FTDI USB Breakout board

The UM232R FTDI chip is a well known USB to serial converter and outputs its levels on TTL level. Since (allmost all) soldered connections on NASs are TTL level this makes it excellent or it. The FTDI FT232R chip is reporting itself as a serial port to USB and should be auto-recognized by allmost all operating systems (Windows/Mac/Linux/*BSD). If you want to breadboard it, you can get it here at Farnell.

There are also complete breakout boards available for just a few dollars/euros:



You can order this specific one at Bhasha technologies at this link FTDI USB Breakout board page.