USLSA(4)

📦 version 11.0, in nixpkgs unstable

💅 USLSA(4) — the USB-serial girlie manual ✨

okay so real talk, this page lives in the Kernel Interfaces Manual section of your local man setup, and it's all about uslsa, which is the driver that speaks CP210x. let's get into it 🫶

🌸 NAME 🌸

uslsa — USB support for Silicon Labs CP210x series serial adapters 💖

like, it's the bridge between your USB port and a serial port. that's the whole vibe.

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

uslsa* at uhub?
ucom*   at uslsa?

so uslsa attaches at uhub? (your USB hub, iykyk) and then ucom* attaches at uslsa?. it's giving chain of command. iconic. 👑

🎀 HARDWARE 🎀

the uslsa driver is known to work with these adapters, and by "known" i mean fr fr tested, bestie:

  • Adafruit 954 USB to TTL Serial Cable
  • Helicomm IP-Link 1220-DVM
  • Nokia CA-42 USB
  • Siemens MC60 Data Cable
  • Suunto USB Serial Adaptor

that's the list. no cap. if yours isn't there, that's not me saying it won't work — that's just the list of confirmed slay. 💅

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

okay so the uslsa driver provides support for the Silicon Labs USB-to-RS-232 Bridge chip. that's its whole job. main character energy, honestly.

and the way you actually touch the device? through the ucom(4) driver, which makes it behave like a tty(4). so it looks and feels like a serial terminal even though it's USB underneath. literally the best of both worlds. ✨

🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

also, the Silicon Laboratories site, drop it in your bookmarks:

http://www.silabs.com

and the doc girlies should know about Silicon Laboratories AN571: CP210x Virtual COM Port Interface.. that's the spec, go read it if you're that kind of person (respect either way 🫶).

🌈 HISTORY 🌈

the uslsa driver appeared in NetBSD 4.0. vintage. retro. a classic. 🎀

👑 AUTHORS 👑

the uslsa driver was written by Jonathan A. Kollasch. and like — credit where credit is due — the code and style was borrowed from existing NetBSD USB-serial drivers. standing on the shoulders of icons. we love to see it. 💜

💀 CAVEATS 💀

okay this is the part where i hold your hand:

Settings other than 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit seem to be refused by the CP2101.

so like... if you roll up with 7 data bits or a parity bit, the CP2101 is gonna look at you and say "no ❤️". 8-N-1 or nothing, bestie. that's the vibe check and the chip is strict about it. 😭

that's the whole page, you're officially certified on uslsa now, go forth and serial-port responsibly 🧚‍♀️

this beauty shipped in the Debian world, dated January 27, 2019 — mwah, enjoy the manual, ily, bye! 🍓

📦 where this page comes from