What is Console Access to Cisco Devices
Console Access is an essential topic for networking students so that I will explain console access to Cisco devices in this lesson. All Cisco routers and switches have a console port, also known as the management interface. It connects a computer directly to a router or switch and manages it. The console port is also used for initial configuration.
Typically, the router console port is an RJ45 port. A Rollover cable is used to connect the Serial/COM port of the computer to the router or switch console port. It has to type RJ-45 to DB9 Console access cable and RJ-45 to RJ-45 Console access cable.
Terminal software is also required to access the router and switches. The Tera Term, Putty, and Hyper Terminal are usually used to access the router and switches on a console port. Most People use Putty software for console access. The figure below shows the terminal window of putty.
The cable connects the host’s serial port to the device’s console port. Most computers and notebooks now lack built-in serial ports.
If the host uses a computer without a serial port, the USB port can establish a console access connection. For this purpose, a USB-to-RS-232 compatible serial port adapter is required when using the USB port.
The Cisco Integrated Service Router G2 supports a USB connection. It should use a USB Type-A to USB Type-B cable and an operating system device driver.
The driver for this type of cable is available from www.cisco.com. These routers are using two console ports, only one console port can be active at a time. When someone connects the USB cable to the USB console port, the RJ-45 console port becomes inactive.
If the USB cable is not plugged into the USB port, the RJ-45 port becomes active. When connecting the USB cable, the Type-A side should be connected to the computer side, and the Type-B side should be connected to the outer side.
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