CTRL-Y on Avaya 4548GT-PWR switch

[tomtom9]

Hi all,

I am trying to configure an Avaya 4548GT-PWR switch to use with our IP Office server. The trouble is I cannot seem to send the CTRL-Y command via the console session. Nothing happens when i try. I have tried numerous of different cables, currently using 2x Cisco console cables connected via Ethernet coupler. I can see the switch booting on the console session screen but when it gets to ENTER CTRL+Y to begin, it does not recognise this.

I have tried with Putty, HT, SecureSRT and no luck. 9600 8/N/1 with XON/XOF off and on. Keyboard set to VT100+, CTRL-H - still nothing!

There were a few threads I found on tek-tips forums but none of them were of any help.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[holdmusic34]

I thought it was 19200 baud rate.
Also, can't use a Cisco cable. You can on the 35xx series.

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the northern mountains.

 

[ipohead]

Have a look at this 4500 series

page 31 show the serial port so I guess this uses a straight serial cable

page 46 shows 9600 baud etc

there seems to be an option to set the IP address using a USB stick on page 48.

 

[tomtom9]

Cheers guys. Did not have luck with USB, maybe my pen drive was too big (16GB). Did not have any success with straight through cable at all. I am going to try with null modem cable tomorrow. If this does not work, will get myself a small USB drive.

 

[tomtom9]

I just noticed that - in the manual it states:

You require a console cable and connector to match the male DTE connector (DB-9) on the switch to connect the terminal to the switch console port.


Regarding computer COM port:
The built-in serial port on a PC is a DTE device. Modems and printers are examples of DCE devices. Note that an instrument with serial interface could be either a DTE or a DCE device. It is best to check the user manual of the instrument to find out the device type.

Null Modem cable description:
The null modem cable is frequently called a crossover cable. It is used to allow two serial Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) devices to communicate with each other without using a modem or a Data Communications Equipment (DCE) device in between.

It seems like this might work! Will provide an update tomorrow. If this works... why have they simply not stated that in the manual: THIS SWITCH REQUIRES CrossOver cable (Null Modem cable).

 

[tomtom9]

No luck with NULL MODEM cable - no display at all on the console session.

Tried again with USB stick - it does not do anything / does not load config.

Any other suggestions?

 

[biv343]

Every Bay Networks/Nortel/Avaya data switch (non Accelar/Passport that is) I've ever connected to that has a 9 pin male serial connector has been 9600-8-N-1, no flow control, using a straight through serial cable. I have run into several USB to serial adapters that wouldn't properly send control codes. I have a Tripp-Lite U209-000-R that works well. Others that have no name or Made in China didn't work very well for me.

The best way I've found to verify if your USB to serial adapter is the culprit is to reboot the switch if possible and look for serial output on bootup. If you see that, then you have a good cable and the issue may be with the USB to serial adapter sending special codes.

 

[tomtom9]

I am not using a USB to serial dongle. I am suing a DB9 to DB9 port connecting to the Dell server directly. I can see output on a few cables but I am not able to issue CTRL+Y to the console to enable me to access the switch.

 

[biv343]

My error. I saw references to USB and assumed it was a USB to serial adapter.

If it helps, I use two DB-9 female to RJ-45 adapters with a standard Ethernet patch cord between them. Not sure where you are in the world, but places such as Graybar and Anixter carry those in the US. If you have access to those, pin them out as follows. The number corresponds to the pin on the DB-9 end and the color corresponds to the wire coming from the RJ-45 end.

1 - Orange
2 - Red
3 - Green
4 - Yellow
5 - Black
6 - Brown
7 - White
8 - Blue
9 - N/C

 

[tomtom9]

Thanks for this. I am in the UK. I have done that as well - used DB9-RJ45 adapters. Again, can see the output on the console but unable to send CTRL-Y.

 

[tomtom9]

OK, so I got myself another set of DB9-RJ45 adapters. Cables were connected as follows:
2 – Orange --------- Pin 2
3 – Black ---------- Pin 3

5 – Green ---------- Pin 5

This is because Avaya, according to the manual, uses only 3 cables.

Again, I can see the output on the screen but CTRL-Y still does not work.

I have also tried sending a text file with ^Y and \x019 (ASCII for CTRL-Y) - nothing.

Any other suggestions?

 

[tomtom9]

Ok, finally managed to connect to one of the 3 switches we bought some time ago.

It would seem that they were all stacked previously, therefore 1x base and 2x stack switches. The only one I was able to connect to and issue CTRL-Y command was the one I suspect was the base unit.

So I manged to log on fine, update firmware/diagnostic software. I then connected second switch via stack ports - it updated automatically to the newest firmware and I was able to connect to it via the console port.

Third switch - tried the same procedure of stacking it up with the first one but I guess during the image update something went wrong and it now reports:

Agent code verification fails!

I cannot break the boot sequence using ctrl-c since the switch does not accept any keyboard input. I guess this is to do with outdated firmware and the fact it was previously configured as stack member. There must have been some bug in the firmware that was resolved with the updated one.

So I am quite happy with the two of them working. it would be great to have the third one up and running although I am not sure if that is doable. Any way of uploading the firmware image to it via other ways and not via console?

Thanks.

Tom

 

[holdmusic34]

There's a small button switch on the back to put the switch in stacked or base mode on the 35xx series. Try flicking that to base if it's there.

Remember your training and you will make it back alive!

 

[biv343]

Usually you'll get a screen after that prompting to press A to run agent code, c to clear log flash and so on. That error has happened in the past if the internal flash starts going flaky or if someone upgraded the runtime software before the firmware.

Might try an RMA with Avaya. Those switches have limited lifetime warranty and it's only been a couple years since EOS was announced for the 4500s, so you may be able to get it swapped. It's worth a shot.

 

[tomtom9]

Thanks guys. The switch at the back does not do much and doesn't have an effect on the ability to connect to it via console port.

I get the screen but the thing is the switch with the old firmware doe snot accept any keystrokes - I believe this must have been a bug in the firmware where this would not work where the switch was previously configured as a stack member.

I will try RMA but since we have purchased it from a 3rd party I am not sure if this will work.

Thanks for your help.