Is there a way to permanently rename a FTDI TTL to USB Serial Converter

I have a FTDI Chip TTL-232RG I would like to rename to something else, so when I plug it in to any computer, regardless of the distro, it would show up under /dev/tty as the new name.

Is this possible?

If needed here is the datasheet for the USB cable.

Solution 1:

It, most certainly, is possible to change both the description and serial number (which is used for the name listed in /dev) in the EEPROM of the FTDI chip - at least on OS X - which should also show up in Ubuntu.

Note: I've not been able to check it as my Ubuntu box has just suddenly died (PSU failure)..!

This method uses an application for OS X, so there is probably a similar application for Ubuntu - I've just not found one yet. There is also an "official" tool (for Windows) on the FTDI website - There is even one for FreeBSD, but sadly there doesn't appear to be one for Ubuntu.

On OS X

From Pirate Rename – Get a nicely named serial device and using Bus Pirate:

Original description and serial number

Modified description and serial number:

Once saved, the FTDI device should now show up as

• On OS X

  /dev/tty.usbserial-PirateV3
  

• On Ubuntu

  <Unable to check currently>
  

On Windows

One of the Windows utilities on the FTDI utilities webpage:

• FTD2XXST - EEPROM Programmer and Test Utility for FT232/FT245 Devices, or;
• FT_PROG 3.12.11.594 - EEPROM Programming Utility

You may see an error, such as

Program execution is not possible because FTD2XX.dll is not found

In which case you are missing a driver. You can get the required DLL from the FTDI drivers page. Put the .dll file in the same directory as the application, it should find it (hopefully).