Core Issue
When a console cable (usually a flat cable) is connected from a Communication (COM) serial port of a PC to the router, and the correct configuration settings are applied to the Hyperterminal, a router prompt should appear on the screen after pressing the Enter key.
If the correct settings are not applied, the console port outputs garbage characters or no output at all. This makes the router appear as if it is hanging or not responding.
For more cabling information, refer to Cabling Guide for Console and AUX Ports.
Resolution
To resolve this issue, perform these steps:
- Connect the console cable from the console port of the router to the COM port of the PC.
Open the Hyperterminal on the PC, select the correct COM port, and use these settings:
- Speed: 9600 bps
- Databits: 8
- Parity bits: 0
- Stop bit: 1
- No flow control
For further instructions, refer to Applying Correct Terminal Emulator Settings for Console Connections.
- If this fails to solve the problem, swap cables or test the console cable. This is done by attaching the console cable to the console port of another router.
- If the problem remains, the configuration register of the router may be set to a non-standard value for which the console connection speed is higher than 9600 bps.
If you can access the router through a Telnet session, check the value of the configuration register by issuing the show version command. Ensure that it is set to 0x2102 or 0x102. Reload the router for a configuration register change to take effect.
Change the configuration register by issuing the config-register command.
If the router has not been configured to accept a Telnet session, try different connection speeds.
These are valid connection speeds for Cisco routers:
- 1200 bps
- 2400 bps
- 4800 bps
- 9600 bps
- 19200 bps
- 38400 bps
- 57600 bps
- 115200 bps
- If in addition to not responding to the console, the router has stopped responding to queries sent from the network (such as Telnet or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)), refer to Troubleshooting Router Hangs.
- If none of these steps are helpful, there is a problem with the console port on the router. To solve the problem, swap the router chassis.
