Connecting AUX ports

[WANDr]

First off I want to say hello to all the members of this Awesome site! I finally joined today after referencing this site many times in the past. I am already a member of brainbuzz and actually before joining tek-tips I did a comparison between the two sites. One major problem with brainbuzz is that there's too much irrelevant content. My initial impression of this site is that it cuts the fat and gets straight to the meat.

Enough babbling and on with my question.....


I am putting together a home lab and I would like to know the benefits, if any, of hooking up back to back aux ports.

Thanks in advance for your answer(s)

 

[jgercken]

Aren't any unless you've got them plugged into modems and are simulating a dialup connection.

just my $.02
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Wassabi Pop Tarts! Write Kellogs today!

 

[WANDr]

Well I know I may sound like I am answering my own question but I assumed that I was simulating a dialup connection (without the actual modems). This is similar to a DB60 DCE to DTE cable simulating a serial link without the actual link. Is my assumption of connecting back to back aux ports correct.

 

[svermill]

You don't need the modems. You just need the appropriate RS-232 roll-over cable. I assume you already have found the link on CCO about how to configure back-to-back aux connections.

As for the benefits, I don't know. Depends I guess. You'll learn how to put that thing to good use perhaps.

 

[jamin123]

It is only a good option for routers that cannot be connected by dte-dce i.e no serial port.

 

[trevorh13]

Just thought I would put my two penneth in as well. I train students on Cisco routers and find a common misconception is that the AUX port is used to carry user data to the remote LAN. In actual fact AUX is used predominantly for remote installations. Eg, rather than talk an engineer in a remote office through the configuration procedure you can simply hook it up to a modem, dial into the router and configure it yourself.

It is the serial ports that are used for the WAN link (unless you have an ISDN router, or similar, in which case it will be the BRI port or equivalent.)

To connect the serial cables back to back you will need A DTE (male) and a DCE (female) cable. In addition to this you should issue the command clock rate 56000 on the serial interface of the router connected to the female cable.

Hope this is of use to you. Good luck and enjoy playing!

 

[svermill]

Aux ports can be and are used for routing ip packets. True, most folks use it as a dial-in console. But it can and does route data if you set it up to do so. I have, using the 1720...

int aux0
physical-layer async
async mode dedicated
async default routing

line 5
speed xxxxx (I do at least 64000 when back-to-back)

Connect the aux to a modem or back-to-back with another async interface and you are good to go.

 

[svermill]

My memory fails me entirely too often to be trying to crank out configs on the fly.

int async 5
async mode dedicated
async default routing

line 5
speed xxxxx

Of course, you need to assign an ip to the async interface as well.

Now I know why they said never trust anyone over 30. They can't remember *@#$!