Console on laptop without a serial port

[jerry.mcrae]

i have a IBM T-42 without a serial port. how can i console in? i have tried a console cable from cisco that has a 25 pin connection but no luck.

thanks in advance.

[zatchmo04]

You can buy USB-to-Serial adapters or PCMCIA-to-Serial adapters. I've used the USB adapters and they work quite well, and are relatively inexpensive.

[jerry.mcrae]

is it plug and play?

[zatchmo04]

Yes. Or at least the one I used was. :)

[thisisshanky]

Almost all USB to serial adapters are not really plug and play. You still need drivers for it which comes in a CD ROm. Of course you can store this in your laptop when needed or even on a USB jump drive. Most USB to serial adapters costs around 25-40 USD and you can pick them up at local stores like Frys, Best Buy or Circuit city.

[mark.mcsherry]

I have used a USB - RS232 cable before and it worked fine.

One limitation though was that it couldn't send a break - if you need to do password recoveries, then the USB cable may not work for you . Just one to check on.

I think that some of the newer routers have USB connectors on them.