How can I transfer a binary file using minicom and a serial connection?

Question

How can I transfer a binary file using a serial cable between my Ubuntu pc and a box where I've installed minicom? The minicom box doesn't have a connection.

Solution

I have not tried this before, but this page says you can send binary via minicom by encoding it in ASCII. You need to have busybox installed on the box.

Use uuencode to encode. Here is it's syntax:

uuencode [INFILE] STORED_FILENAME > send_file

INFILE is the path to file to encode and STORED_FILENAME is obviously the name of the file. uuencode outputs to stdout, so it is redirected to a temporary file, send_file.

Ready the target machine for recieving file:

target$ cat > recieved_file

Now it is uploaded as ascii using minicom:

host$ minicom
CTRL+A S
+-[Upload]--+                                                
| zmodem    |                                                     
| ymodem    |                                                
| xmodem    |                                                
| kermit    |                                                
|>ascii<    |                                                
+-----------+

On the target, decode the file:

uudecode [-o OUTFILE] [INFILE]

To see if it worked as expected, check md5:

busybox md5sum <filename>

Please see if this works and post back, because I have never done this. myself

Comments

[Admin]

Is a serial cable the only option? Does the box have a network card? A usb port?

[Admin]

yes @ terdon , the serial cable the only option .it haven't a network card , usb port.

[Admin]

Did you read armadeus.com/wiki/index.php?title=Serial_Transfer

[JohnTortugo]

FYI: Just tried it on Ubuntu and Petalinux and it worked perfectly!

[Lexible]

And how do you send byte-for-byte binary if the embedded system does not permit you decode ascii?