Console Port Locks

[Patrick McHenry]

Hi,

I posted this question on a different Support Community Colunm but, thought I might have better luck here.

I was wondering if there was any kind of console port locks I could purchase. We have some switches that are not secured in a closet in our environment and I would like to lock the console ports. I know I've seen locks for ethernet switchports but, I was wondering if they sold locks for console ports. And could the ethernet switchport locks work fine on a console port. I'm just concerned that someone could use the break in sequence and get into our equipment.

Thanks, Pat.

[philtraylor]

Hello Patrick,

.

Depending on the size of the device you wish to secure.. you could get a lockbox for it. I have done this with switches that I had mounted on walls in a warehouse for instance. The box that I used had cooling fans and so on...

[Patrick McHenry]

Thanks for the response Phillip but, that wouldn't be practical in our situation. How about an ethernet jack I mentioned? Would that work?

Thanks, Pat.

[philtraylor]

Let me ask my resident CCIE, he would definately know. Give me about 20.

[philtraylor]

Hey Pat,

The answer that I just got was, there isnt a way to do a physical lock on the port (much like you can with RJ45 jacks on a switch) However, you can go into the switch and do

Conf t

Line Con 0

Password ************

*is where you put the password in.

Does this help? This will prevent the break in sequence from the console port by adding a password.

[Patrick McHenry]

I still could do a break in. The whole point of a break in is if you forgot the password, correct?

[philtraylor]

Actually yes, that is the whole point.

Honestly the best thing to do is to prevent physical access somehow. What device is this. I think I have an idea.

[Patrick McHenry]

We have some data racks that are accessible to employees. The racks have switches and routers.

[philtraylor]

If it was a stand alone device, I would have a way to fashion a bracket around the port, blocking it. Its very crude, but it would be functional.

Not sure how this could play out in a rack.

I would still place a password on the console port, the odds of someone actually breaking in are not high, I can certainly appreciate the need to prevent it all together.

[Patrick McHenry]

We have a console password on all our equipment but, with the ethernet locks, why wouldn't they work. The console port is the same size as a ethernet port, right?

[philtraylor]

It is the same size, RJ45 and all. Are you using panduit locks?

[Patrick McHenry]

I'm not using any as of yet. why, what is panduit?

[philtraylor]

watch this vid, tell me what your thoughts are...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1hmeYIOmkY

[Patrick McHenry]

I can't get it to play at work. I'll have to wait till I get home. Thanks for your help.

[philtraylor]

No problem. Let me know what happens