Staton.us

OS-X FTDI USB


Notes for using FTDI USB interfaces:
Use System Profiler.

Click View - Full Profile.

Expand Hardware - USB.

Now Connect the FTDI device.

Click View - Refresh.
Select the FTDI device. Get the VendorID (VID) and ProductID (PID).
This VID and PID must be set in the FTD2XX driver.

If the VCP driver kernel extension is loaded, it must be unloaded first.
The VCP driver is in use if there is a /dev/*usb* device.
You can see if the VCP driver is loaded by running:

sudo kextstat | grep FTDI

To unload the VCP driver:

sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/FTDIUSBSerialDriver.kext

When you are done, the VCP driver can be reloaded:

sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/FTDIUSBSerialDriver.kext


If you need to change the VID or PID from OS-X, try this application.

Look at the example programs provided with the FTD2XX driver.
A Python interface for the FTD2XX driver is here.

A Python script to change the VID or PID using the FTD2XX driver is here.

 

Note that it is possible to make your FTDI chip non-functional by writing

incorrect values to some EEPROM locations.

| © 2008 Ken Staton