Formating, minor rewording

bsd_notes.txt

@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+
+Notes about running picocom on BSD-based OSes
+=============================================
+
+by Joe Merten (https://github.com/JoeMerten)
+
 Test environment
 ================
 
@@ -10,17 +16,25 @@ Test environment
 - macOS 10.12 Sierra (native on Macbook Pro)
 - Kubuntu 16.04 (native on Macbook Pro)
 - all above on Intel x86 64 Bit
-- Cygwin 5.1 on Windows XP 32 Bit host
-- Ftdi FT232R, max 1MBaud (chip can 3MBaud, but hw rs232 level shifter is specified for just 1MBaud)
-- Prolific PL2303, max 230kBaud (chip can 12MBaud, but hw rs232 level shifter is specified for just 230kBaud)
-- Unknown Asus onboard (16550 compatible?) uart chip, max 115kBaud.
-  Just minor testing with this uart, because it seems that it don't supports non standard baudrates.
   
-For Cygwin, I'd just checked if it will build and ran `picocom -h`. I'd personally failed opening a serial port within Cygwin.
+- Cygwin 5.1 on Windows XP 32 Bit host
-Note that for Cygwin it needs to implement a `cfmakeraw()` replacement. See also:
+  
-  https://cygwin.com/ml/cygwin/2008-09/msg00295.html
+- Ftdi FT232R, max 1MBaud (chip can 3MBaud, but hw rs232 level shifter
-  https://sourceforge.net/p/ser2net/patches/9/
+  is specified for just 1MBaud)
-  https://sourceforge.net/p/ser2net/patches/_discuss/thread/8b87fdad/ed37/attachment/ser2net-2.2-cygwin.patch
+- Prolific PL2303, max 230kBaud (chip can 12MBaud, but hw rs232 level
+  shifter is specified for just 230kBaud)
+- Unknown Asus onboard (16550 compatible?) uart chip, max 115kBaud.
+  Just minor testing with this uart, because it seems that it don't
+  supports non standard baudrates.
+
+For Cygwin, I'd just checked if it will build and ran `picocom
+-h`. I'd personally failed opening a serial port within Cygwin.
+Note that for Cygwin it needs to implement a `cfmakeraw()`
+replacement. See also:
+
+https://cygwin.com/ml/cygwin/2008-09/msg00295.html
+https://sourceforge.net/p/ser2net/patches/9/
+https://sourceforge.net/p/ser2net/patches/_discuss/thread/8b87fdad/ed37/attachment/ser2net-2.2-cygwin.patch
 
 
 Accessing serial ports (examples)
@@ -51,16 +65,19 @@ Accessing serial ports (examples)
 Manual controlling handshake lines
 ==================================
 
-All above listed Bsd variants (FreeBsd, OpenBsd, NetBsd, Dragonfly and even macOS) fail when trying to control the handshake lines
+All above listed Bsd variants (FreeBsd, OpenBsd, NetBsd, Dragonfly and
-(rts and dtr) using the `tcsetattr()` based default implementation. But they all basically work with the `ioctl()` based alternate code.
+even macOS) fail when trying to reset the handshake lines (RTS and
-So I changed that `#define USE_IOCTL` appropriate.
+DTR) using `tcsetattr()` and setting the baudrate to zero. They all
-But however, there are some issues regarding rts and dtr control for OpenBsd, NetBsd and Dragonfly (see details below).
+basically work with the TIOCM[BIC|BIS|GET] `ioctl()`s. However, there
+are still some issues regarding RTS and DTR control for OpenBsd,
+NetBsd and Dragonfly (see details below).
 
 
 Custom Baudrates
 ================
-Tested with 80000 baud.
+
-Most Bsd variants (except NetBsd) worked well with Ftdi, but not with Prolific adapter (see details below).
+Tested with 80000 baud. Most Bsd variants (except NetBsd) worked well
+with Ftdi, but not with the Prolific adapter (see details below).
 Linux and OSX / macOS still work with both adapters.
 
 
@@ -69,30 +86,46 @@ Issues
 
 FreeBsd
 -------
-- Custom Baudrates work well with Ftdi adapter. But with Prolific adapter, baudrate switched silently to 9600 baud.
+
+- Custom Baudrates work well with Ftdi adapter. But with Prolific
+  adapter, baudrate switched silently to 9600 baud.
 
 OpenBsd
 -------
-- `term_get_mctl()` sometimes reports wrong values for rts and dtr state (after port open).
+
-- `--lower-rts` works as expected, but `--lower-dtr` lowers both rts and dtr lines.
+- `term_get_mctl()` sometimes reports wrong values for rts and dtr
-  Same for interactive toggle via `[C-t]` and `[C-g]`. Toggle rts via `[C-g]` works but toggle
+  state (after port open).
-  dtr via `[C-t]` also changes the state of rts (and `term_get_mctl()` reports wrong rts state afterwards).
+- `--lower-rts` works as expected, but `--lower-dtr` lowers both rts
+  and dtr lines. Same for interactive toggle via `[C-t]` and
+  `[C-g]`. Toggle rts via `[C-g]` works but toggle dtr via `[C-t]`
+  also changes the state of rts (and `term_get_mctl()` reports wrong
+  rts state afterwards).
 - Issues occurs with both Ftdi and Prolific adapters.
-- Custom baudrates with Prolific adapter has the same issue as in FreeBsd.
+- Custom baudrates with Prolific adapter has the same issue as in
+  FreeBsd.
 
 NetBsd
 ------
-- `term_get_mctl()` sometimes reports wrong values for rts and dtr state (after port open)
+
+- `term_get_mctl()` sometimes reports wrong values for rts and dtr
+  state (after port open)
 - Issue occurs with both Ftdi and Prolific adapters.
 - Seems that there is no support for custom baudrates.
-  - With Ftdi adapter: "Cannot set the device attributes: Invalid argument".
+  - With Ftdi adapter: "Cannot set the device attributes: Invalid
-  - With Prolific adapter no error message but same behaviour as in FreeBsd.
+    argument".
+  - With Prolific adapter no error message but same behaviour as in
+    FreeBsd.
 
 Dragonfly
 ---------
-- Got "FATAL: cannot lock /dev/ttyU0: Operation not supported" on startup.
+
-  Need to pass `--nolock` or build with `#define USE_FLOCK` not set.
+- Got "FATAL: cannot lock /dev/ttyU0: Operation not supported" on
-- `term_get_mctl()` sometimes reports wrong state for dtr, e.g. when passing `--lower-dtr`.
+  startup.  Need to pass `--nolock` or build with `#define USE_FLOCK`
-- When exit via `[C+x]`, got "term_exitfunc: reset failed for dev /dev/ttyU0: Invalid argument".
+  not set.
-- Custom baudrates with Prolific adapter has the same issue as in FreeBsd.
+- `term_get_mctl()` sometimes reports wrong state for dtr, e.g. when
+  passing `--lower-dtr`.
+- When exit via `[C-x]`, got "term_exitfunc: reset failed for dev
+  /dev/ttyU0: Invalid argument".
+- Custom baudrates with Prolific adapter has the same issue as in
+  FreeBsd.