:

      -I lanplus -H IP -U USERID -P PASSW0RD sol deactivate
    2. Open Windows PowerShell and enter the following command to disable the Emergency Management Services (EMS) feature:

      Bcdedit /ems off
    3. Restart the server to ensure that the EMS setting takes effect.