CISCO 2950 Monitor port 6

[annoyed009]

hello,
I recently purchased a 2950
I have the proper cable, crossover Rj45, and an rj45 to serial adapter.
I have both windows and linux installed on my computer.
and the serial port is hardware, properly installed.

No matter what i've tried I can not connect using the monitor port. I dont get anything, just blank screen.
I read on some forums that it might not be refreshing output, and that if i restarted the switch, while connected, i should be able 2 see some output. that didn't work.
I have opened the switch up and the circuit seems Ok. I have an electricians circuit tester, and it shows complete circuit (1 to 1, 2 to 2.... ) .

When I plugin to , or reboot the switch, my sniffer programs, show 0x00 as output from the switch received on my serial port.
however no other output shown, no matter what i type.

I have tried minicom, cutecom, hyperterminal, and putty.

the cable is OK. the connections on the adapter, match what cisco's website shows.

I've tried resetting the switch (shut down, hold down the mode button, and restart) .. it blinks, but again no output except the Original 0x00.

I've ordered a serial to USB converter. However I am wondering if there is anything that you guys might have come across that I can try .

the guy that sold the switch to me, says the monitor port worked before he shipped it. and my basic test shows the connections are still OK...

any advice, help, pointers, will be appreciated.

I am getting fairly frustrated.

 

[DallasBPF]

Well first off to console into the switch you need to a console cable, RJ45 - DB9 cable. One should have came with the switch. Are you using the right Comm Port?

Should be something like this;

PC Serial Port (DB9 side) -> Switch Console Port (RJ45 side)

Also, the console port you should be plugging into is on the back of the switch. Looks just like a regular switchport but it has "Console" written above or below it.

Please note you can not connect the console port to your PC via the NIC port, it can only be access via a Serial port built into the PC or a USB -> Serial converter... and make sure if you order it that you get the drivers for it.



------------------------------------
Dallas, Texas
Telecommunications Tech
CCVP, CCNA, Net+

CCNP in the works

 

[annoyed009]

Ok.
I have my ccnp ... so lets assume i know some of the simple stuff.
Yes correct cable per my post, Rj45, with a proper Rj45 - to Serial adapter. (in my org post) .
only one COM1 / ttyS0 , as I have only one installed, and per windows its com1 , and per my dmesg its ttyS0. so pretty sure its the right one.

also as i mentioned , I am getting a 0x00 message, which means, my sniffers are also connected to the write COM1. however the issue is that aside from getting the NULL message, i am not getting anything else from the god darn thing..

I have the correct Cable, the 4th one i've tried they can't all be broken.

the switch is used, so im not sure if it has an IP address on vlan1. however since I reset the switch (per ORG post) I believe that its lots all its configurations.

Should i return the switch, or are there othersteps I should be lookking at ? ...

I apologize if this is coming across as annoyed.. Im really tired, and really really need access to the god dang monitor port so i can configure it... :'(

 

[ADB100]

Have you used the cable to connect to a known working router or switch? If that works then it looks like either the console port (it's not a montior port....) is possibly faulty, or it has been set in ROMMON to operate at a different speed (default is 9600-8-1-none). If it has had a software recovery performed on it then it's likely someone has changed the console speed to something higher (115200kbps or 57600kbps) so the upgrade doesn't take hours.

As you being a CCNP, if you are asking questions like this then I seriously doubt it.....

Andy

 

[annoyed009]

haha .. I love being insulted.. but thanks..

so diff speed ehy .. i have the certs, no work experience, thats why i came here to ask.. thank you again for the insult.. i greatly appreciate it.. however since I need the help im going to smile and nod

in anycase.. thank you kindly for your suggestions. anything else I will welcome as well (be it with insults or not.... )

cheers,

 

[lerdalt]

Bigger question...have you tested if the switch even passes traffic between ports? I might give up on the console port for a bit and make certain the switch is actually switching packets. If it won't even do that, then I'd push towards returning the switch. Granted, taking a gamble that the ports are all in the same vlan.

Also, you might want to try and do your own recovery of the device.

http://www-tss.cisco.com/eservice/compass/common/activities/password_cat_2950.htm

 

[annoyed009]

it does process traffic...
alright, so i followed the steps on the link u provided:

Under linux, using cutecom, I got a bunch of hex output.. but nothing after that.. (this was hold down till my stat button stopped blinking).
no furtheroutput.

Under winblows, putty, showed nothing. sniffer only showes 0x00 .

so could this be an issue with my serial port on the mobo?

I have ordered a serial to USB converter...
im hoping that might shed some more light on the situation..

 

[lerdalt]

I might have tried the serial port on another laptop first. Personally, I have had mixed luck with the serial to usb converter. One laptop it worked great...the next it locks the whole system up.

 

[annoyed009]

well im sh1t out of luck to find a laptop with a serial port connection.... the one i have isnew and it only has USB ...
my computer is the only thing that actually has a Serial port....

i've checked everything i can electronic wise, its all connected to where its suppose to ..
im stil bothered that im only getting the NULL (0x00) from the switch everytime it powers on, or I connect the cable to.
but not sure what to make of it...

well all i can do right now is wait for the USB - to serial converter and see how that goes.. .maybe ill start getting something..

 

[burtsbees]

arp -a

Does a diff MAC show up when connected to a pc? Now the cable...

"I have the proper cable, crossover Rj45, and an rj45 to serial adapter. "
WRONG...
"I have opened the switch up and the circuit seems Ok. I have an electricians circuit tester, and it shows complete circuit (1 to 1, 2 to 2.... ) ."
WRONG (if I'm reading it right)> supposed to be 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, etc---ROLLOVER CABLE!
If the db9 adapter is NULL modem, then that's...guess...WRONG!
The cable you need is a rollover cable---get one from Ebay (Cisco console cable/rollover cable) for a few bucks and be done with it! I can almost guarantee that IS the problem!
I am also a CCNP, but I actually DO know the simple stuff...problem is, your attitude has caused you to make a classic mistake---you have overcomplicated things. An old instructor of mine used to tell me K.I.S.S. Google that.

Burt

 

[burtsbees]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle

Burt

 

[annoyed009]

I have opened the switch up and the circuit seems Ok. I have an electricians circuit tester, and it shows complete circuit (1 to 1, 2 to 2.... ) ."
WRONG (if I'm reading it right)> supposed to be 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, etc---ROLLOVER CABLE!

inside the switch, from the console port, to where the console port is connected to the board of the switch. is what i was talking about up there. NOT the CABLE.

the cable is correct, as i said like 5 times now (and im sorry if i used the wrong wording the first time around) I made my own cable, per cisco website:

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/core/cis_ons/ons15104/15104ins/5996pin.htm

I've also made sure the connector, DB9 to RJ45,which i purchased, is configured correctly.
again per same website.


congrats on your CCNP .. and im super happy for you that you have world experience ... Man if this is the attitude of the IT world, maybe i should reconsider.. geez..

with the exception of ONE person here the rest of you are very smug, and have an attitude issue...

 

[DallasBPF]

Actually...

You asked for assistance on here, we are trying to give it, but with each response you are showing additude, what do you expect?

------------------------------------
Dallas, Texas
Telecommunications Tech
CCVP, CCNA, Net+

CCNP in the works

 

[unclerico]

with the exception of ONE person here the rest of you are very smug, and have an attitude issue...

With every reason. I'm sorry to put it bluntly, but your CCNP is a just a piece of paper and nothing more. A lot of us that actually have the required hands on experience and knowledge to be worthy of a certification of this level take great offense to this. If you would have said that you were a CCENT or maybe even a CCNA then I'm almost 100% positive that ADB and Burt would have been easy on you. CCNP is a Professional level certification for a reason. You better know your crap or you're going to get laughed at or ridiculed. I'm sorry, but you brought this on yourself. I'm not trying to be a jerk here (really I'm not), but that's just the way the industry is.

I hate all Uppercase... I don't want my groups to seem angry at me all the time! =)
- ColdFlame (vbscript forum)

 

[annoyed009]

one thing to know theory , and another to have actual hands on experience.. im trying to get the ladder.....

im sorry, none of the books, exams, talk about the issue i had.
I would understand the "laughter" as you put it, if i asked questions regarding simple BGP operations, or how to setup STP , or ....

however my issue is NOT something discussed in the books.
I only mentioned it, since the first thing asked of me, with out reading my initial post was:
"Well first off to console into the switch you need to a console cable, RJ45 - DB9 cable. "


and yes, I came here asking for help ... if i wanted people to act like children and make fun of me I would have gone and visited the local kindergarten wearing a clown suit..

cheers mate.

 

[burtsbees]

Wow...I like this dude...

Lookie here---even the most confident troubleshooter has the humility to admit that PERHAPS they COULD be wrong, and they would test their cable on different equipment to rule it out. Why in the world would you ohm the solder joints on the board to the end of the cable before you test the cable in the first place??? This is what people may not understand. So start ruling stuff out. Since you have the meter out, have you connected the rj45 adapter to the cable, and ohm out from the db-9 pins to the end of the rj-45? What results do you get (I.E. pin 5 on the db-9 to pin 4 on the rj-45, etc.).

What setting does the switch default to (STAT, etc)? What EXACTLY do the port link lights do for the first minute after powering the unit up? Have you connected a straight cable to the pc and try to arp -a? Maybe Angry IP Scanner, to see if it has an SVI configured?

Burt

 

[burtsbees]

By the way...where's MY star???

LOL

Burt

 

[annoyed009]

Burt thank you .. im about to go and purchase some liquor..

your asking questions that i can answer ..

will update shortly

 

[burtsbees]

Have a drink on me, my friend!

Burt

 

[annoyed009]

i made the cable myself per the specs...
the pins arrangement, yes i have checked. per cisco specs its correct....im glad i purchased a modable adapter(one u can re-arrange-whatever the techie name is, before i get harped on .. im sorry?)
SYST/ Stat is what it defaults to .
arp -a only shows my ip address.

gm2006@ebk5545-555:~$ arp -a
home (192.168.1.254) at 00:22:A4:7A:0E:F9 [ether] on eth1
gm2006@ebk5545-555:~$ ifconfig
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:01:29:d3:d7:3c
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
Interrupt:23 Base address:0x2000

eth1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:01:29:d3:d6:d8
inet addr:192.168.1.65 Bcast:192.168.1.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
inet6 addr: fe80::201:29ff:fed3:d6d8/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:3510899 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:2983551 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:2262341434 (2.1 GB) TX bytes:740055827 (705.7 MB)
Interrupt:18


----above is my ocnfig.
----
as for IP scanner: I used nmap .. i hate booting into winblows.. .(again if about to get harped out, go find a kid and take his candy away ... )
192.168.1.0/24 (my home net) and 10./8 nothing showed except known devices that i have .
i used nmap -s0 .

thanks again Burt.
---
oh the lights thing:
Syst Yellow, stat blinking.
Syst yellow, Util blinking.
all go off.
stat, util, duplex, speed all turn green.
SYST and stat turn green.
Ethernet ports, go yellow, then green.
---