How to Connect and Access Cisco Router – Exclusive

There are several ways to access the Cisco router for configuration and management. We can access the router via console, SSH, telnet, and Aux interfaces.

Cisco Router Console

The Consol port provides out-of-band access to a Cisco router for management. Consol requires a physical presence to access the router. This port is the most crucial, so each Cisco router and switch must contain a console port.

The console port connects a computer directly to a router or switch. The console cable is necessary for the initial configuration of a Cisco device because SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, and telnet are no longer configured to connect the router initially.

The console cable connects a computer to the router via the console port. The figure below illustrates the console port and console cable. A console cable is a special cable. One end is the RJ49 type, and a DB9 to RJ45 converter is molded on the other end.

Secure Socket Shell (SSH)

SSH is a network protocol providing secure remote access for managing network devices. It provides a CLI connection through a virtual interface over a network. It also provides strong authentication and encryption. Many network administrators use SSH to manage systems remotely. SSH connections must active networking services on the device, including an active interface configured with an IP address, so SSH requires an in-band connection method

Telnet

Telnet is another remote access method, similar to SSH, but it is insecure. Telnet establishes a CLI session through a virtual interface over a network and does not provide a securely encrypted connection. User authentication, passwords, and commands are sent over the network in plain text. Telnet is also an in-band connection method.

Aux port

Some routers may also support a legacy auxiliary port for remotely setting up a CLI session using a modem. Like a console connection, the AUX port provides an out-of-band connection and does not need networking services to be configured or available.

Generally, the Putty software provides remote connectivity over different protocols and in various ways. It is a third-party software that can be downloaded here.

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