Home made rollover cable?

Hey TE,

I was just wondering if it's possible to connect to Cisco equipment with a plain jane homemade rollover cable through the Ethernet port on my laptop? And, if possible, what settings would I need to use(besides 9600,8,n,1) on my terminal emulator? I've Googled the crap out of this and haven't found a definitive answer.

Example:

Console port <

rollover cable

>Ethernet port on laptop

Console cables are expensive and hard to come by, where I'm at.

Thanks in advance!

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Roguetadhg

KPLC wrote: »

Hey TE,

I was just wondering if it's possible to connect to Cisco equipment with a plain jane homemade rollover cable through the Ethernet port on my laptop? And, if possible, what settings would I need to use(besides 9600,8,n,1) on my terminal emulator? I've Googled the crap out of this and haven't found a definitive answer.

Example:

Console port <
rollover cable
>Ethernet port on laptop

Console cables are expensive and hard to come by, where I'm at.

Thanks in advance!

the 5-in-1 network admin's cable

I used this guide. Actually works like a charm in a pinch.

I had a spare joiner from LOWES, and I chopped 2 cables that were otherwise gone and remade them into my own small cables. I made a Console as well as Cross-over. Works really well in an environment with tons of straight-throughs. Black cable for Console and a light-blue for Crossover. I keep them joined up so I don't loose the ends, and I keep it on my desk as a reminder.

SharkDiver

Of course you can make one, as long as you connect the wires up correctly.

You can get them new on eBay for about $2.50 each though. (and free shipping)

KPLC

Roguetadhg wrote: »

the 5-in-1 network admin's cable

I used this guide. Actually works like a charm in a pinch.

I had a spare joiner from LOWES, and I chopped 2 cables that were otherwise gone and remade them into my own small cables. I made a Console as well as Cross-over. Works really well in an environment with tons of straight-throughs. Black cable for Console and a light-blue for Crossover. I keep them joined up so I don't loose the ends, and I keep it on my desk as a reminder.

That's an awesome resource! Thanks! So then, how do I use this cable with a terminal emulator? I've clicked around on TeraTerm and Putty but I don't see anything thing in their settings that would allow me to connect from my laptop Ethernet port to a Console port. Am I over thinking this?

SharkDiver wrote: »

Of course you can make one, as long as you connect the wires up correctly.

You can get them new on eBay for about $2.50 each though. (and free shipping)

Yeah, ebay is great. But I don't see too many people willing to ship to Laos. Plus, I don't trust the local post office/workers.

Roguetadhg

Applying Correct Terminal Emulator Settings for Console Connections* [Asynchronous Connections] - Cisco Systems
http://omnisecu.com/cisco-certified-network-associate-ccna/how-to-use-hyperterminal-to-configure-or-monitor-a-cisco-router-or-switch.htm
http://www.petri.co.il/csc_how_to_use_hyperterminal_with_cisco_routers_and_switches.htm

All I can do is link the sites I've found.

Otherwise, I have no experience with connecting to a real router or switch.

KPLC

All the guides that you provided plus others that I have read, all say they use an adapter for the console cable to plug into a usb port on a laptop if your laptop doesn't have a serial port. I haven't read anything that says you can connect from your ethernet port on a laptop to the console port on a cisco router/switch. Hrm....

georgemc

NO. You cannot connect your ethernet port on you lapto to a console (serial) port on your Cisco equipment. Ethernet ports connect to other Ethernet ports using either a straight-through or crossover cable (depends upon the type of equipment you're connecting.) If you follow the instuction in the 5-in-1 admin guide it'll work just fine as long as you connect the cable to a COM/Serial port and not an Ethernet port. If you do not have a com port on your laptop (very likely if it is a newer laptop) then you'll need a USB to serial converter.

George

KPLC

georgemc wrote: »

NO. You cannot connect your ethernet port on you lapto to a console (serial) port on your Cisco equipment. Ethernet ports connect to other Ethernet ports using either a straight-through or crossover cable (depends upon the type of equipment you're connecting.) If you follow the instuction in the 5-in-1 admin guide it'll work just fine as long as you connect the cable to a COM/Serial port and not an Ethernet port. If you do not have a com port on your laptop (very likely if it is a newer laptop) then you'll need a USB to serial converter.

George

Thanks for the definitive answer George. I wonder why Cisco still makes their console ports with the DB9 connector instead of a USB compatible style? They must sell them like hot cakes I guess. LOL

zrockstar

KPLC wrote: »

Thanks for the definitive answer George. I wonder why Cisco still makes their console ports with the DB9 connector instead of a USB compatible style? They must sell them like hot cakes I guess. LOL

My guess would be because serial config is driverless, so you can config it through any computer with a terminal. That would be the only benefit I could really think of to keep it around. But I believe the 2900s can be configured through USB if I'm not mistaken.

alxx

Can even get console cables to use with ipad and iphone
Redpark - Console Cable - C2-RJ45
Get Console - iPhone iPad Serial Cables and Terminal Apps

and normal serial cables Redpark - Serial Cable - C2-DB9

They all work quite well. Much easier on ipad for typing than iphone.

Don't know if there is one for android devices.

Now all I'd like is a vhdl "compiler" and programmer cable for ipad
or just the programmer (do the synthesis on the work compute cluster)

SharkDiver

Alot of the new routers do have a USB Console port and cable. I have used them.

This is not an endorsement of this website, just the first place I could find a picture.
Cisco Blue USB A to Mini-B Console Cable, 6', CAB-CONSOLE-USB

KPLC

Thanks for the all the replies!