Cannot access modem ports from gtkterm

[Nateloaf]

Binary package hint: gtkterm

I have two USRobotics hardware modems installed in my computer.

When I try to open up /dev/ttyS1 or /dev/ttyS2 in gtkterm, I get the error "Cannot open /dev/ttyS1 : Device or resource busy". When I run gtkterm as root, the message goes away and I can type "AT" or "ATDT" and hear the dial tone coming from my computer.

It seems like applications are not able to access the serial ports, even though we know they are pointing at a working modem.

My current user is a member of the dialout group.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Oct 31 11:03:50 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release amd64 (20091027)
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: gtkterm 0.99.5-1ubuntu3
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-14.48-generic
SourcePackage: gtkterm
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-14-generic x86_64

[Omega (atrauzzi)]

I too am experiencing this issue.

I can't seem to get modems working from gtkterm without being root. Same as above, I'm added to the corresponding group, it seems like udev is mishandling access to the serial ports when they are accessed a certain way.

Other programs like VirtualBox appear to be affected by this as well. VirtualBox runs as my current user, and being the group, I would assume this should allow it?

[Omega (atrauzzi)]

Any progress on this? I am still unable to use my modems!

This is forcing me to use Windows as a serial communications fallback.