Connect to OS6860/E USB-Console with your Apple Macbook (MacOS X)
The Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6860/E (both models E/non-E) support the configuration/connection through USB console. This allows to just use an USB-to-Micro-USB cable and no longer requires specialised USB-to-serial adapters.
If you want to leverage that interface from your Apple Macbook (Pro) running MacOS X (in my case v10.9.2), you'll need to install a UART-driver (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter). This driver will create a new virtual COM-port / interface that you can use in Minicom/Screen as you used to with your serial-connection, the exact description is: CP210x USB to UART Bridge Virtual COM Port (VCP) driver
You can download the necessary driver, for various operating systems including Apple MacOS X, from the following website:
Example of a connection to the OS6860/E:
During installation the driver will create a new interface:
MacBook:~ Benny$ ls /dev/tty.* /dev/tty.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port /dev/tty.Bluetooth-Modem /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART MacBook:~ Benny$ screen /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART 9600 Welcome to the Alcatel-Lucent OS6860E-P24 8.1.1.267.R01 Development, February 25, 2014. Copyright (c) 1994-2014 Alcatel-Lucent. All Rights Reserved. OmniSwitch(tm) is a trademark of Alcatel-Lucent, registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. ->
There is still a „traditional“ RS232 console connection available, that will need an adapter MicroUSB-to-RJ45 + the USB-to-serial adapter on Macbook/Laptop side.
The connection speed is factory default of 9600 BAUD.