UNIX Serial Port Resources - Serial Port & Cable Pinouts
This content was originally created, collected, and maintained by Stokely Consulting.
It has moved to SunHELP as of May 2005, and all further updates are done by Bill Bradford.
Note: I’m gradually improving the formatting of this page. Please forgive any strangeness for now.
Port voltage:
Many Sun cpu serial ports can be configured as either RS-232 (+/- 12V) or RS-423 (+/- 5V). Defaults vary. See the hardware documentation for your machine to locate the jumper to configure this, if it exists. Most implementations do not have to worry about the voltage on the serial port.
Port splitter cable:
Many Suns need a Y-cable to split the A/B Serial Port into the 2 different devices. Different Suns use different splitter cables for this purpose. Some Suns use small, round Mini DIN8 connectors that require an adapter to connect to a DB25 device, like a modem or terminal. Pinouts are shown below.
Serial Port & Cable Pinouts
ELC/SLC
Enterprise 150/ 220R/ 250/ 3000/ 3500/ 4500/ 5000/ 5500/ 6500
Enterprise 420R
Enterprise 450
IPC/IPX
Netra ft 1800
Netra t 1120/ 1125/ 1400/ 1405
Netra t1 Model 105/ AC200/ DC200
Netra X1/ 1280
Netra 240
Sparc 4, 10, 20, LX, Classic, Classic X
SPARCstation 2
SPARCstation 5
Sun Blade 100/ 150
Sun Blade 1000/ 2000
Sun Fire 280R
Sun Fire 880/ 3800/ 4800/ 6800
Sun Fire V100/ V120/ V480/ V1280
Sun Serial Parallel Controller (SPC)
Sun StorEdge T3 Disk Tray, T3B/T3+/Sun StorEdge 3900/6900
Ultra 1/ 2/ 30/ 60
Ultra 5/ 10
Ultra 80
Null modem, DB25-DB25
Null modem, DB25-DB9
Null modem, DB9-DB9
Null terminal, DB25-DB25
Null terminal, DB9-DB9
Null terminal, DB25-DB9
Keyboard, mouse, video, non-Sun pinouts
| Pin Identification | |||
DB25, DB9 pictures courtesy of Cables To Go, copyright 2002 | |||
 DB25 Male |  DB25 Female |  DB9 Male |  DB9 Female |
 |  |  |  |
Comments on cable vendors:
Cables To Go has a huge number of cables, including Sun serial splitter cables. Good Cable Configurator and
Connector Guide with excellent pictures. Our readers are impressed with the company’s tech support.
PCCables.com
has a good online catalog, and several Sun cables. Good cable and
connector pictures. They have some very handy, inexpensive
RJ45-DB9/DB25 adapters. These are often used for serial devices and
have all wires ready to be pushed into the appropriate spot
on the DB9/DB25 connector.
SunStore (800) SUN-0404, is very knowledgeable and will ship your order for stock cables quickly.
Ultra Spec Cables (800) 622-2537, seems to carry most or all of these cables, at reasonable prices.
There have been some customer service problems with Ultra Spec, but
they seem to be working this out. Check your order carefully.
Network Technologies Inc. makes switches, splitters and extension cables for Sun, PC and MAC
machines.
Sun ELC and SLC CPU serial ports:[Pin ID]
The
Sun part number is for the ELC serial port splitter cable is X985Q. The
SLC serial port splitter cable is Sun part # 530-1667. The pinout below
is from the May 1993 Sun FE Handbook.
Pin Signal Port Pin Signal Port 2 TD A 13 CTS B 3 RD A 14 TD B 4 RTS A 15 TC A 5 CTS A 16 RD B 6 DSR A 17 RC A 7 GND A 19 RTS B 8 DCD A 20 DTR A 12 DCD B 24 TCO A
SPARCstation 2:[Pin ID]
The SPARCstation 2 has 2 DB25, 25-pin serial ports:
Pin Signal Description 2 TxD output 3 RxD input 4 RTS output 5 CTS input 6 DSR input 7 GND 8 DCD input 20 DTR output
Ultra 1/
2/ 30/ 60, Enterprise 150/ 220R/ 250/ 3000/ 3500/ 4500/ 5000/ 5500/
6500, Netra t 1120/ 1125/ 1400/ 1405, SPARCstation 5: [Pin ID]
These machines have 2 DB25, 25-pin RS-423/RS-232 serial ports:
Pin Signal Description 2 TxD output Transmit Data 3 RxD input Receive Data 4 RTS output Request to Send 5 CTS input Clear to Send 6 DSR input Data Set Ready 7 GND Ground 8 DCD input Data Carrier Detect 9-14 none Not connected 15 TRxC input1 Transmit Clock input1 16 none Not connected 17 RTxC input2 Receive Clock2 18-19 none Not connected 20 DTR output Data Terminal Ready 21-23 none Not connected 24 TxC output3 Transmit Clock output3 25 none Not ConnectedNotes:
1 Enterprise 6500/5500/4500/3500/3000 labels this as DB.
2 Enterprise 6500/5500/4500/3500/3000 labels this as DD.
3 Enterprise 6500/5500/4500/3500/3000 labels this as DA.
Enterprise 420R: [Pin ID]
This machine has 2 DB25, 25-pin RS-423/RS-232 serial ports:
Pin Signal Description 2 TxD output Transmit Data 3 RxD input Receive Data 4 RTS output Request to Send 5 CTS input Clear to Send 6 DSR input Data Set Ready 7 GND Ground 8 DCD input Data Carrier Detect 9 BUTTON_POR To be determined 10 BUTTON_XIR_L To be determined 11 +5Vdc +5 VDC 12-14 none Not connected 15 TRxC input Transmit Clock 16 none Not connected 17 RTxC input Receive Clock 18-19 none Not connected 20 DTR output Data Terminal Ready 21-23 none Not connected 24 TxC output Transmit Clock 25 none Not Connected
Ultra 5/ 10: [Pin ID]
Port A is a DB25, Port B is a DB9:
Serial Port A (DB25) Pin Signal Description 2 TxD output Transmit Data 3 RxD input Receive Data 4 RTS output Request to Send 5 CTS input Clear to Send 6 DSR input Data Set Ready 7 GND Ground 8 DCD input Data Carrier Detect 9-14 none Not connected 15 TRxC input Transmit Clock 16 none Not connected 17 RTxC input Receive Clock 20 DTR output Data Terminal Ready 21-23 none Not connected 24 TxC output Transmit Clock 25 none Not Connected Serial Port B (DB9) Pin Signal Description 1 CD Carrier Detect 2 RD Receive Data 3 TD Transmit Data 4 DTR Data Terminal Ready 5 GND Ground 6 DSR Data Set Ready 7 RTS Request to Send 8 CTS Clear to Send 9 RI Ring Indicator
Netra ft 1800: [Pin ID]
The Netra ft 1800 has 1 female DB25 Console Port, 1 female DB25 Modem
Port, and 1 female DB9 Remote Control Processor (RCP) Port.
Modem port (DB25) Pin Signal 1 Ground 2 TxD 3 RxD 4 RTS 5 CTS 7 SREF (Signal Reference) 8 DCD 20 DTR Shield Ground Console port (DB25) Pin Signal Description 1 GND Chassis Ground 2 TxD Output Data 3 RxD Input Data 7 SREF Signal Reference Shield — Chassis Ground RCP port (DB9) Pin Signal 2 TxD 3 RxD 5 SREF (Signal Reference) Shield Ground
Netra X1, 1280, t1 Model 105/AC200/DC200, Sun Fire V100/ V120/ V480/ V1280: [Pin ID]
These machines have RJ45 connectors for serial ports.
| Modems: The V100 and V120 have no DCD line on their serial ports, but they map DSR to DCD on at least port B. (Strange, but true). We do not believe that you can put a modem on the Netra X1, 1280, t1 Model 105/AC200/DC200, or Sun Fire V480 or V1280. Configure the modem cable on Port B with the pinout shown to the right. Sun InfoDoc 47436, available via login to contract customers only, at sunsolve.sun.com has a bit more information on setting up a modem for the V100/V120. | Signal RJ45 DB25 Modem RTS 1 — 4 DTR 2 — 20 TXD 3 — 2 Signal Ground 4 — 1 Signal Ground 5 — 7 RXD 6 — 3 DSR(DCD) 7 — 8 CTS 8 — 5 |
On the Netra X1 and Sun Fire V100, Port A LOM is dedicated to the Lights Out Management (LOM) device in the server. The Netra 1280/Sun Fire V1280 machines reserve port B for some non-user use. Only use port A.
One of this site’s readers says that the Cisco Modem RJ45 - DB25 adapter works just fine as a replacement for the Sun adapter with a terminal on the console port of an X1. It probably works well with the other systems listed in this section, too. The Cisco adapter is light grey, embossed with MODEM CAB-5MODCM on one side and 29-0881-01 on the other.
RJ45 - DB25 RS232 serial converter cable, RJ45 - DB9 serial cable:
Below are pinouts for an RJ45 - DB25 RS232 serial converter cable, part
number 530-2889-01 and a RJ45 - DB9 serial cable, part number
530-3100-xx. (There is also an unknown part number which has the same
pinout except that the RJ45 BODY (black) is wired to RS232 pin 1 GND.)
Note that these are wired DCE. If you use the supplied RJ45 to DB25 RS232 adapter, you get a null-modem cable, suitable for a terminal connection.
Machine Sun serial DB25 Machine DB9 adapter RJ45 RS-232 adapter RJ45 RS-232 Pin Pin part # 530-2889-01 Pin part # 530-3100-xx 1 (RTS) blue — 5 (CTS) 1 (RTS) blue — 8 (CTS) 2 (DTR) orange — 6 (DSR) 2 (DTR) orange — 6 (DSR) 3 (TXD) black — 3 (RXD) 3 (TXD) black — 2 (RXD) 4 (GND) red — 7 (GND) 4 (GND) red — 5 (GND) 5 (GND) green — 7 (GND) 5 (GND) green — 5 (GND) 6 (RXD) yellow — 2 (TXD) 6 (RXD) yellow — 3 (TXD) 7 (DSR) brown — 20 (DTR) 7 (DSR) brown — 4 (DTR) 8 (CTS) gray — 4 (RTS) 8 (CTS) gray — 7 (RTS)
V100 - Xylogics Remote Annex 4000 Series:
A reader sent us this pinout for connecting a Sun V100 to a Xylogics
Remote Annex 4000 Series. (This cable pinout will connect the Annex to
the RSC card on any Enterprise and Sun Fire level servers as well as
the V440. It’s not just for the V100.)
Check the signal names and pin numbers for the port on your
Annex model, because the pinouts vary. Match the signal names to
determine your wiring needs.
V100 LOM RJ45 ANNEX RJ45 Pin Signal Pin Signal 8 CTS — 1 RTS 7 DSR — 2 DTR 6 RXD — 3 TXD 4 GND — 6 GND 3 TXD — 5 RXD 2 DTR — 7 DSR 1 RTS — 8 CTS
Vx Series Servers - Avocent CPS-810/1600 series console servers: A reader sent us this pinout for connecting Sun Vx Series Servers to Avocent CPS-810/1600 series console servers.
Adaptor Part # 210105, 10′ Reversing Cable Part # 690226
The following diagram shows the pinout for a CPS flatwire to SUN
serial RJ45 connection; it can be used to create a custom adaptor cable
between the units. This should work on all SUN servers with an RJ45
serial connection.
CPS SUN Pin Signal Pin Signal 1 RTS ———— 8 CTS 2 DSR ———— 2 DTR 3 CD –Not Used– 4 GRND 4 RD ———— 3 TD 5 TD ———— 6 RD 6 GRND ———— 5 GRND 7 DTR ———— 7 DSR 8 CTS ———— 1 RTS
Sun StorEdge T3 Disk Tray: [Top of Page]
(This information is reprinted from the Sun StorEdge T3 Disk Tray Installation, Operation, and Service Manual.)
Pin Function 1 Ground 2-3 Reserved 4 Ground 5 RXD 6 TXD | The controller card has an RS-232 serial port connector (RJ11-6). A
standard serial cable is used to connect the controller service
interface to a dumb terminal or computer serial port with terminal
emulation. Note: The serial port is reserved for special
service procedures that can be performed only by qualified, trained
service personnel. Do not attempt to perform any procedures through the
serial port or you risk damaging the disk tray configuration and data. |
T3B/T3+/Sun StorEdge 3900 and 6900: To connect an external serial terminal to the Storage Service Processor, use the Sun-supplied RJ45-DB9 DTE adapter, part number 530-3100-01, pinout as described in the Netra X1 link on this page, according to the Sun StorEdge 3900 and 6900 Series 1.1 Reference and Service Manual. For other connections to this device, see that Sun document. | |
Sun IPC and IPX CPU serial ports: [Pin ID] Sun no longer sells the serial DIN8 to DB25 serial cable part. It’s available for about US$28 from Ultra Spec Cables. Macintosh serial cables may also work for terminal
connections (if lines 2 and 3 are crossed, as in a null-modem cable),
but not for modem connections, since the Macintosh cable has no DCD
line. There are several different Mac modem cables, so check that the
pinout matches what you need. Note that DB25 pin 6, 15, 22, 24, and 25 are not supported on
the Sun serial port adapter cable. The left pinout below is taken from
the SPARCstation IPC | |
IPC & IPX DB25 to DIN8 Cable Pinout DIN8 DB25 Signal Description Pin Pin —- —- —— ———– 1 20 DTR Data Terminal Ready 2 5 CTS Clear to Send 3 2 TXD Transmit Data 4 7 GND Ground 5 3 RXD Receive Data 6 4 RTS Request to Send 7 8 DCD Data Carrier Detect 8 17 RTXC Receive Clock N/A 6 DSR Data Set Ready, not used N/A 15 DB Transmit Clock, not used N/A 22 RI Ring Indicator, not connected N/A 24 DA Transmit Clock, not used N/A 25 - Not connected |
Mini DIN8 MacintoshPlus Serial Cable Pinout
Pin Signal Description
— —— ———–
1 HSKo Output Handshake
(Zilog 8530 DTR pin)
2 HSKi/CLK Input Handshake
OR External Clock
3 TxD- Transmit data (-)
4 Ground Signal ground
5 RxD- Receive data (-)
6 TxD+ Transmit data (+)
7 N/C (no connection)
8 RxD+ Receive data (+)
|
Sun Sparcstation 4, 10, 20, LX, Classic, Classic X, & Enterprise 450 CPU serial ports: | |
Y-cable (Sun Part number X985A) and the DB25 connector on the system unit, labeled A/B.
| Sun Sparcstation 4, 5, 10, 20, LX, Classic, Classic X & Ultra Enterprise 450: 1 1 1 1
3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
—————————————–
\ x x x o o x x x x x x x o /
\ x x o o o x x x x x x x /
————————————-
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4
Pin Circuit Signal Direction Description/Port
— ——- —— ——— —————-
1 none none — not connected
2 BA TD output Transmit Data/A
3 BB RD input Receive Data/A
4 CA RTS output Request to Send/A
5 CB CTS input Clear to Send/A
6 CC DSR input Data Set Ready/A
7 AB SG — Signal Ground
8 CF DCD input Data Carrier
Detect/A
9-10 none none — not connected
11 SCD SDTR output Data Terminal
Ready/B
12 SCF SDCD input Data Carrier
Detect/B
13 SCB SCTS input Clear to Send/B
14 SBA STD output Transmit Data/B
15 DB TC input Transmit Clock/A
DCE source
16 SBB SRD input Receive Data/B
17 DD RC input Receive Clock/A
18 SDB STC input Transmit Clock/B
19 SCA SRTS output Request to Send/B
20 CD DTR output Data Terminal
Ready/A
21-23 none none — not connected
24 DA TC output Transmit Clock/A
DTE source
25 DA TC output Transmit Clock/B
DTE source
|
Sun Sparcstation 4, 5, 10, 20, LX, Classic, Classic X & Ultra Enterprise 450: Serial Interface Y-Cable Port A Specifications - Synchronous & Asynchronous 1 1 1 1
3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
—————————————–
\ o o o o o x x x x x x x o /
\ o x o o o x o o x o x o /
————————————-
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4
Pin Circuit Signal Direction Description
— ——- —— ——— ———–
2 BA TD output Transmit Data
3 BB RD input Receive Data
4 CA RTS output Request to Send
5 CB CTS input Clear to Send
6 CC DSR input Data Set Ready
7 AB SG — Signal Ground
8 CF DCD input Data Carrier
Detect
15 DB TC input Transmit Clock,
DCE source
17 DD RC input Receive Clock
20 CD DTR output Data Terminal
Ready
24 DA TC output Transmit Clock,
DTE Source
| Sun Sparcstation 4, 5, 10, 20, LX, Classic, Classic X & Ultra Enterprise 450: 1 1 1 1
3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
—————————————–
\ o o o o o x x o x x x x o /
\ o o o o o x o o o o o o /
————————————-
2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4
Pin Circuit Signal Direction Description
— ——- —— ——— ———–
2 BA TD output Transmit Data
3 BB RD input Receive Data
4 CA RTS output Request to Send
5 CB CTS input Clear to Send
7 AB SG — Signal Ground
8 CF DCD input Data Carrier
Detect
20 CD DTR output Data Terminal
Ready
|
Ultra 80 / Sun Blade 1000 / Sun Blade 2000 / Sun Fire 280R CPU serial ports: [Pin ID] The serial port A and B connectors are DB25 connectors located on the motherboard back panel. The 2 ports are wired in the same way.
Pin Signal Description
— —— ———–
1 NC Not connected
2 SER_TDX_A_CONN Transmit data
3 SER_RXD_A_CONN Receive data
4 SER_RTS_A_L_CONN Ready to send
5 SER_CTS_A_L_CONN Clear to send
6 SER_DSR_A_L_CONN Data set ready
7 GND Signal ground
8 SER_DCD_A_L-CONN Data carrier detect
9 BUTTON_POR Power-on reset
10 BUTTON_XIR_L Transmit internal
reset
11 +5VDC +5 VDC
12-14 NC Not connected
15 SER_TRXC_A_L_CONN Transmit clock
16 NC Not connected
17 SER_RXC_A_L_CONN Receive clock
18-19 NC Not connected
20 SER_DTR_A_L_CONN Data terminal
ready
21-23 NC Not connected
24 SER_TXC_A_L_CONN Terminal clock
25 NC Not connected
|
Pin Signal Description — —— ———– 1 CD Carrier detect 2 RD Receive data 3 TD Transmit data 4 DTR Data terminal ready 5 GND Ground 6 DSR Data set ready 7 RTS Request to send 8 CTS Clear to send 9 RI Ring indicator |
Sun Fire 880/ 3800/ 4800/ 6800 serial ports: [Top of Page] [Pin ID] There is one DB25 serial port connector which provides both port A and port B. Use a splitter cable (Sun part # X985A) to access port B. The serial port connector provides synchronous and asynchronous serial communications. The other ports on the 880 are described in the Sun Fire 880 Server Owner’s Guide.
Pin Signal Pin Signal
— —— — ——
1 No Connection 14 Transmit Data B
2 Transmit Data A 15 Transmit Clock A
3 Receive Data A (External)
4 Ready To Send A 16 Receive Data B
5 Clear To Send A 17 Receive Clock A
6 Synchronous A 18 Receive Clock B
7 Signal Ground A 19 Ready To Send B
8 Data Carrier 20 Data Terminal
Detect A Ready A
9 No Connection 21 No Connection
10 No Connection 22 No Connection
11 Data Terminal 23 No Connection
Ready B 24 Transmit Clock A
12 Data Carrier (Internal)
Detect B 25 Transmit Clock B
13 Clear To Send B
|
DB25 Serial Ports Pin Signal — —— 1 Frame Ground 2 TXD 3 RXD 4 RTS 5 CTS 6 DSR 7 Signal Ground 8 CD 20 DTR |
RJ45 SERIAL MGMT Console port Pin Signal Pin Signal — —— — —— 1 Request to Send 5 Ground 2 Data Terminal Ready 6 Receive Data 3 Transmit Data 7 Data Set Ready 4 Ground 8 Clear to Send If you need to connect to the SERIAL MGT port using a cable with
either a DB9 or a DB25 connector, use the adapter supplied with the
machine to perform the crossovers given for each connector. Pinouts for
the adapters are given below. RJ45 to DB9 Adapter RJ45 to DB25 Crossover Crossover RJ45 connector DB9 Adapter RJ45 connector DB25 Adapter Pin Signal Pin Signal Pin Signal Pin Signal — —— — —— — —— — —— 1 RTS ——– 8 CTS 1 RTS ——— 5 CTS 2 DTR ——– 6 DSR 2 DTR ——— 6 DSR 3 TXD ——– 2 RXD 3 TXD ——— 3 RXD 4 GROUND —– 5 GROUND 4 GROUND —— 7 GROUND 5 GROUND —– 5 GROUND 5 GROUND —— 7 GROUND 6 RXD ——– 3 TXD 6 RXD ——— 2 TXD 7 DSR ——– 4 DTR 7 DSR ——— 20 DTR 8 CTS ——– 7 RTS 8 CTS ——— 4 RTS DB9 SERIAL (10101) port Pin Signal Pin Signal — —— — —— 1 Data Carrier Detect 6 Data Set Ready 2 Receive Data 7 Request to Send 3 Transmit Data 8 Clear to Send 4 Data Terminal Ready 9 Ring Indicator 5 Ground | What next? Have you found the serial port pinout for a Sun machine not listed here? If so, send it to the Webmaster with a pointer to the information, so we can verify it before adding it to this list. |
Null Modem & Null Terminal Pinouts | ||
Null modem pinout DB25 to DB25: [Pin ID] Used in connecting 2 computers with full modem signalling capability. This is usually the pinout found in null modem cables for DB25 to DB25.
DB25 DB25
—– —–
1 GND ———- 1 GND
2 TD ———- 3 RD
3 RD ———- 2 TD
4 RTS ———- 5 CTS
5 CTS ———- 4 RTS
7 GND ———- 7 GND
6 DSR —+
+—— 20 DTR
8 DCD —+
+— 6 DSR
20 DTR ——+
+— 8 DCD
|
DB9 DB9
— —
3 TD ————- 2 RD
2 RD ————- 3 TD
7 RTS ————- 8 CTS
8 CTS ————- 7 RTS
5 GND ————- 5 GND
6 DSR —+
+——— 4 DTR
1 DCD —+
+— 6 DSR
4 DTR ———+
+— 1 DCD
|
DB25 DB9
—- —
2 TD ———— 2 RD
3 RD ———— 3 TD
4 RTS ———— 8 CTS
5 CTS ———— 7 RTS
7 GND ———— 5 GND
6 DSR —+
+——– 4 DTR
8 DCD —+
+— 6 DSR
20 DTR ——–+
+— 1 DCD
|
Null terminal pinout DB25 to DB25: [Pin ID] Used in connecting 2 computers without modem signalling capability. You usually have to build this cable yourself. DB25 DB25 —- —- 1 GND — 1 GND 2 TD — 3 RD 3 RD — 2 TD 7 GND — 7 GND |
DB9 DB9 —- — 3 TD — 2 RD 2 RD — 3 TD 5 GND — 5 GND |
DB25 DB9 —- — 2 TD — 2 RD 3 RD — 3 TD 7 GND — 5 GND |
Sun keyboard, mouse and video pinouts, non-Sun pinouts:
CablesToGo.com carries many cables for Suns and other workstations. Nice online cable configurator and connector guide.
Cyclades Cabling Diagrams has many useful pinouts for connecting their gear to your gear.
Keyboard, Monitor and Mouse Pinout from Network Technologies, Inc. Also includes
Mac and PC pinouts.
Pinouts of old Sun equipment gives information on Type 2 to Type 5c Sun keyboards,
optical mice, monitors, and more. From the (old but useful) Sun Hardware Reference.
Chan’s Pinouts Page has pinouts for SGI, Annex, and Cisco equipment.
pinouts.ru has pinout diagrams and information for most everything known to man.