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

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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.

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. 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. If you do not use Linux, but macOS, there is no need to panic. The same process applies to your Mac.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 Now you can start configuring your router. Configure your router Connect your Cisco router via the console cable on your Windows host

Specify the Bps/Par/Bits by pressing the E key and select the option C. You need to use the speed 9600. Specify the speed Console cables are an underappreciated component in modern networking that provides important functions for network administration. Without them, admins wouldn't have anywhere near as convenient or secure a method for interacting with networking hardware that requires further configuration.When modern devices are so interconnected with one another, console cables might seem like an antiquated and unnecessary component in modern networking, but that's not true. When setting up a new piece of networking hardware that hasn't yet been connected to the network, it needs configuration. These sorts of enterprise networks aren't like the plug-and-play networks that most of the world uses at home. Anything joining these networks needs to have all the parameters given to it before it can connect properly, and console cables are a great way to give it that information. 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. 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.

Here you can see the output from my Cisco router. Explore and configure your router Method 2: Using Screen software The 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 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 This makes unmanaged switches better suited to simpler network setups, with managed switches that make use of console cables better suited to more controlled network environments, where that additional oversight is useful and necessary. How to Use Console Cables (high-level)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. 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.