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using a linux box and USB-RJ45 to connect to console port

commanderrikker
Level 1
Level 1

Hi everyone:

I'm studying for the ICDN1 exam and I bought an old catalyst 2900 Series XL to have something to play with for studying.

I'm in a Linux only environment and my laptop doesn't have a serial connection, but I did find a USB to RJ45 cable that looks like a rollover cable.  Has anyone tried this setup and had success?  How did you configure things to work in Linux?  I downloaded minicom but I can't seem to find the device to connect it to.

Thanks,

Rick

1 Reply 1

worldwide1
Level 1
Level 1

Source: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CiscoConsole
Comments: I did not need an usb to serial converter cable.  It worked out just fine.

  • Install minicom
  • Find the name of your usb port with the following command

dmesg | grep tty


[ 0.000000] console [tty0] enabled
[4369985.708013] usb 3-1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[4370808.468473] ftdi_sio ttyUSB0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
[4370998.270624] usb 3-1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[4372325.714145] ftdi_sio ttyUSB0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
[4372359.720319] usb 3-1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0

  • sudo minicom -s 
  • Configure minicom
    • baud 9600
    • Hardware flow NO
    • Change the device /dev/ttyUSB0   (Your output from the dmesg command)
  • "Escape" to go back to the main menu.
  • Next, you need to select "Save setup as dfl" and hit "Enter" to save these settings to the default profile. Then select "Exit Minicom" to exit Minicom.
  • Restart minicom   sudo minicom

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