# Serial Console
**URL:** https://forums.sifive.com/t/serial-console/4631
**Category:** HiFive Unmatched
**Created:** [April 18, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.sifive.com/t/serial-console/4631 "2021-04-18T17:27:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@gboakley](https://forums.sifive.com/u/gboakley)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.sifive.com/t/serial-console/4631/1 "2021-04-18T17:27:37Z")
I am intrigued by the serial console on the HiFive Unmatched. Is it useful for more than just booting without a video card? For example for displaying debug output, or for use as an additional command terminal even when the video card is the primary display?
If so I would like to set up a dedicated serial terminal on it. Can I connect an adapter from the microUSB connector to a standard DB9 RS232 serial port?
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### Author:  [@jimw](https://forums.sifive.com/u/jimw)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://forums.sifive.com/t/serial-console/4631/2 "2021-04-18T20:53:54Z")
It is basically same as Unleashed. There is an FTDI chip on the board that drives the microUSB connector, and you need a driver to convert the result to a serial console. There are actually two serial devices on the single USB connector, one for the serial console and one for JTAG. I don’t know if it can be converted to an RS232 serial port. I don’t think that I have any equipment that can use RS232 directly anymore. I just connect the usb cable to a nearby linux computer and use minicom to access the console. The docs say to use screen which works also.
The serial console shows the boot messages from u-boot and the linux kernel. Linux kernel messages will show up on the serial console. It can be used to log in.