Console Connection of a Router
How to Connect and Access Cisco Router or Switch using Console Connection
The console port is also known as Management port. It looks similar to that of our Ethernet port. The console port is an RJ-45 port. This port is connected the serial port of the system.
Every Cisco router has various ports like Console, Auxiliary etc that an administrator to communicate with it. As the router does not have any input and output devices connected to it, we must use a computer to configure a router. When a new router is brought, it is not configured with any details like IP address on its port, host name, security etc.
As it is not assigned with any IP address, it is difficult for an administrator to access it over the network. The only possibility for an administrator to perform initial setup is to connect the router to PC through the console connection.
The console port is also known as Management port. It looks similar to that of our Ethernet port. The console port is an RJ-45 port. This port is connected the serial port of the system. The console port helps an administrator to configure the router irrespective of router’s state unless and until the router is dead.
Connecting router through console port gives an administrator root (referred as an administrator in windows environment) privilege. Console port communicates with PC in the asynchronous mode by transmitting and receiving data serially.
We need a rollover cable and an RJ-45 to DB9 female adapter. Rollover cable contains RJ-45 plugs at its both ends. One end of rollover cable is connected to console port that is at the back of the router. The other end is connected to RJ-45 to a DB-9 female adapter.
RJ-45 to DB-9 has an RJ-45 socket at one end and DB-9 female adapter at another end. The db-9 female adapter is connected to a serial port (9 pin male adapters) of the computer.
The RJ-45 plug has 8 pins. Rollover cable has RJ-45 plugs at it both ends. Wires running from the pins at one end of an RJ-45 plug are connected in the reverse order at the other end. This means, Pin 1 on one end is connected to pin 8 of another end. Similarly, Pins 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 on one end are connected to Pins 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 respectively.
A direct RJ-45 to DB 9 console cable is also available. RJ- 45 to DB-9 cable can be used as an alternative to the combination of rollover cable and RJ-45 to DB-9 converter.
Many systems nowadays are available without the serial port. We can overcome this problem by converting DB9 adapter to USB adapters.
Read more
- How to use Putty Terminal Emulator on a Cisco Router or Switch
- How to use HyperTerminal Terminal Emulator on a Cisco Router or Switch
- Connect to Router or Switch Console
- Communicate Router with Auxiliary, Telnet, SSH, HTTP Connections