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
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 |
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 Installation Guide. |
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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 (+)
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| 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.
Reprinted from the Sun Microsystem Inc.’s Desktop SPARC Hardware Owner’s Guide (Dec ‘92) and other information. This is the pinout of the Serial Port A/B connector and the Ports A and B of the Y-Cable that attach to it. Legend: x = active pins, o = inactive pins (or pin not there) E450 tidbit: The E450 has its serial port set to RS-423 (+/- 5v) by default. To change it to RS-232 (+/- 12v), move the jumper at J3303 (near the parallel port) from pins 2-3 to pins 1-2. This is seldom necessary with modern serial devices, because most devices can use either voltage set. But, there are those rare times when some strange device cares about the serial port voltage. |
Sun Sparcstation 4, 5, 10, 20, LX, Classic, Classic X & Ultra Enterprise 450:
[Pin ID]
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
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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
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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
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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
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Sun Blade 100 / 150 CPU serial port:
[Pin ID] 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 |
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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
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Sun Serial Parallel Controller (SPC):
[Top of Page]
[Pin ID] 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 |
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Netra 240 serial ports:
[Top of Page]
[Pin ID] 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 | ||
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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
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Null modem pinout DB9 to DB9:
[Pin ID]
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
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Null modem pinout DB25 to DB9:
[Top of Page]
[Pin ID]
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
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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 |
Null terminal pinout DB9 to DB9:
[Pin ID] DB9 DB9 —- — 3 TD — 2 RD 2 RD — 3 TD 5 GND — 5 GND |
Null terminal pinout DB25 to DB9:
[Pin ID] DB25 DB9 —- — 2 TD — 2 RD 3 RD — 3 TD 7 GND — 5 GND |