This document is meant as a brief overview of some aspects of the new serialdriver. It is not complete, any questions you have should be directed to<rmk@arm.linux.org.uk>
The reference implementation is contained within amba-pl011.c.
Low Level Serial Hardware Driver¶
The low level serial hardware driver is responsible for supplying portinformation (defined by uart_port) and a set of control methods (definedby uart_ops) to the core serial driver. The low level driver is alsoresponsible for handling interrupts for the port, and providing anyconsole support.
Console Support¶
The serial core provides a few helper functions. This includes identifyingthe correct port structure (via uart_get_console()) and decoding command linearguments (uart_parse_options()).
There is also a helper function (uart_console_write()) which performs acharacter by character write, translating newlines to CRLF sequences.Driver writers are recommended to use this function rather than implementingtheir own version.
Locking¶
It is the responsibility of the low level hardware driver to perform thenecessary locking using port->lock. There are some exceptions (whichare described in the struct uart_ops listing below.)
There are two locks. A per-port spinlock, and an overall semaphore.
From the core driver perspective, the port->lock locks the followingdata:
port->mctrlport->icountport->state->xmit.head (circ_buf->head)port->state->xmit.tail (circ_buf->tail)
The low level driver is free to use this lock to provide any additionallocking.
The port_sem semaphore is used to protect against ports being added/removed or reconfigured at inappropriate times. Since v2.6.27, thissemaphore has been the ‘mutex’ member of the tty_port struct, andcommonly referred to as the port mutex.
uart_ops¶
- struct uart_ops¶
interface between serial_core and the driver
Definition:
struct uart_ops { unsigned int (*tx_empty)(struct uart_port *); void (*set_mctrl)(struct uart_port *, unsigned int mctrl); unsigned int (*get_mctrl)(struct uart_port *); void (*stop_tx)(struct uart_port *); void (*start_tx)(struct uart_port *); void (*throttle)(struct uart_port *); void (*unthrottle)(struct uart_port *); void (*send_xchar)(struct uart_port *, char ch); void (*stop_rx)(struct uart_port *); void (*start_rx)(struct uart_port *); void (*enable_ms)(struct uart_port *); void (*break_ctl)(struct uart_port *, int ctl); int (*startup)(struct uart_port *); void (*shutdown)(struct uart_port *); void (*flush_buffer)(struct uart_port *); void (*set_termios)(struct uart_port *, struct ktermios *new, const struct ktermios *old); void (*set_ldisc)(struct uart_port *, struct ktermios *); void (*pm)(struct uart_port *, unsigned int state, unsigned int oldstate); const char *(*type)(struct uart_port *); void (*release_port)(struct uart_port *); int (*request_port)(struct uart_port *); void (*config_port)(struct uart_port *, int); int (*verify_port)(struct uart_port *, struct serial_struct *); int (*ioctl)(struct uart_port *, unsigned int, unsigned long);#ifdef CONFIG_CONSOLE_POLL; int (*poll_init)(struct uart_port *); void (*poll_put_char)(struct uart_port *, unsigned char); int (*poll_get_char)(struct uart_port *);#endif;};
Members
tx_empty
unsigned int ()(struct uart_port *port)
This function tests whether the transmitter fifo and shifter for theport is empty. If it is empty, this function should return
TIOCSER_TEMT
, otherwise return 0. If the port does not support thisoperation, then it should returnTIOCSER_TEMT
.Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.This call must not sleep
set_mctrl
void ()(struct uart_port *port, unsigned int mctrl)
This function sets the modem control lines for port to the statedescribed by mctrl. The relevant bits of mctrl are:
TIOCM_RTS
RTS signal.TIOCM_DTR
DTR signal.TIOCM_OUT1
OUT1 signal.TIOCM_OUT2
OUT2 signal.TIOCM_LOOP
Set the port into loopback mode.
If the appropriate bit is set, the signal should be drivenactive. If the bit is clear, the signal should be driveninactive.
Locking: port->lock taken.Interrupts: locally disabled.This call must not sleep
get_mctrl
unsigned int ()(struct uart_port *port)
Returns the current state of modem control inputs of port. The stateof the outputs should not be returned, since the core keeps track oftheir state. The state information should include:
TIOCM_CAR
state of DCD signalTIOCM_CTS
state of CTS signalTIOCM_DSR
state of DSR signalTIOCM_RI
state of RI signal
The bit is set if the signal is currently driven active. Ifthe port does not support CTS, DCD or DSR, the driver shouldindicate that the signal is permanently active. If RI isnot available, the signal should not be indicated as active.
Locking: port->lock taken.Interrupts: locally disabled.This call must not sleep
stop_tx
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Stop transmitting characters. This might be due to the CTS linebecoming inactive or the tty layer indicating we want to stoptransmission due to an
XOFF
character.The driver should stop transmitting characters as soon as possible.
Locking: port->lock taken.Interrupts: locally disabled.This call must not sleep
start_tx
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Start transmitting characters.
Locking: port->lock taken.Interrupts: locally disabled.This call must not sleep
throttle
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Notify the serial driver that input buffers for the line discipline areclose to full, and it should somehow signal that no more charactersshould be sent to the serial port.This will be called only if hardware assisted flow control is enabled.
Locking: serialized with unthrottle() and termios modification by thetty layer.
unthrottle
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Notify the serial driver that characters can now be sent to the serialport without fear of overrunning the input buffers of the linedisciplines.
This will be called only if hardware assisted flow control is enabled.
Locking: serialized with throttle() and termios modification by thetty layer.
send_xchar
void ()(struct uart_port *port, char ch)
Transmit a high priority character, even if the port is stopped. Thisis used to implement XON/XOFF flow control and tcflow(). If the serialdriver does not implement this function, the tty core will append thecharacter to the circular buffer and then call start_tx() / stop_tx()to flush the data out.
Do not transmit if ch == ‘0’ (
__DISABLED_CHAR
).Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.
stop_rx
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Stop receiving characters; the port is in the process of being closed.
Locking: port->lock taken.Interrupts: locally disabled.This call must not sleep
start_rx
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Start receiving characters.
Locking: port->lock taken.Interrupts: locally disabled.This call must not sleep
enable_ms
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Enable the modem status interrupts.
This method may be called multiple times. Modem status interruptsshould be disabled when the shutdown() method is called.
Locking: port->lock taken.Interrupts: locally disabled.This call must not sleep
break_ctl
void ()(struct uart_port *port, int ctl)
Control the transmission of a break signal. If ctl is nonzero, thebreak signal should be transmitted. The signal should be terminatedwhen another call is made with a zero ctl.
Locking: caller holds tty_port->mutex
startup
int ()(struct uart_port *port)
Grab any interrupt resources and initialise any low level driver state.Enable the port for reception. It should not activate RTS nor DTR;this will be done via a separate call to set_mctrl().
This method will only be called when the port is initially opened.
Locking: port_sem taken.Interrupts: globally disabled.
shutdown
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Disable the port, disable any break condition that may be in effect,and free any interrupt resources. It should not disable RTS nor DTR;this will have already been done via a separate call to set_mctrl().
Drivers must not access port->state once this call has completed.
This method will only be called when there are no more users of thisport.
Locking: port_sem taken.Interrupts: caller dependent.
flush_buffer
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Flush any write buffers, reset any DMA state and stop any ongoing DMAtransfers.
This will be called whenever the port->state->xmit circular buffer iscleared.
Locking: port->lock taken.Interrupts: locally disabled.This call must not sleep
set_termios
void ()(struct uart_port *port, struct ktermios *new,struct ktermios *old)
Change the port parameters, including word length, parity, stop bits.Update port->read_status_mask and port->ignore_status_mask toindicate the types of events we are interested in receiving. Relevantktermios::c_cflag bits are:
CSIZE
- word sizeCSTOPB
- 2 stop bitsPARENB
- parity enablePARODD
- odd parity (whenPARENB
is in force)ADDRB
- address bit (changed through uart_port::rs485_config()).CREAD
- enable reception of characters (if not set, still receivecharacters from the port, but throw them away).CRTSCTS
- if set, enable CTS status change reporting.CLOCAL
- if not set, enable modem status change reporting.
Relevant ktermios::c_iflag bits are:
INPCK
- enable frame and parity error events to be passed to the TTYlayer.BRKINT
/PARMRK
- both of these enable break events to be passed tothe TTY layer.IGNPAR
- ignore parity and framing errors.IGNBRK
- ignore break errors. IfIGNPAR
is also set, ignore overrunerrors as well.
The interaction of the ktermios::c_iflag bits is as follows (parityerror given as an example):
Parity error
INPCK
IGNPAR
n/a
n/a
character received, marked as
TTY_NORMAL
None
1
n/a
character received, marked as
TTY_NORMAL
Yes
1
character received, marked as
TTY_PARITY
Yes
1
1
character discarded
Other flags may be used (eg, xon/xoff characters) if your hardwaresupports hardware “soft” flow control.
Locking: caller holds tty_port->mutexInterrupts: caller dependent.This call must not sleep
set_ldisc
void ()(struct uart_port *port, struct ktermios *termios)
Notifier for discipline change. SeeTTY Line Discipline.
Locking: caller holds tty_port->mutex
pm
void ()(struct uart_port *port, unsigned int state,unsigned int oldstate)
Perform any power management related activities on the specified port.state indicates the new state (defined by enum uart_pm_state),oldstate indicates the previous state.
This function should not be used to grab any resources.
This will be called when the port is initially opened and finallyclosed, except when the port is also the system console. This willoccur even if
CONFIG_PM
is not set.Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.
type
const char *()(struct uart_port *port)
Return a pointer to a string constant describing the specified port,or return
NULL
, in which case the string ‘unknown’ is substituted.Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.
release_port
void ()(struct uart_port *port)
Release any memory and IO region resources currently in use by theport.
Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.
request_port
int ()(struct uart_port *port)
Request any memory and IO region resources required by the port. If anyfail, no resources should be registered when this function returns, andit should return -
EBUSY
on failure.Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.
config_port
void ()(struct uart_port *port, int type)
Perform any autoconfiguration steps required for the port. typecontains a bit mask of the required configuration.
UART_CONFIG_TYPE
indicates that the port requires detection and identification.port->type should be set to the type found, orPORT_UNKNOWN
if noport was detected.UART_CONFIG_IRQ
indicates autoconfiguration of the interrupt signal,which should be probed using standard kernel autoprobing techniques.This is not necessary on platforms where ports have interruptsinternally hard wired (eg, system on a chip implementations).Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.
verify_port
int ()(struct uart_port *port,struct serial_struct *serinfo)
Verify the new serial port information contained within serinfo issuitable for this port type.
Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.
ioctl
int ()(struct uart_port *port, unsigned int cmd,unsigned long arg)
Perform any port specific IOCTLs. IOCTL commands must be defined usingthe standard numbering system found in <asm/ioctl.h>.
Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.
poll_init
int ()(struct uart_port *port)
Called by kgdb to perform the minimal hardware initialization needed tosupport poll_put_char() and poll_get_char(). Unlike startup(), thisshould not request interrupts.
Locking:
tty_mutex
and tty_port->mutex taken.Interrupts: n/a.poll_put_char
void ()(struct uart_port *port, unsigned char ch)
Called by kgdb to write a single character ch directly to the serialport. It can and should block until there is space in the TX FIFO.
Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.This call must not sleep
poll_get_char
int ()(struct uart_port *port)
Called by kgdb to read a single character directly from the serialport. If data is available, it should be returned; otherwise thefunction should return
NO_POLL_CHAR
immediately.Locking: none.Interrupts: caller dependent.This call must not sleep
Description
This structure describes all the operations that can be done on thephysical hardware.
Other functions¶
- void uart_write_wakeup(struct uart_port *port)¶
schedule write processing
Parameters
struct uart_port *port
port to be processed
Description
This routine is used by the interrupt handler to schedule processing in thesoftware interrupt portion of the driver. A driver is expected to call thisfunction when the number of characters in the transmit buffer have droppedbelow a threshold.
Locking: port->lock should be held
- void uart_update_timeout(struct uart_port *port, unsigned int cflag, unsigned int baud)¶
update per-port frame timing information
Parameters
struct uart_port *port
uart_port structure describing the port
unsigned int cflag
termios cflag value
unsigned int baud
speed of the port
Description
Set the port frame timing information from which the FIFO timeout value isderived. The cflag value should reflect the actual hardware settings asnumber of bits, parity, stop bits and baud rate is taken into account here.
Locking: caller is expected to take port->lock
- unsigned int uart_get_baud_rate(struct uart_port *port, struct ktermios *termios, const struct ktermios *old, unsigned int min, unsigned int max)¶
return baud rate for a particular port
Parameters
struct uart_port *port
uart_port structure describing the port in question.
struct ktermios *termios
desired termios settings
const struct ktermios *old
old termios (or
NULL
)unsigned int min
minimum acceptable baud rate
unsigned int max
maximum acceptable baud rate
Description
Decode the termios structure into a numeric baud rate, taking account of themagic 38400 baud rate (with spd_* flags), and mapping the B0
rate to 9600baud.
If the new baud rate is invalid, try the old termios setting. If it’s stillinvalid, we try 9600 baud. If that is also invalid 0 is returned.
The termios structure is updated to reflect the baud rate we’re actuallygoing to be using. Don’t do this for the case where B0 is requested (“hangup”).
Locking: caller dependent
- unsigned int uart_get_divisor(struct uart_port *port, unsigned int baud)¶
return uart clock divisor
Parameters
struct uart_port *port
uart_port structure describing the port
unsigned int baud
desired baud rate
Description
Calculate the divisor (baud_base / baud) for the specified baud,appropriately rounded.
If 38400 baud and custom divisor is selected, return the custom divisorinstead.
Locking: caller dependent
- int uart_get_lsr_info(struct tty_struct *tty, struct uart_state *state, unsigned int __user *value)¶
get line status register info
Parameters
struct tty_struct *tty
tty associated with the UART
struct uart_state *state
UART being queried
unsigned int __user *value
returned modem value
- void uart_console_write(struct uart_port *port, const char *s, unsigned int count, void (*putchar)(struct uart_port*, unsigned char))¶
write a console message to a serial port
Parameters
struct uart_port *port
the port to write the message
const char *s
array of characters
unsigned int count
number of characters in string to write
void (*putchar)(struct uart_port *, unsigned char)
function to write character to port
- struct uart_port *uart_get_console(struct uart_port *ports, int nr, struct console *co)¶
get uart port for console
Parameters
struct uart_port *ports
ports to search in
int nr
number of ports
struct console *co
console to search for
Return
uart_port for the console co
Description
Check whether an invalid uart number has been specified (as co->index), andif so, search for the first available port that does have console support.
- int uart_parse_earlycon(char *p, unsigned char *iotype, resource_size_t *addr, char **options)¶
Parse earlycon options
Parameters
char *p
ptr to 2nd field (ie., just beyond ‘<name>,’)
unsigned char *iotype
ptr for decoded iotype (out)
resource_size_t *addr
ptr for decoded mapbase/iobase (out)
char **options
ptr for <options> field;
NULL
if not present (out)
Description
- Decodes earlycon kernel command line parameters of the form:
earlycon=<name>,io|mmio|mmio16|mmio32|mmio32be|mmio32native,<addr>,<options>
console=<name>,io|mmio|mmio16|mmio32|mmio32be|mmio32native,<addr>,<options>
- The optional form:
earlycon=<name>,0x<addr>,<options>
console=<name>,0x<addr>,<options>
is also accepted; the returned iotype will be UPIO_MEM
.
Return
0 on success or -EINVAL
on failure
- void uart_parse_options(const char *options, int *baud, int *parity, int *bits, int *flow)¶
Parse serial port baud/parity/bits/flow control.
Parameters
const char *options
pointer to option string
int *baud
pointer to an ‘int’ variable for the baud rate.
int *parity
pointer to an ‘int’ variable for the parity.
int *bits
pointer to an ‘int’ variable for the number of data bits.
int *flow
pointer to an ‘int’ variable for the flow control character.
Description
uart_parse_options() decodes a string containing the serial consoleoptions. The format of the string is <baud><parity><bits><flow>,eg: 115200n8r
- int uart_set_options(struct uart_port *port, struct console *co, int baud, int parity, int bits, int flow)¶
setup the serial console parameters
Parameters
struct uart_port *port
pointer to the serial ports uart_port structure
struct console *co
console pointer
int baud
baud rate
int parity
parity character - ‘n’ (none), ‘o’ (odd), ‘e’ (even)
int bits
number of data bits
int flow
flow control character - ‘r’ (rts)
Description
Locking: Caller must hold console_list_lock in order to serializeearly initialization of the serial-console lock.
- int uart_register_driver(struct uart_driver *drv)¶
register a driver with the uart core layer
Parameters
struct uart_driver *drv
low level driver structure
Description
Register a uart driver with the core driver. We in turn register with thetty layer, and initialise the core driver per-port state.
We have a proc file in /proc/tty/driver which is named after the normaldriver.
drv->port should be NULL
, and the per-port structures should be registeredusing uart_add_one_port() after this call has succeeded.
Locking: none, Interrupts: enabled
- void uart_unregister_driver(struct uart_driver *drv)¶
remove a driver from the uart core layer
Parameters
struct uart_driver *drv
low level driver structure
Description
Remove all references to a driver from the core driver. The low leveldriver must have removed all its ports via the uart_remove_one_port() if itregistered them with uart_add_one_port(). (I.e. drv->port is NULL
.)
Locking: none, Interrupts: enabled
- bool uart_match_port(const struct uart_port *port1, const struct uart_port *port2)¶
are the two ports equivalent?
Parameters
const struct uart_port *port1
first port
const struct uart_port *port2
second port
Description
This utility function can be used to determine whether two uart_portstructures describe the same port.
- void uart_handle_dcd_change(struct uart_port *uport, bool active)¶
handle a change of carrier detect state
Parameters
struct uart_port *uport
uart_port structure for the open port
bool active
new carrier detect status
Description
Caller must hold uport->lock.
- void uart_handle_cts_change(struct uart_port *uport, bool active)¶
handle a change of clear-to-send state
Parameters
struct uart_port *uport
uart_port structure for the open port
bool active
new clear-to-send status
Description
Caller must hold uport->lock.
- bool uart_try_toggle_sysrq(struct uart_port *port, u8 ch)¶
Enables SysRq from serial line
Parameters
struct uart_port *port
uart_port structure where char(s) after BREAK met
u8 ch
new character in the sequence after received BREAK
Description
Enables magic SysRq when the required sequence is met on port(see CONFIG_MAGIC_SYSRQ_SERIAL_SEQUENCE).
Return
false
if ch is out of enabling sequence and should behandled some other way, true
if ch was consumed.
- uart_port_tx_limited¶
uart_port_tx_limited (port, ch, count, tx_ready, put_char, tx_done)
transmit helper for uart_port with count limiting
Parameters
port
uart port
ch
variable to store a character to be written to the HW
count
a limit of characters to send
tx_ready
can HW accept more data function
put_char
function to write a character
tx_done
function to call after the loop is done
Description
This helper transmits characters from the xmit buffer to the hardware usingput_char(). It does so until count characters are sent and while tx_readyevaluates to true.
- The expression in macro parameters shall be designed as follows:
tx_ready: should evaluate to true if the HW can accept more data tobe sent. This parameter can be
true
, which means the HW is always ready.put_char: shall write ch to the device of port.
tx_done: when the write loop is done, this can perform arbitraryaction before potential invocation of ops->stop_tx() happens. If thedriver does not need to do anything, use e.g. ({}).
For all of them, port->lock is held, interrupts are locally disabled andthe expressions must not sleep.
Return
the number of characters in the xmit buffer when done.
- uart_port_tx¶
uart_port_tx (port, ch, tx_ready, put_char)
transmit helper for uart_port
Parameters
port
uart port
ch
variable to store a character to be written to the HW
tx_ready
can HW accept more data function
put_char
function to write a character
Description
See uart_port_tx_limited() for more details.
Other notes¶
It is intended some day to drop the ‘unused’ entries from uart_port, andallow low level drivers to register their own individual uart_port’s withthe core. This will allow drivers to use uart_port as a pointer to astructure containing both the uart_port entry with their own extensions,thus:
struct my_port { struct uart_port port; int my_stuff;};
Modem control lines via GPIO¶
Some helpers are provided in order to set/get modem control lines via GPIO.
- void mctrl_gpio_set(struct mctrl_gpios *gpios, unsigned int mctrl)¶
set gpios according to mctrl state
Parameters
struct mctrl_gpios *gpios
gpios to set
unsigned int mctrl
state to set
Description
Set the gpios according to the mctrl state.
- struct gpio_desc *mctrl_gpio_to_gpiod(struct mctrl_gpios *gpios, enum mctrl_gpio_idx gidx)¶
obtain gpio_desc of modem line index
Parameters
struct mctrl_gpios *gpios
gpios to look into
enum mctrl_gpio_idx gidx
index of the modem line
Return
the gpio_desc structure associated to the modem line index
- unsigned int mctrl_gpio_get(struct mctrl_gpios *gpios, unsigned int *mctrl)¶
update mctrl with the gpios values.
Parameters
struct mctrl_gpios *gpios
gpios to get the info from
unsigned int *mctrl
mctrl to set
Return
modified mctrl (the same value as in mctrl)
Description
Update mctrl with the gpios values.
- struct mctrl_gpios *mctrl_gpio_init(struct uart_port *port, unsigned int idx)¶
initialize uart gpios
Parameters
struct uart_port *port
port to initialize gpios for
unsigned int idx
index of the gpio in the port’s device
Description
This will get the {cts,rts,...}-gpios from device tree if they are presentand request them, set direction etc, and return an allocated structure.devm_* functions are used, so there’s no need to call mctrl_gpio_free().As this sets up the irq handling, make sure to not handle changes to thegpio input lines in your driver, too.
- void mctrl_gpio_free(struct device *dev, struct mctrl_gpios *gpios)¶
explicitly free uart gpios
Parameters
struct device *dev
uart port’s device
struct mctrl_gpios *gpios
gpios structure to be freed
Description
This will free the requested gpios in mctrl_gpio_init(). As devm_*functions are used, there’s generally no need to call this function.
- void mctrl_gpio_enable_ms(struct mctrl_gpios *gpios)¶
enable irqs and handling of changes to the ms lines
Parameters
struct mctrl_gpios *gpios
gpios to enable
- void mctrl_gpio_disable_ms(struct mctrl_gpios *gpios)¶
disable irqs and handling of changes to the ms lines
Parameters
struct mctrl_gpios *gpios
gpios to disable