MacOS X USB Tips

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MacOS X USB Tips
Installing Drivers
Determining the USB hub device name
Create a Configuration File

MacOS X USB Tips

To use the any of the BrainStem modules with the USB hubs on your MacOS X machine, you first need to determine the device name, and then create config files for your Console, GP, and Moto applications that point to that hub. The following sections describe how to create these files.

The BrainStem modules utilize a serial interface, which can easily be adapted to USB by using a serial to USB adapter such as the USB to Serial Adapter .

Tip

Each USB hub has its own unique device name. You need to specify that device name in a configuration file, so it is easiest if you choose one USB hub to always use with the BrainStem.

Contents

Installing Drivers

The USB connector uses a level-shifting chip which requires a driver for successful operation.

Start without plugging in the USB device. It won't break anything if you do (you probably did first, before reading these instructions) but it is easier if you don't. Install the drivers found in the Acroname Download Center . This driver is found under the category "Drivers" and the target "MacOS X".

Be certain you get the S22-USB drivers (the other set of drivers is for the S19, a deprecated model). These drivers are pretty straightforward.

Once you get the drivers installed, connect the USB to the computer. There are two things to check out at this point. One is whether the little yellow light is lit on the connector. The second is whether OS X has recognized the connection. The next section discusses this step.

Contents

Determining the USB hub device name

Plug your serial to USB adapter into an available USB hub. Open your Terminal program, which is located in Applications/Utilites for MacOS X. Start the Terminal program and type:

user$ ls /dev

This gives you a list that contains the device name for which hub the USB adapter is plugged into. In the example shown below, the Keyspan adapter is plugged into the left hub on the keyboard. The Terminal window shows a device name "tty.KeyUSA19QI123.1". This is the hub name. The hub name varies depending on what type of USB adapter you have, as well as which hub you plug it into.

Image of MacOS X Terminal output showing relevant devices.

A shot of the Terminal window with the USB device name noted.

Contents

Create a Configuration File

After you have figured out the hub name, you need to make a config file for each BrainStem application you use (e.g., the Console, GP, and Moto programs). The config file needs to be a raw text file. Do not use the TextEdit program in OS X as it creates a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file and adds a hidden ".rtf" extension to the end of the file, which will not work for these applications. Programs like the "classic" Simple Text, Code Warrior, BBEdit Lite, or other plain text editors work. In your text editor, create new file. The first line describes what application the config file is for; the second line is for Debug data; and the third line describes the USB device name.

Tip

If you don't have access to a basic text editor, go to your Terminal program and find the device by typing:

user$ ls /dev

You can then build the console.config file from the command line. For example, if your device name is "KeyUSAQ1.1", from the terminal type:

user$ echo portname = KeyUSAQ1.1 > console.config

The image below shows the config file with this specific set up for the Console application. The config file for the GP and Moto application look the same, except the first line is named gp.config or moto.config.

An example of the console.config file.

After you make the config files for each BrainStem application, place each file and its associated application program in the aBinary folder. When you start up each application, it should be able to now find the serial port.