Ever used a Startech RJ45 console rollover cable?
GDaines
Member Posts: 273 ■■■□□□□□□□
in CCNA & CCENT
Looking at my options for connecting to the console of multiple devices at the same time:
Option 1: I currently have a load of serial console cables but only one serial port. For a long time I've thought about a 4-port serial card like this one which will give me 5 connections, but I've never got around to buying one, partly because there are none cheap in the UK and I'll never buy again from China, and partly because I know not all cards work and so I'm potentially wasting my money. The one I've linked to at £30/$40 isn't too badly priced, I seem to recall prices nearer £75 when I last looked.
Option 2: I could move over to USB console cables like these, but again if I avoid buying from China then they're pretty expensive, especially as I'd have to add a multi-port USB expansion of some kind to give me enough connections so it's a much more expensive option, although easier to move to a newer PC if I want without fear of incompatibility. This would be my favoured option if only I could get cables for £5 each.
Option 3: I could just use Telnet and open multiple windows on a second monitor. Numerous issues here though including the need to still use a console cable for the initial device setup or if I factory reset a device, and the need for a second monitor which, believe it or not, I'm still not using at home.
Option 4: I came across this Startech RJ45 console rollover adapter when searching eBay for console cables and I've never seen anything like it before. It allows you to use a standard ethernet cable, but without wishing to look too stupid how do I use it? I've just had to Google Rlogin which is one of the connection options in Putty and I'm wondering if it might use this? Both the adapters and ethernet cables are cheap so this is potentially the cheapest option, but can I use a switch to make multiple consecutive connections in the same way I can have multiple serial or usb sessions open to different devices all at the same time?
Who does what?
Option 1: I currently have a load of serial console cables but only one serial port. For a long time I've thought about a 4-port serial card like this one which will give me 5 connections, but I've never got around to buying one, partly because there are none cheap in the UK and I'll never buy again from China, and partly because I know not all cards work and so I'm potentially wasting my money. The one I've linked to at £30/$40 isn't too badly priced, I seem to recall prices nearer £75 when I last looked.
Option 2: I could move over to USB console cables like these, but again if I avoid buying from China then they're pretty expensive, especially as I'd have to add a multi-port USB expansion of some kind to give me enough connections so it's a much more expensive option, although easier to move to a newer PC if I want without fear of incompatibility. This would be my favoured option if only I could get cables for £5 each.
Option 3: I could just use Telnet and open multiple windows on a second monitor. Numerous issues here though including the need to still use a console cable for the initial device setup or if I factory reset a device, and the need for a second monitor which, believe it or not, I'm still not using at home.
Option 4: I came across this Startech RJ45 console rollover adapter when searching eBay for console cables and I've never seen anything like it before. It allows you to use a standard ethernet cable, but without wishing to look too stupid how do I use it? I've just had to Google Rlogin which is one of the connection options in Putty and I'm wondering if it might use this? Both the adapters and ethernet cables are cheap so this is potentially the cheapest option, but can I use a switch to make multiple consecutive connections in the same way I can have multiple serial or usb sessions open to different devices all at the same time?
Who does what?
Comments
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networker050184
Mod Posts: 11,962 Mod
I think most people just solve this problem with a console server.An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made. -
clarson
Member Posts: 903 ■■■■□□□□□□
as far as option 4, that isn't going to work for you. a long time ago what cisco used for a console cable was a rollover cable and a rj45 to serial adaptor. Now, the console cable puts it all into one. What you would do with that adapter is take a straight through ethernet cable, add the startech adapter to make a rollover cable, then you'd need to add a rj45 to serial adapter to have a usable console cable. Probably not what your wanting.