TELNET HELP!!!! 2

[GovTech2004]

Ok,
I'm a bit baffeled here. I can telnet anywhere I want to, and yes, I know telnet isn't the best thing to use.

I'm doing this within my lan, I've got several Cisco switches that I want to configure and I don't know their current IP address or hostname. I purchased them used and no one where I purchased them can tell me if they have an IP or hostname on them.

I have linux only systems here and need to telnet into the switches via serial port and have no clue how to do it. I've installed minicom and gnome-telnet, but have no clue where the heck they installed to or what the run file is called. I can't find any information on the web on how to telnet through a serial port and I'm about getting frustrated here. I'm about to (shudder) install a windows os on one of my machines just so I can get these switches up and running.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE someone help me before I do the unthinkable and install a windows machine at home.

Am I just missing the information on the internet or is it not out there?!?

Thanks
Norm

_______________________________
Norm White
Network Administrator / Network Security Specialist
********************************
The probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action.

 

[Trevoke]

I know nothing of your problem, but here are a few links I found, hoping that maybe they'll give you search ideas..

http://www.linux.com/howtos/Remote-Serial-Console-HOWTO/ts-cisco2511.shtml

http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~dranch/LINUX/TrinityOS/cHTML/TrinityOS-c-55.html

And, maybe

http://www.cisco.com

can help you?

-Haben sie fosforos?
-No tiengo caballero, but I have un briquet.

 

[TrojanWarBlade]

You could try a broadcast ping on your network, see what responds.


Trojan.

 

[GovTech2004]

Already tried it, I got an IP from everything but the 2 switches that I need to config.

Been searching the Cisco site and haven't found anything yet. About ready to take them into work, put a base config and bring them home.

If I don't find anything by this weekend, I'm going to bring my work laptop (unfortunately we use windoze at work) and use that to put a base on it.

_______________________________
Norm White
Network Administrator / Network Security Specialist
********************************
The probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action.

 

[RhythmAce]

Is there any other way to connect to the switches other than the serial port?

 

[TrojanWarBlade]

How large is your subnet?
Could you write a little script to perform an snmpget to every ip and see what comes back?


Trojan.

 

[lgarner]

Either Windows or Linux will work fine. I prefer TeraTerm for Windows, it's just easier and quicker than Hyperterminal.

Minicom should be in your path on Linux. Try "which minicom". If it doesn't work, you can use "rpm -ql minicom" and look for the binary there. Finally, "locate minicom" should pick it up if you've run updatedb since installing minicom. I don't know if all these programs are in all Linux distributions, but they're pretty standard.

Telnet won't help you get into a serial port, as far as I know, unless it happens to handle both serial and IP (like TeraTerm and HyperTerminal).

 

[hidden75]

Why cant you just do a password recovery on the thing using a term connected via console cable?

If you must get the IP address you could try hooking up a sniffer and see if you can sniff it out.

Dave

 

[GovTech2004]

Well,
I finally did the unthinkable.

I installed Winderz on a spare laptop that I've had laying around and got into the switch's that way.

There was no config file on either of the switch's. ergo, no ip address. I couldn't use a serial connection because I couldn't get it to work with a linux laptop.

I'm still not completed finding a serial connection application for linux if I have to learn programming and create one myself. I HATE having to rely on widers to do anything.

Thank all for all the help. I was able to find the 2 applications that I loaded using the which and locate functions.

_______________________________
Norm White
Network Administrator / Network Security Specialist
********************************
The probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action.

 

[TrojanWarBlade]

Norm,
I'm sorry we failed to help you.
If you want us to try to reduce your dependance on winderz then feel free to post questions about linux versions of winderz tools. I'm sure many people can help with these things.

BTW: How did you access the switches in the end? I didn't quite understand. Did you use serial in winderz or a non-ip network protocol?


Trojan.

 

[pansophic]

You need to configure Minicom to use your COM port. If you have a built-in COM port on your Linux laptop, it is normally /dev/ttyS0. You have to start minicom and press Ctrl-A, then O. Select Serial port setup from the menu. Press A for Serial Device and type /dev/ttyS0 in the dialog box. I am assuming COM1 (/dev/ttyS0) for all of these commands.

You can also change the speed, parity and stop bits from here.

Sorry it was too late for your immediate needs, but it should keep you from having to have a Windows box around all of the time.

Part of the issue with finding anything on the net is that you do not 'telnet' through the serial port. You simply access the serial port as a character device. You telnet over a TCP/IP network.


pansophic