I have a little industrial computer (running ubuntu 18.04) that I want to use with indi/kstars/ekos.

The machine has two "real" serial (9-pin RS232) ports.

I'd like to use the serial ports to control (1) my mount and (2) my focuser, which currently connect to the machine using USB-to-serial converters.

I've plugged the Celestron mount and Optec focus controller into the serial ports and fired up indi and stars, but I don't see how to find and specify the serial ports to use. USB seems to "just work," but I need some help getting indi to recognize and control the mount and focus controller.

Would somebody please explain how to do this?

Many thanks!
Scott Denning

Look at the logs of your kernel boot. You should be able to spot the initialization of those two serial ports. They should each be assigned a /dev device file, probably /dev/ttySx, x being a number.

-Eric

Got it! Thanks, Eric.

For any others who are as noob as me, a quick & easy way to do this is:
journalctl -b | grep ttyS

For me, the mount is on /dev/ttyS0 and the focuser is on ttyS1.

Then I just replace the ttyUSB reference in the indi control panel with the correct serial port, and voila!

Normally, those devices will be identified in a deterministic manner at kernel boot, so contrary to USB serial chips, you can rely on those names to match the physical ports of your board.

-Eric