03-08-2024 02:58 PM - edited 03-09-2024 07:38 AM
Hello!
I am having issues with one of my catalyst 2960 switches where the console output is just showing gibberish. I have tried my best to try all the BAUD rates to see if any one of them but none worked. After doing some trial and error, I tried to go a different route.
I used the express setup utility to erase the switch and then blind typed my way assigning the switch an IP address and enabling telnet. Mind you this whole time I have no clue if what I am typing is correct or if it is even registering. Luckily, I was able to confirm that my config took place by using the show cdp neighbor detail command.
After I was able to telnet, I used the default command to restore the parity, flowcontrol, stopbits, databits, and the speed of the console port. Here is my current configuration of the console port.
Switch#show line con 0
Tty Typ Tx/Rx A Modem Roty AccO AccI Uses Noise Overruns Int
0 CTY - - - - - 0 0 0/0 -
Line 0, Location: "", Type: ""
Length: 24 lines, Width: 80 columns
Baud rate (TX/RX) is 9600/9600, no parity, 1 stopbits, 8 databits
Status: Ready
Capabilities: none
Modem state: Ready
Special Chars: Escape Hold Stop Start Disconnect Activation
^^x none - - none
Timeouts: Idle EXEC Idle Session Modem Answer Session Dispatch
00:10:00 never none not set
Idle Session Disconnect Warning
never
Login-sequence User Response
00:00:30
Autoselect Initial Wait
not set
Modem type is unknown.
Session limit is not set.
Time since activation: never
Editing is enabled.
History is enabled, history size is 20.
DNS resolution in show commands is enabled
Full user help is disabled
Allowed input transports are none.
Allowed output transports are telnet ssh.
Preferred transport is telnet.
Shell: enabled
Shell trace: off
No output characters are padded
No special data dispatching characters
After doing all this, my console output is still gibberish. I am attaching my show run output to this post. Any help is appreciated.
Thank you.
Edit: Adding the show terminal output.
Switch#show term
Line 1, Location: "", Type: "ANSI"
Length: 30 lines, Width: 120 columns
Baud rate (TX/RX) is 9600/9600
Status: PSI Enabled, Ready, Active, No Exit Banner, Automore On
Capabilities: none
Modem state: Ready
Special Chars: Escape Hold Stop Start Disconnect Activation
^^x none - - none
Timeouts: Idle EXEC Idle Session Modem Answer Session Dispatch
00:10:00 never none not set
Idle Session Disconnect Warning
never
Login-sequence User Response
00:00:30
Autoselect Initial Wait
not set
Modem type is unknown.
Session limit is not set.
Time since activation: 00:25:26
Editing is enabled.
History is enabled, history size is 20.
DNS resolution in show commands is enabled
Full user help is disabled
Allowed input transports are telnet ssh.
Allowed output transports are telnet ssh.
Preferred transport is telnet.
Shell: disabled
Shell trace: off
No output characters are padded
No special data dispatching characters
03-08-2024 07:02 PM
Try a different computer.
03-09-2024 07:06 AM
I have tried multiple computers.
03-09-2024 07:58 AM
Can you upload the "gibberish" output?
Do you have the same problem when console into another 2960 switch?
03-09-2024 08:29 AM
I compared the show line con 0 output you provided with a switch with working console and the outputs are identical.
It's a strong possibility that the console hardware is defective.
03-09-2024 09:12 AM
I compared my output with another working 2960 that I have and the only difference I saw was this:
Non Working Switch:
Status: Ready, Active
Working Switch:
Status: PSI Enabled, Ready, Active, Automore On
I am not a 100% sure what this means.
03-09-2024 09:38 AM
PSI Enabled - The line is paying attention to typed escape characters
Ready - The line state is “ready”
Active - A process is actively using the line
Automore On - I have no ideea, never seen it before.
03-09-2024 02:47 PM
Can you check the IOS versions of the two switches?
Also can you post the config of the working switch? Most probably is the same as the one not working, but it doesn't hurt to check.
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