Black screen when trying to console into a cbs350 switch

[janelle.provine]

First of all read the whole post before you try to answer and yes I have tried all the standard things like changing the speed, updating the drivers on my pc, usb ports, serial to usb cable, flow control all the standard stuff. I am on the right com I tried using both putty and tera term. When I connect using the console to the console port the screen is black and stays black even if I I hit enter. Please advanced answers only no basic

[marce1000]

  - Could you try with another PC , also is the problem 'dependent' on the CBS350 switch , meaning  can your console infrastructure work for other Cisco devices ?

 M.

[janelle.provine]

@marce1000 

Definitely going to try another pc, unfortunately I was on a customer site and did not have another pc available. I am able to use the same laptop with all other switches, works fine when the switch is sitting on my desk and I am consoled into it but its iffy on all the 350 switches when they are installed in the field

[marce1000]

       >... unfortunately I was on a customer site and did not have another pc available
        - It would still be advisable for the particular customer to try with another PC , 

 M.

[janelle.provine]

@marce1000 

I have to find another pc to try to use and then travel to the location. I think there is a high probability it will have the same issues as on my current pc then what? I think I would try to reboot the switch and see what happens. This seems to be an issue not many people run into 

[marce1000]

                             >... I think there is a high probability it will have the same issues 
  - I am not convinced , chances are slim that this is due to the cbs350 , usually what happens is a 'graphics conflict' with another app or too many other graphics related apps being used on the PC. One method then would be to reboot the PC and use  your console app only when connecting to the CBS350 , 

 M.

[janelle.provine]

@marce1000 

One of the first thing I did was reboot my pc and tried tera term instead of putty, again it only happens when I am onsite. I connected with no issues to this same switch, same cables, same putty app, some usb's and never had the issue

[marce1000]

  - Review this document for supported infrastructures (and or cables) for instance : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/smb/switches/Cisco-Business-Switching/kmgmt-2837-access-the-cli-via-putty-using-a-console-connection-on-cbs-350.html  . since the issue you are experiencing you may need to narrow the setup to strict supported infrastructure items only  , as mentioned in the document , 

 M.

[janelle.provine]

@marce1000 

Did all and it still didn't work

[marce1000]

  - I am out for words, personally I would definitely go for another PC on that site 'if there where no restrictions...' ; also note 
                  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/web/tsd-cisco-small-business-support-center-contacts.html
     But that's probably going to be a long track for finding a solution indeed (let alone productive....) 

 M.

[janelle.provine · Accepted solution]

@marce1000 

Rebooting the switch fixed all the issues