Cisco Console Cable USB to RJ45 Cable FTDI for Windows 8, 7, Vista,MAC, Linux RS232 6 Ft (Blue)

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From there you'll have access to the CLI, giving you all the power you need to effectively set up a router, switch, or other networking device. The CLI supports a range of instructions that give you minute control of the device over the console cable. Cisco maintains extensive knowledge bases of how its IOS Command-Line Interfaces work , and how you can interact with them, so refer to that if you need more help in actually configuring your device. The last step is to press Exit. Now you can start configuring your device. Exit from configuration mode More modern Cisco devices made use of a USB Mini-B to USB-A connection. Since USB-A became universal across a wide range of devices and computers throughout the 2000s, this was far more straightforward than utilizing the older DB9 cable. The smaller size of the Mini-B connector also made it a useful console cable for connecting to smaller networking devices. Now, you can start to explore and configure your Cisco router. Explore your Cisco router Connect your Cisco router via the console cable on your Mac

Console cables as a group of cable types, have been around for decades. A great indicator of how long console cables have been utilized is that a common one for more antiquated networking hardware still utilizes a DB9 connection based on the old Serial Port design. Any network switch that can be configured using a console cable is typically classed as a managed switch. These tend to have a greater range of configuration options, as well as management features that let you monitor the settings on your local network, including its traffic, channel prioritization, and the ability to create new virtual LANs. Unmanaged switches are a little more straightforward and are preferred on some networks because they support plug-and-play, whereby new network devices can immediately access the wider network and don't require the same configuration. The main types of console cables are RJ45 to DB9 (a serial connector), USB Mini-B to USB-A, RJ45 to USB-A, and RJ45 to USB-C. These are quite different cable types that have been used for different eras of Cisco networking devices. They each have their places, though, and some of even the older designs are still in use today. Return to the Putty application, select the connection type as Serial and specify the allocated port. I added COM3. Select the connection typeThe most modern console cable utilizes the latest in USB connectivity: UCB-C. These RJ45 to USB-C console cables provide excellent compatibility with modern laptops, including those with Thunderbolt ports. The Role of Console Cables in Networking If you do not use Linux, but macOS, there is no need to panic. The same process applies to your Mac. The first, RJ45 to DB9, is the oldest, but most well-known console cable. Although antiquated compared to modern connector standards, at the time of its release the RJ45 to DB9 cable made connecting networking devices to terminals that could configure them far more easy. However, since this cable was designed to connect to terminals with a native DB9 serial port, and most modern PCs don't have a serial port, adapters are necessary if such console cables are required when configuring antiquated hardware today. When you're ready, plug the console cable into your networking device, and attach any necessary adapters, then plug the other end into your PC or terminal. From there you can begin using a terminal emulation application to interact with the networking hardware's command line interface. Popular options include PuTTY and HyperTerminal, but feel free to choose your own solution.

We've discussed a few real-world uses for console cables in this article, but the most common ones are related to network device configuration and setup, and troubleshooting. When adding a new switch or router to an existing managed network, console cables are almost certainly necessary to configure the devices before they can connect to the network. Similarly, if a network switch or router fails for some reason and loses network access, administrators need the ability to connect to it directly and have command-line access so they can adjust its settings to get it connected again. After you have the console cable, the next step is to connect the USB end of the cable to your computer and the RJ45 end of the cable to the Cisco router. On the router or switch you will find a port which is labeled as console. You can find an example below. In my lab, I use a Cisco 2911 Router. The model of the router or switch does not matter. You need to take the same steps. Cisco 2911 Router Turn on the router Console cables can also be used to perform firmware updates on networking devices, as well as monitor the update process. Those training to be network administrators and engineers will use console cables as part of their educational program, too. Press the Esc key to go to the main window. Here you have the possibility to save the changes. Select the option Save setup as DFL and hit the Enter key. Save setup as dfl The first is to confirm what ports you're working with and therefore what kind of console cable you need. Does the Cisco networking device have an RJ45 console port, or is it using the smaller, more niche, USB Mini-B connector? If it's the latter, then you'll want to opt for a USB Mini-B to USB-A console cable. If the former, then you have the option of either an RJ45 to DB9 console cable or you can use an RJ45 to USB-A console cable, instead.It can also be worth looking at the manual for the specific network device you're working with too, as some have their own commands and configuration options which aren't more widely used. Here you can see the output from my Cisco router. Explore and configure your router Method 2: Using Screen software In any case, be cautious with any configuration changes you make. Remember: The CLI gives you very low-level access to the networking hardware so there is the potential to cause yourself a real headache if you misconfigure a switch or other networked device. Now you can start configuring your router. Configure your router Connect your Cisco router via the console cable on your Windows host

Although the RJ45 to DB9 console cable is designed to plug directly into a serial port on your PC or terminal, you don't need one to make it work. There are also DB9 to USB adapters that can be used to make the cable more compatible with modern computers. That's not all console cables are good for, though. In this guide, we'll answer the important questions about console cables, including what they are, how to use them, why they're still in use today, and what some of the latest developments in console cables are. The serial connector wasn't for the Cisco networking hardware, either. It was for the PCs that were connected to it. At the other end, you'll find an RJ45 connector – but this is no Ethernet cable . It has the same 8-pin layout as an Ethernet cable, but the fact that it ends in something else is a good hint that it's a console cable.

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Console cables are one of the most underappreciated types of networking cable there are. They have played, and continue to play, an important part in the management, setup, and configuration of networking hardware the world over. Where some of those connections are antiquated and require legacy chains of adapters to connect to modern systems, console cables have evolved over the years too. Some of the latest console cable designs make the process of configuring networking hardware much easier. As console cables continue to evolve, too, we're seeing new and exciting options like the RJ45 to USB-C console cable, which make it easier than ever to connect to modern laptops where Thunderbolt , USB-C, and USB4 connections are far more common, and access to legacy connectors like USB-A and even serial ports, are almost non-existent.