How do I connect to a 1600 router from a PC?

[david7777777777]

I've got what I believe is a console cable. It's got a serial connector on one end and an RJ45 connector on the other end that I've plugged into the Console port on the back of the router. I thought you use telnet to talk to a reouter but I'm not sure that's how it's still done and I don't know what commands to type to connect to it but I've got online manuals that tell me what to do once I get in. Any pointers? Thanks.

 

[mtashiro]

If you are using the console cable connected to the console port it's a serial connection. 9600,8,n,1

You can use HyperTerminal but that app kind of stinks. I use Secure CRT but it's not free.

You can telnet to the router as well.

 

[david7777777777]

Yes, I'm using the console cable from my PC's serial port to the router's console port (an RJ45 connector on the router).

How do I determine the router's address so I know what IP address to telnet to? Thanks for the info.

 

[mtashiro]

You will need to review the router config and look at the interfaces, they will have an IP address on it.

 

[david7777777777]

Are you referring to documentation or am I to look for this information by connecting to the router?

 

[ChrisAC]

You need to use a terminal program such as HyperTerminal or SecureCRT to connect to the router first so that you can view the config. If you want to telnet to the router you would need to have a network connection to the router.

I would suggest that you do some reading on the subject ...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/002-1709089-1060048

Chris.


**********************
Chris Andrew, CCNA, CCSA
chris@iproute.co.uk
**********************

 

[ChrisAC]

Okay, forget that link! Just hop on to Amazon and search for Cisco! There's load of good books on the subject.

Chris.

**********************
Chris Andrew, CCNA, CCSA
chris@iproute.co.uk
**********************

 

[Shadow97]

If you are using the serial cable as you suggested earlier, you shouldn't require access via ethernet (ie no IP address required)...once you look at the config of the router you should be able to get the IP address for connecting via Ethernet

 

[david7777777777]

What command(s) do I type at the telnet prompt to gain access to the router using the console cable?

Is it:

telnet maryhadalittlelamb?

or

telnet abracadabra?

or

telnet pleaseopenciscorouter?

Just looking for this simple command. Thanks.

 

[ChrisAC]

As you have already been told, you do NOT telnet over a console cable! You use a terminal program like SecureCRT and set it up the manner that mtashiro told you in the very first reply. Once you have established a serial connection you should see something like "router>".

Chris.


**********************
Chris Andrew, CCNA, CCSA
chris@iproute.co.uk
**********************

 

[david7777777777]

Feel better Mr Macho man? Don't bother replying to me any more iproute. I'm here for help, not @#$%^. I am using a console cable, like I said. What command(s) do I type to connect to the router? Thanks.

 

[ChrisAC]

I am trying to help! Have you configured a Hyperterminal connection (or SecureCRT or similar)as instructed? You don't type any commands to connect to the router, you simpley create a new connection which should get you to the 'router >' prompt.

On your terminal program you will need to set the following:

Protocol: Serial
Port: Com1
Baud Rate: 9600
Date Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop bits: 1

You then simply save that session, select it, hit enter and you should be in.

Chris.

**********************
Chris Andrew, CCNA, CCSA
chris@iproute.co.uk
**********************

 

[david7777777777]

I've configured this Hyperterminal connection but Hyperterminal is giving me an error saying it can't open COM1, please check your settings. Everything looks fine to me as far as I can tell regarding the COM1 settings. If I choose COM3 instead of COM1 in Hyperterminal when establishing the connection it doesn't give me any errors and says that it's connected. But I don't "see" anything in Hyperterminal session window. I hit <Enter> and nothing happens, nor do any letters appear when I start typing. I powere-cycle the router while it's attached and nothing happens. What am I missing? Thanks.

 

[mainstreetexpress]

Hi
You're almost there, now you just need to clarify which serial port on your PC you have actually plugged the console cable into.

The error can't open COM1 simply means you have another application running which uses com 1, i.e. an external modem/another hyperterminal session etc

Check on the back of your PC as they are normally marked com 1 com 2 or A,B etc. This is assuming you have more than one serial port

On another point if you just want to connect via serial connection or telnet eventually, I would use teraterm pro

http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002416/teraterm.html

a far simpler and more powerful program than hyperterminal

 

[lgarner]

Maybe there's an internal modem using COM1? Are COM1 and COM3 your only choices? They share resources, so COM2 might be your external serial port.

 

[david7777777777]

I've been snooping around Device Manager and I don't see anything using COM1. In fact, in Device Manager, COM1 is the only COM port listed (COM1), although there is a COM3 available when setting up Hyperterminal connections. I do not have any kind of an external mouse attached to the laptop - I'm just using the onboard mouse stick. I've just downloaded Serial Monitor with which I will troubleshoot this problem. Next I'll try that program that "mainstreetexpress" just recommended if it's free.

FYI - this is happening on an IBM Thinkpad T22 laptop undocked. I'm an MCP & A+ network administrator for 5 years + whose been spending much of his time lately getting into ASP.Net programming and not much time around the basic hardware stuff. So while I'm sure I sound like a newbie, I'm simply very rusty with this PC hardware basics stuff. Thank you very much for all of your help.

 

[david7777777777]

Also, there is only one serial port on the back of this laptop, so at least that's a no-brainer. I just downloaded and tried using Serial Monitor but it's also telling me that it can't open COM1. Says "Access Denied." Still troubleshooting...

 

[david7777777777]

Also, there is only one serial port on the back of this laptop, so at least that's a no-brainer. I just downloaded and tried using Serial Monitor but it's also telling me that it can't open COM1. Says "Access Denied." I've also now just updated the driver for the COM1 port from Windows Update by going into Device MAmager and selcting [Update Driver].

Still troubleshooting...

 

[david7777777777]

I'm in. After I rebooted from updating the driver for COM1 port, I opened Hyperterminal like I was before, created a new session using COM1, and no errors this time. When I hit <Enter> I got the router's prompt. Thanks for your help gang.

 

[AdmanOK]

Scarey how someone can call themselves a network administrator and think that a console cable is used for telnet connections... I guess it gives better job security to us real network administrators.